The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-14
{, ,EAStO VIII HtMSfLF
REFUSES TO TALK ABOUT GEN.
MILES CRITICISM OF WAR
DEPARTMENT
Sc. LING CHEA, UppLas IN HAVA A
1t Vas caused by Soldiers ei'g the surplus
Of their Rauons hey ust ava
rutv or Quit.
ruty or Quit.

New York, Feb. 3.-Secretary of War
Russell A. Ager who came here yes
terday to attend the Lincoln dinner OF
the Union League Club in Brooklyn
tonight vii leave for Washington at
midnight tonight.
In regard to the report of the War
Commission, Secretary Alger said that
he would rather say nothing about it
until he had read the entire report.
General Alger, however, said that he
had carried on the work all the way
through the war to the best of his abili-
ty.
During the war" said the Secre-
tary, when we had so much to do.
criticisms began to appear in some pa
pers.. When this happened | gave or
ders that those papers should not be
sent to me, as there was no time tc
waste My first duty was to conduct
the affairs of the Department as well
as | could"
General Alger compared the depart
ment with a large private business, say
ing that many unfors en- things hap
pened in the Department just as III
large private business Storms came
up which could not be prevented.
Sometimes. the manager of pr
vate business" said the Secretary, "ha
looked over the field and believes
has good and faithful helpers. Then
he learns that he has been incorrect
in his thought and that some of his
men have not proved true. These a'F
al yT-hi
happen in any large private business
concern as well as to governmen
department. Though the work of the
War Department was difficult, carried
it on as was my duty, to the best OF
my ability"
When asked about the criticism hy
the War Department of General Miles,
Secretary Alger asked to be excused
from talking about that.
Secre+arv Al@er said in connection
with intended naming of q commandin@
officer for the army that he thought
a regular army man would he named
in preference to a volunteer, althonoh
CONGRESS- could do as it wished about
such a matter.
He said that the volunteers have no
stand'r" after their two years term
Of service.
.S~cretarv Aleer's attention was called
to the selling of supplies in Havana a.
less -'-"~ .ho regular market rates,
IN corneetion with which it was said
that the supplies were all army rations
The Secretary said:
''Cc1o"o' Pliss who was in chrrqe Of
the collection of customs at Havana
was asked to investigate this, when
- 7 Nl,CL alOr,
being made Some persons were selling
supplies at less than anyone else could
sell them after importing them and pay
ING the duty. Colonel Bliss found that
two men were buying up all the surnluS
ratiOns from the troops. The rations
+ho troors received were more tfrn
they could use and it is considered legi-
timate to sell them aoain. 1t is o. gem
eral practice in the army for companies
TO sell their surplus rations and place
the sums received 70 the credit of tn
company funds. These two men were,
iora way, carrying on a legitimate busi-
ness.
Colonel Pliee found that thev had .
store house full of flour and coffee and
some other things and that they were
able TO sell -four at 50 barrel less than
persons who were importing -four and
paying duty on it. He told them after
consulting Washington that they mus
either pay duty on the goods or hf|
would prevent them from selling them
This practically stopped this practice.
Orders were given to the Commissary
Department to buy back the extra ra-
tions SO that the soldiers would get a
much from the Government as from
outsiders and save the scaudalous talk"
Tn srpakirg Of the phflinnnes and
Santiago campaigns Secretary Alger
said:
General >Shafter and his evneditioN
had TO land on a hostile island and Dc
tho attacking during the worst season
tNere the hottest part Of the rainv sea
son General Otis had been at Manilq
For some time and he was prcnarpf
for the attack. In SANTIAGO General
Shelter had TO attack the SnaOiardS
while in the Philippines onr forces Or
curifd the nosition the Spaniards had
n Santaco."
General Algpr said he wished to mako
no criticism Of General 0tis. who hod
done brilliant work in Manila. TIE said
that tho two camnaicns could hardlv
he comnared, as they bod heen foucht
Of different seasons and from different