Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-14
THE DODGE REPORT,
Summary Of the Observations
Of the Commission
ALGER CLEARED OF CHARGES.
War Department, However, Lacked CON-
plete Grasp Of Situation.
MILES PRONOUNCED DERELICT.
Friction in War Department should
BE Remedicd-Suggcstio That the
President should Appoint u New
General of the Army.
MILES PRONOUNCED DEREHCT

WASHINGTON, d. c., February b.
Especial THE report of the War Investi-
eating Commission has been released for
publication by the President. Sunma p
rizIng its observations under the heads
of the departments concerned, the COM
mission finds substantially as follows:
The Secretary Of War-"The records of
the War Department show that the Secre-
tary Of War extended to all chiefs Of
bureaus cordial ana full support. and
promptly responded to every proper de-
mand made upon him 10y commanding
officers.
CHARGES AGAINST ALGER.
mo testimony has been presented show
ing intentional neglect of duty or any
attempt to sorye personal interests. The
charges made that the Secretary of War
was pecumiarily interested in contracts,
purchases. and other transactions OF the
War Department have been thoroughly
examined and found baseless.
In the judgment OF the commission
lstration of the War Department, during
the continuance Of the war with Spain
that complete grasp of The situation which
was essential To the highest efficiency and
discipline Of the army.
"fhe commission has refrained from
criticising certain of the heads Of bureaus
for not having acted with foresight il
preparing their various departments fol
active war before war was actually de-
eared, because it has appeared that tn,
rational defence fund provided by the ac
OF March O. 1895. was not made available
for use, except for the navy. and foi
coast defence. and the expenditures Incl
dent thereto, until after the declaration
OK war"
MILES DERELICT.
General Miles-Accused OF dereliction o
duty I'm connection with the beef matter
i'm not reporting his belief, and attempt
ing to have what he considered the fur
nishing OF bad beef TO the army stopped
Adjutant-General's Department-Promp
I'm it's work. ana added greatly TO the ef
ficiency Of the army.
Inspector-Generars Department-Not a.
efficient as it ought TO have been.
ge-Advocate-Gener Department
Worked with efficiency ana 10 the beheh
Of the service.
The Quartermaster Department--Crit
cised for shortage OF supplies, ineNcusADl'
lack of executive ability in handling
trains poor equipment, and unsystemat'
loading Of transports.
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT o. X.
Subsistence Department-Did not fail t
supply the ratious prescribed by law OF
the transports and at the camps. No re
frigerated beef treated by any Chem
Gals.
The Signal Corps-Highly commended.
The Pay Department-Perform labors
promptly and efficiently.
Engineer Deplrtment-Elighly praised
for its services.
The Ordnance observation-disclosures in
its work before and after the war
The Medical Department-Criticised foI
shortcomings I'm administration and ope-
ration. but commended for a vast deal Ol
good work.
CAMPS GENERALLY GOOD
The Camps-The sanitation. while far
from perfect, was as good as might rea-
sonablv be expected. Chickamauga. Al
ger. Miami. and Tampa are pronounced
Unsatisfactory. MOntauk is credited with
being an ideal place for the isolation oi
troops i'll with contagious diseases. Iht
others are commended.
General Conclusions-The result OF the
campaign was the complete realization oi
! the several objects contemplated.
The most significant utterance III 'he
whole document, 50 far as concerns the
| discipline and efficiency Of the army is
as follows:
NEW GENERAL NEEDED.
For many years the divided authorit!
and responsibility i'm the War Depart
ment has produced friction, Tor when u
the interest OF the service, a remedy, il
possible. should be- applied. The Consti
| tuition makes the President the com
mander-in-chief Of the army, and he can
not transfer that authority 10 any othel
person. The President selects his Secre
tary of War who mas his confidence, an,
who is his confidential adviser. The com
manding general is assigned to duty a.
such by the President.
"The President must have the same
mower Of selection of his general-in-cnie'
az ne has of his secretary Of War. Win
out this there can be- no guarantee tha
he will give or the secretary OF War VIII
place I'm the general-in-chief that conn
dsnce which is necessary 10 perfect mar
n,onv Neither the President nor The
Secretary Of War should have Ia th'
| command OF the army an officer VINO l.
,,ot r-orl,ine I'm harmony with him"
| .-p-