The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-02-18
WAR BOARDREPORTS
An Abstract of the Findings of the
Commission.
HONESTY In ALL BRANCHES SHOWN.
Miles II Censurcd for Not Doing Ills
whole Duty-Aiger's Conduct of
His once Was Not Entire
Iy Perfect.

day by the commission appointed by
him to investigate the conduct of the
war department in the war with Spain
was made public Sunday. The report
IL n unanimous one, all the members
OF the commission having signed il ex-
cept Col. Sexton, whose death occurred
February4. The report is voluminous
document, containing about $4,000
words, and an official abstract, prepared
by the secretary of the commission, was
furnished to the press for its con-
'venience.
The abstract. after speaking OF the or
ganization OF the commission, September
n, and the facilities afforded the press to
furnish the American people with the do
ings OF the body. says that among the first
acts OF the commission was to request the
secretary OF war and other officials OF the
war department to transmit all the com
plants received by them touching the adj
mnistration OF their respective bureaus.
This request was promptly complied with,
and from that time forth all complaints
were forwarded to the commission imme-
diately on their receipt at the war de-
partmcnt The commission also, through
the press, Invited ali persons having knowI-
edge or belief OF any official wrong or dere-
fiction to submit their statements In writ
ing, accompanied by such collater raj proof
or Information as might be. at their dis
posal. This invitation met with a liberal
response. Next, the secretary of war wac
requested to direct the Various chiefs OF
department under him TO furnish the com
mission with a statement of the condi-
ton or their respective departments at
the outbreak of the war and the operations
OF the same during the period OF hostilities
scope of the Inquiry.
; This communication recited In detail the
subjects on which Information was de-
sired. comprising acts touching the mo-
bIlzation OF troops and their organization,
the amount and kind Of camp and garri-
son equIpage on hand at the beginning of
the war, the amount subsequently pur-
chased, similar Information with regard
TO furnishing the troops with arms and ac-
coutrements, Information as to which of
the volunteer regiments were armed and
equipped In the various state camps. how
the location Of the camp of general rendez-
vous was determined, full particulars as to
the transportation of troops. an account of
the quantity, quality and kind of food fur
nished information as TO the tentage, beds,
linen, medicines and all other necessarlcs
Tor the hospitals, as to whether the medical
stan was efficient, and as to the conditions
and operations of the engineer and ord
nance departments.
No Evidence of Dishonesty.
at may be said now. It the beginning of
this report, that there has been no evil
dcnCe before us that anyone In or connect
ed with the war department has dishon-
estly received a dollar. We have made
persistent efforts to secure the attendance
of persons 10 whose names rumor had at
tached an allegation that they knew of cor
EupilOn OF OIlCldIS IN the war department,
but these men have either denied the state
ments attributed to them or have main
tanned silence when Invited to tell what
they knew"
Before proceeding to n specific dcscrp-
dion of the conduct and management OF the
war, the report gives comments and sug-
geations touching certain matters which
came under consideration as a logical con-
sequence of the inquiry pursued by the
commission. II recommends thai the pres
idcnt be authorized TO cal into active serv-
ice in time OF war all retired officers of the
army. In the matter of regimcntal ofii-
GERS, the commission found that all vo.in-
terr commands ofiicercd by men OF Hili-
tary experience and training Jared much
better than those otIicered hy amateurs.
The soldiers were more effectively cared
for enjoyed better health and were better
fed and clothed The commission recon-
mends for the future strict examination
into the qualifications Of all officers APP
pointed TO the army. regular or volunteer
The establishment of schools Of instruc-
ton for inexperienced officers taken from
civilian life to meet the emergency created
by the war Is highly commended.
Conditions Mt Opening of the War.
The report now proceeds to take up the
subjects In their regular order. beginning
with the army. ION the first day of April,
1888. the strength of the army was BIB OH
GERS and 2G,W0 enlisted men, total of 49,
1S3. War with the kingdom Of Spain was
declared April p. lSS' on May 81 l2' 40
service. In August, 1898, the regular army
numbered 5G,3G5, the volunteer army, 2O1-
IA, n total OF Ebd,bJJ. lHtSt lH uTtS VI lltlH-
selves Indicate that an immense work was
thrown upon the war department. After
50 years OF peace, during great part OF
which the army did not exceed 5000 men,
Il suddenly became necessary to arm,
clothe, feed and equip more than $4,000.
How that duty was discharged VIII appear
I'm detail in subsequent parts OF THIS report.
The sudden emergency which called our
pt ople to arms after AN interval OF hair a
century Of peace Win al, Foreign P6w ssrs
nestness and energy. The situation found
the country unprepared with any large
stock of arms, ammunition. clothing. sup
plies and equipments. That they were duly
provided. and that the numerous demands
on the industries of our people were met
so promptly, will remain one or the mar
wells of history"
one Lesson Taught.
A recommendation looking to the future
then follows: zone of the lessons taught
by the war Is that the country should here
after be In better state OF preparation ,b Iof
large supplies of all the material not liable
TO deterioration should be kept on hand,
that In any emergency they might be avail
able. Especially should this be the case
with such supplies which cannot be rapidly
obtained In open market
A Significant Suggestion.
perhaps the most significant utterance
in the whole document, so far as concerns
the discipline and efficiency of the army,
comes next. II says that for many years
the war department has produced friction,
for which, In the interest of the service.
remedy, II possible. should be applied. The
constitution makes the president the COM
mander in chief of the army. and he can
not transfer that authority to any other
person. The president selects his secre-
tary OF war, who has his confidence, and
who is his confidential adviser The com
manding general is assigned to duty as
such by the president. After quoting the
duties of the commanding general the
report says: THE president must have
the same power OF selection OF his general
in chief he has of his secretary of war;
without this there can be no guaranty that
nc Will give or that the secretary OF war
will place in the general In chief that con-
ndence which is necessary TO perfect har-
mony. Neither the president nor the sec
rotary of war should have in the command
of the army an officer who Is not working
I'm harmony with him."
The Secretary of War.
The report now takes up the war depart
ment and us various chiefs OF subdivisions
beginning with the secretary of war. THE
records of the war department which have
been laid before us, show that the secre-
tsry OF war extended TO all chiefs of bu-
renus cordial and full support and prompt
ly responded TO every proper deman made
upon him by commanding officers. No
testimony has been presented showing In
territorial neglect of duty nor any attempt
20 serve personal interests. The charges
made that the secretary of war was pecu-
IL.