The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1899-02-18
.SOMEWHAT.C'RITICAL
WAR INVESTIGATING COMMISSION
MILDLY FINDS FAULT.


With Some Things In Connection With
the Late Unpleasantness-Alger De-
partment, They Say, Lacked Complete
Grasp of the Situation Friction Lie.
tween Commanding General aud HIS
superiors Deplored-The beef Was All
Rlsht-Ch.Fses of General Miles Re-
gardlng Chemicals Not stantiated.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 13.-The report
submitted to the president last Wednes-
day by the. commission appointed by
him to investigate the conduct of the
war department in the war with Spain
has been made public. The report Is
unanimous one, all the mem. ers of the
commission having signed it except
Colonel Sexton, whose death occurred
Feb. 4. The report is a voluminous
document containing about *. 900 words.
An official abstract. prepared by tho Sec
retary of the commission, was furnished
to the press for its convenience.
The commission has listened to all
who had any evidence to give, the re-
port says, and has done everything pos
sible to get at the real facts in the case.
In the beginning of the report the state
ment is made that the commission has
discovered no dishonesty whatever.
Before proceeding to specific de-
scription Of the conduct and manage
ment of the war, the report gives COM
ments and suggestions touching certain
matters which came under considera-
ton as a logical consequence of the in
quiry pursued by the commission.
One of these recommendations is that
the president should be empowered to
call upon retired army officers for serv-
ice in time of war. Another criticism
is that there is altogether too much
routine in the war department, the
methods pursued making it almost inn
possible to transact the vast amount
| of business necessary.
Too Much Friction.
Perhaps the most significant utter
ance in the whole document, so far as
concerns the discipline and efficiency of
the army, comes next:
"For many years the divided author
ity and responsibility in the war de-
partment has produced friction for
which, in the interest of the service, a
remedy, if possible, should be applied.
1.-THE constitution makes the presi-
dent commander-in-chief of the army
and he cannot transfer that authority
to any other person. The president Sc
lects his secretary of war, who has his
confidence and who is his confidential
adviser. The commanding general is
assigned to duty as such by the presi-
dent and his duties are defined by the
military laws of the United States.
1.-THE president must have the same
power of selection of his general-in-
chief as he has of his secretary of war.
Without this there can be no guarantee
that he will give, or that the secretary
of war will place in the general-in-chief
that confidence which is necessary for
the control of the army. Neither the
president nor the secretary of war
should have in command of the army q
person who is not working in harmony
with them"
Alger Mildly Criticized.
The report now takes up the war de-
paftment and its chiefs and subdivi-
sions, beginning with the secretary of
| war:
''The records of the war which have
been laid before us show that the secre-
tary of war extended to all chiefs of
bureaus cordial and full support and
promptly responded to every proper de-
mand made upon him by commanding
officers.
"No testimony has been presented
showing intentional neglect Of duty nor
any attempt to serve personal interests.
The charges made that the secretary of
war was primarily interested in con-
tract purchases and other contracts of
the war department, have been thor
oughly examined and found baseless.
"In the Judgment of the commission
there was lacking in the general admin
istration of the war department during
the continuance Of the war with Spain
that complete grasp Of the situation,
which was essential to the highest eff
cheney and discipline of the army.
The Commissary Department.
"The commission has carefully in
vestigated the subject of the condition,
quality and quantity of food supplies to
the army. Almost without excep-
ton it has been shown by the testi-
mony taken that wherever the troops
were ordered, whether to the various
camps in the United States or in Porto
Rico, Cuba and Manila, the rations pre-
scribed by law were on the transports
and at the camps with the soldiers.
$50 far as we have been able to ascer-
tain there was but one occasion, that of
day in front of Santiago, when the
troops were seriously short of rations;
these had been supplied but thrown
aside whom the men went into action.
At times the vegetable ration was not
of good quality, the potatoes and onions
being sdoiled.
sThis commission was organized the
oath day of September last. Up to the
21st day of December it's members had
taken testimony in II different towns
and cities and nine camps. 1t also had
received many hundred letters, commu-
nications and newspaper clippings from
persons living in all parts of the coun-
try. Examination of numerous officers
i tuu 0uAl6Ccu Iu6A udN USc4 4AAuN 10 w
the quality and condition Of the" meat
issued to the troops. The testimony,
with some exceptions, showed that the
refrigerated beef issued was pure, sound
and wholesome"
The testimony of General Miles and
Major Daily is then quoted and COM
mented ON and the report continues:
/ "In view Of the facts above set forth
the commission is of the opinion that no
refrigerated beef furnished by contrac-
tors and issued to the troops during the
war with Spain was subjected to or
treated with any chemicals by the cou-
tractors or those in their employ"
Juvenile Diplomacy.
Mother1 gave each Of you boys an
orange. Charlie. you said You wouldn't
eat yours until after dinner. And you.
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