Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-02-16

MN 10 lnNestl gaze the cODuueb OF lHe
war department in the war with Spain
was made public last night. The re-
port is a unanimous one, and is a
voluminous document containing
about $4,000 words, and an official abb
stract, prepared by the secretary Of
the commission, was furnished TO the
press for its convenience.
The Organization.
In telling of the organization and
methods employed by the commission
the report says:
THE commission organized on septem-
Der "a, electing Gen. Grenvlle Dodge pres
ident, Charles DENLY vice president and
Richard Weightman secretary. Gen. James
a. Beaver was designated to conduct the
examination OF witnesses; Lieut.. Col. +.
IL. Jones. chief quartermaster OF volun-
teers. was detailed by the war department
as disbursing officer, and Mai Stephen
G. Mills U. s. A., was appointed by the
president as recorder. On Monday, Sep
TENDER 26. the commission convened In
regular session.
The War Department..
''The records of the war department,
which have been laid before us. show that
the secretary of war extended to all chiefs
of bureaus cordial and full support, and
promptly responded to every prompt de-
mand made upon him BY the commanding
officers
No testimony has been presented show
ing intentional neglect of duty nor any at
tempt TO serve personal interests. The
charges made that the secretary of war
was peeuniarlly interested in contracts,
purchases aud other transactions of the
war department have been thoroughly OK
amined and found baseiess.
I'm the judgment of the com mission there
was lacking In the generaf administration
OF the war department. during the con-
tinuanee OF the war with Spain that com
plete grasp OF the situation which was
sential to the highest efficiency and dscf-
pline OF the arTny.''
Other Departments.
IN regard to the adiutant generals de-
paftmeht TIE report shows the greatest
Atnolfnt OF work done by Brig. Gen. II. c.
1Srbin and his assistants. In the face of
all this il says there have been very few
complaints against this department.
The commission finds that the depart
ment of the Inspector general Brig. Gen.
J. G. Breckenridge was not as efficient az
II should have been. There seems to have
been question as TO the authority by which
inspections were to be ordered, and il
one ease The instructions Of the secretary
OF war were ignored
The medical department comes in for
share of reproVai. for lack OF supplies and
shortage cf nurses. suggestions are made
conditions i'm tine future
No evidences Of corruption ia the letting
OF contracts. tie selection OF camp sites
or other business transacted were found
hy the commission, volunteers ana reg
ulars alike handling honestly every dollar
intrusted 10 their care
subsistence.
OF the department under charge of Gen
Eagan as commiss8ry general. the report
says The commission has carefully in
Nestigatcd the subject of the condition.
quality and quantity OF the food supplied
TO the army Almost without exception il
has been shown by the testimony taken
that wherever the troops were ordered
" her her To the various camps in the United
States or IN Porto Rico. cuba and Manila
the rations prescribed by law were on the
transports and at the camps with thu sol
ditrs
Mai Gen. Nelson \. Miles the command
er of he arrny. Is censured for coneeaiiDg
fer months the charges and complaints
regarding the meat, 1t is stated that al
though he claimed TO know the soldiers
were being fad meat which might injure
their health, he permitted the matter 10
pass unuotced for months, until he was
called before the inquiry board Gen.
Miles IS also found 10 have retarded the
work OF The Inspector generals depart
mtnt by claiming to himself the sole right
10 order Inspections Or DAILY. of Gen.
NfQss, sfs N h -, sc,rl for Vim, ON
rt,5 ,.,,o,.rs ~ ,,h,t ~ ,.I|,t,,,sa =, ha,,.
fn,,.l Il VII h..f
Review of the camps.
In its review OF The camps, the com
mission finds that Chtekamausa park,
CAEN Ihomass was baa owing 70 rs toca-
."A tmP AtSHt nv
commended Fernandiua. Fla. was fin
Sntt9t' Ni3Hli. '"s tt.tstti',,... ~
- ,i' 5iat " non 49,
tAtth oih' 81 "t p". - i,iSo
=, .3se w. te"1N Nit'f, W. 49,
iittHkHNh s. As tNt'"NN ~ ~. t-eN'
l1-ssa' ~ @a" '"taP N'.""s q" tN
SStsN1'
the >anttn&" campaign
'srhe result af the SaHttaEo eampaien
vts pa complete realization ~ the several
oh}sets contemplated fht capture Of the
ClGt with it's feruucaf5oas aud munitions
Of war togrthrr with immense supplies OF
800 Stuns tad 3mmuni.iou Uhe former es-
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