New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-14
ROOTS THOROUGH WORK.
srcRETARY OF WAR LEARNING De
TAILS OF HIS DEPARTMENT.
IT'LL REPORTS ON THE LUzoN CAMPAIGN
PREPARED FOR HIS SUPERVISION
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LITTLE TIME FOR CALLERS.
washington. Aug l3 Secretary Root is be-
snn,ng TO get a firm rasp on the administra-
,nn OF the War Deps tment. He has been at
,he head Of affairs OF zen days yet this has
,sen sufficient to shoy his methods and the IN
suence which his ;orous personality exerts
throughout the mt establishment.
Al the outset Mr.. oct set about familiarzlng
himself with the more important details of the
Department much as lawyer prepares his
statement OF facts as a basis for his legal
ANALYSIS From Adjutant General Corbin he @e-
cured data showing at a glance broad outline
., the army in the field From the Quarter
master General he learned the number OF trans
no-ts the capacity and readiness to carry
,roops and the exact status of stores. clothing
and equipment particularly as to General Otiss
.orces in front OF the enemy. From the Commls-
cary General he asked just how many rations
we're IN actual stock at Manila, how long this
supply would last. how quickly 1t could be @e-
nenished and whether there was ample mar
gin for every emergency. The same Information
has been drawn TO ordnance. medical ana
,os,,tal sunDlies engineering and signal equip
,,o,+ Each Bureau officer submitted a succinct,
,abular statement, and this was supplemented
nv a personal talk with the Secretary Not only
,bA officials here but those at Manila and Ha-
vana have been consulted by cable whenever
Il has been necessary TO add TO the cohple'e
ness of the information at hand here. In inns
way Mr. Root has speedily brought himsel iii'o
touch with every branch of the military service,
and has gathered a most complete anu a"''' ~e
knowledge Of the military affairs
REPORTS ON THE LUZON CAMPAIGN
vyhue se,tire In hand this administrative ma
cbinery Mr. Root has at the same time mace
careful inquiry Into the military situation IN 'he
feld Probably the most important mlhtary III
ouiry he is pursuing is as to the huctua'ioiis ~
the insurrection in the Philippines since 'he
sav II began For that purpose military map
,s now being prepared by the Adjutant Cen
erals office for the private use OF the Secre-
,arv. showing the advance OF the American
forces from day 10 day through General Otiss
campaign the position and movements on oh-
farent occasions the retreat of the enemy and
its POSITION and force from time 10 TIME II
will be q bird's-eye view Of the theatre of mill
tary operations through the insurrection' Dates
will be written in TO show the position OF the
Army as the campaign proceeded, and as far as
nossible II will convey to the eye an idea OF the
scope Of the military operations in the Philip
mines up 10 date. The preparation OF this map
has been put in charge of Major Simpson, Chief
q, the Bureau OF Military Information, who has
been giving his undivided attention to making IT
complete and comprehensive.
ESTABLISHING COOPERATION.
While going over the military phases Of the
work the Secretary has conferred with the
!. Commanding General, General Miles, and with
General Merritt. VINO Is second In command OF
On. military problems presented. and besides the
4 mt ~ these councils they have eS-
! tabllshed cooperation between che executive
head OF the War Department and the ranking
officers Of the Army.
Meanwhile the Secretary has announced no
far reaching policies. He proceeds slowly while
the facts. which policies rest, are being as
sembed. II there have been some loose and
rather careless statements as TO proposed pol
icy they have probably been much a surprise
10 him as to the public. So too, reports set
aAoat before he entered office that he would
conAne his attention to Cuban affairs. leaving
the Philippines 10 "the military authorities"
have not been borne out. but. on the contrary
the military exigencies in the Philippines have
been the object Of his most earnest solicitude.
Conserving Cuba and Porto Rico, the detailed
administration Of their affairs with its multi
tude Of minor issues, is being left largely with
bis assistants and chiefs. and he is concerning
himself with the larger questions Of the recon-
struction and future of the islands. and with
the substitution Of orderly civil government for
he military rule now in force When former
Premier Rivera urged yesterday that an order
De speedily issued for municipal elections in
forto Rico. the Secretary replied that he hoped
these elections would occur as soon as the pres
en- unhappy AMI storm swept condition OF the
!sIsnd would permit. When it suggested
that the desolation in Porto Rico made oppor-
!She a remission on articles Of prime necessity
tne secretary said he already comforting
WIN General Davis, Governor General of the
"and' 10 that purpose.
QUIET AND METHODICAL.
MT Root has little time for the crowd OF call
e's with small requests. He is a aborious and
Hetnodical worker. When there some
prise al his remaining at his desk until o'clock
on thursday evening-thrce hours after the
oIiding was deserted-he explained that il was
as hAolt TO concentrate his attention impor-
ySht Work from 10 o'clock in the morning until
=! a. O'Clock al night usually without the dstrac-
uVn OF meals. He has been making his studies
a. nome on most of the evenings since he has
zen mere. The Secretary is reserved TO callers
uIntenlng and inquring rather than talking
siS cabinet associates speak OF his calm and
affairs
ENSIGN MCFARLAND PRAISED.