Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-14
.GRASP|NG THE SITUATION.
Secretary of War Root Grabbing for
Facts and Details
OF THE EXACT CONDITION OF OUR
FORCES AND EQUIPMENTS IN
THE PHILIPPINES ESSENTIAL
DETAILS BEING LAID BEFORE
HIM BY CHIEFS OF BUREAUS.
THE MILITARY PROBLEMS BE-
ING CLOSELY STUDIED.

urn grasp on the ADMINISTRATOR OF the
War Department. He has been at the
head of affairs only ten days, yet this
has been sufficient TO show his-methods
and the influence which his vigorous
personality exerts throughout the mil
itary establishment. At the outset Mr..
Root set about familiarizing himself
with the more important details of the
department, much as a,lawyer first pre-
pares his statement of facts as basis
for his legal analysis. From Adjutant
General Corbin he secured data showing
at glance broad outline of the army
in the field. From the Quartermastar
General he learned the number of trans
ports, their capacity and readiness TO
carry troops, and the exact status of
stores, clothing and equipment, partic-
ularly as to Gen. Otis forces in front
of the enemy. OF the Commissary Cen
eral he asked just how many rations
were in actual stock at Manila. how
long this supply would last, how quick
ly it could be replenished, and whether
there was ample margin
FOR EVERY EMERGENCY.
The same information has been drawn
as to ordnance. medical and hospital
supplies, engineering and signal equip
ment. Each bureau officer submitted
a succinct tabular statement, and this
was supplemented by a personal talk
with the Secretary, Not only the Off
Gals here, but those at Manila and Ha-
vana have been consulted by cable
whenever it has been necessary to add
to the completeness of the information
at hand here. In this way Mr.. Root
has speedily brought himself into touch
with every branch of the military SER
vices, and has gathered a most complete
aid analysed resume of military affairs.
While getting in hand this admins
trative machinery, Mr.. Root has at the
same time made careful inquiry i2to
the military situation in'the field. Prob
ably the most important military in
quiry he is pursuing is as to the exact
fluctuations of the instruction in the
Philippines since the day it began. For
that purpose a military map is now be-
ing prepared by the Adjutant Generals
Office for the private use of the Secre-
tary, showing the
ADVANCE OFsOUR FORCES
from day to day throughout Gen.
Otis campaign, the position and move
ments on different occasions. the re-
treat of the enemy and its position and
force from time to time. 1t will be a
bird's-eye view of the theatre of mil
itary operations throughout the insur-
rection. Dates will be written in to
show the position off the army as the
campaign proceeded, and as far as pos
sible it will convey to the eye an idea
of the scope of the military operations
in the Philippines up to date. The
preparation of this map has been put
in charge Of Major Simpson, chief of
the bureau of military information,
who has been giving his undivided at
te~tion to making it complete and
comprehensive.
While going over the
MILITARY PHASES OF THE WORK
the Secretary has conferred with the
commanding general, General Miles,
and with Gen Merritt. who is second
in command, on the military problems
presented, and beside the military re-
suits of these counsels, it has estab-
lished cooperation between the execu-
tive head of the War Department and
the ranking officers Of the army.
Meanwhile. the Secretary has an
nounced no far-reaching policies. He
proceeds slowly while the facts, on
which policies rest, are being assem-
bled. If there has been some loose and
rather careless statements as to pro-
posed policy they have probably been
as much a surprise to him as to the
public So too, the reports set affoaI
before he entered office. that he would
confine his attention to Cuban affairs,
leaving the Philippines to 1.-The mill
tary authorities" have not been borne
out. but on the contrary the military
exigencies in the Philippines have been
the subject of his most earnest solicit
tude.
Concerning Cuba and Porto Rico.
the detailed administration Of their af
fairs, with its multitude of minor is
sues. is being left largely with his as
sistants and chiefs, and he is concern
ing himself with
THE LARGER QUESTIONS
of the reconstruction and future OF
these islands and with the substitu-
ton of orderly civil government for
the military regime now in force.
When former Premier Rivera urged
yesterday that an order be speedily is
sued for municipal elections in Porto
Rico. the Secretary replied that he
hoped these elections would occur as
soon as the present unhappy and
storm-swept condition of the island
would permit When it was suggested
that the desolation in Porto Rico
made opportune remission of duties
on articles OF prime necessity. the
Secretary said he was already confer
ring with Gen. Davis, Governor-Gen-
eral of the island as to that step.
Mr. Root has little time for the
crowd of callers with small requests
He is a laborious and methosiicaI
worker. When there was some sur
prise at his remaining at his desk I'M