Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-14

government department Though the
work Of the War Department was dinicuit'
[ carried 1t on as was my duty, 10 the
best OF my ability"
When asked about the criticism by the
War Department of General Miles, Sec
retary Alger asked 10 be excused from
talking about that.
SUCCESSOR TO MILES.
Secretary Alger said In connection with
the Intended naming of commanding
officer for the army, that he Thought
regular army man would be named In pre-
ference to volunteer, although Con-
gress could do as it wished about sueh
matter. He said that the volunteers nave
no standing after their two-years term
of service.
RATIoN-sELLING SCANDAL
Secretary Ayers attention was called
to the selling of supplies i'm Habana at less
than the regular market rates. in connec-
ton with which it was said that the sup
plies were all army ratOns
The Secretary said: Colonel Bliss, who
was i'm charge of the collection OF GUS
toms at Habana, was asked 10 investigate
this when il was learned that such sales
were being made. Some persons were
selling supplies at less than any one else
could sell them after importing them and
paying the duty. Colonel Bliss found that
two men were buying up all the surplus
rations from the troops. The rations the
troops received were more than they
could use, and II Is considered legitimate
TO sell them again. II is general prac-
tice I'm the army for companies 10 sell
their surplus rations. and place the sums
received 10 the credit Of the company
funds These two men were, in a way
carving on legitimate business.
Colonel Bliss found that they had
storehouse full of -four and coffee, ana
some other things and that they were
able To sell flour at 81 a barrel less than
persons who were importing Hour ana
paving duty on it, He told them' after
consulting Washington, that they must
either pay duty on the goods, or he would
prevent them from selling them. rms
practically stopped this practice. orders
were given 10 the Commissary Depart
ment to buy back the extra rauons, 50
| that the soldiers would get as mucn from
| the government as from outsiders, ana
save the scandalous talk"
SHAFTER AND OTIS.
| In speaking of the Philippine ana sun
| tiago campaigns, Secretary Alger shh'
"General Shafter and his expedition al
|
| lacking during the worst season there
the hottest part Of the rainy season. Cen
eral otis had been at Manila for some
| time. and ne was prepared for the attack.
I'm SANTIAGO General Shafter had 10 at
| tack the Spaniards. while in the Philip-
pines our forces occupied the posltloh the
| Spaniards had in Santiago
| General Alger said he wished 10 MAKE
no criticism Of General Otis, VINO had
done brilliant work I'm Manila. lie sald
| that the two campaigns could hardly re
| compared as they had been fought a'
different seasons and from different posi-
tions. The general. in each case, ne De
clared, was entitled to great credit
WORK IN CUBA GOOD.
Secretary Alger spoke generally Of the
work now being done in cuba. He s'hd
that there was very little friction az san
tisgo. In spite of the reports to that ell
feet General Wood and General Brooke
were working in entire harmony. Gene
| raj Brooke. he said. i'm answer TO lues'
tion. was IN charge of the whole ialahu,
! some misunderstanding had been caused
| at FIRST bv the mistake made Dy the oil'
cials at Santiago who thought that 'l,'
| moneys collected at Santiago had 10 u
| sent TO Habana. This was not 'eq"iieu
il being necessary to send only reports u
the amounts received. mt. ,,o,,,
The work Of bettering conditions gene
rally i'm cuba was going ON, hampere'
| somewhat by the lack Of transportatlol
| facilities I'm the interior and by counties
little difficulties. which were coming u
and being mastered. He said that he wa
! satisfied with the work. Taking into con
| .ideration the short time that We ma
been I'm cuba. we were doing very wei.
| WHERE ARE THE CUBAN MEN
The Secretary said that mystery i
| cuba was the whereabouts of the Cupai
men. The United States officers VINO na'
cone into the interior had failed to in'
| them. .....
"Of course" said he, "the 'reconcen
trados' were largely driven into the larg
cities. but we cannot find anywhere nea
tbe number Of men we expected to ma
For instance, an officer from Sanct
| Spiritus who came back to Washington
last week. told us that that town wa
Gued with women and children, but tina
| there were no men there. They are no
| In the country districts. as far as we cal
lind. The Cuban army is estimated a
3n mO men. but this does not account 10
the thousands who are not to be found
| They are not with Gomez and 1t is ye
70 be learned where they have disappear
|