Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-01

II am led to make the following
statements on account Of many criti-
Cisms which have been made BY the
public press and especially on account
Of recent article which appeared in
the London Times containing asser-
tions which have no foundation in
truth.
AT the commencement of the war
with Spain and for several years prior
70 that time, the regular army consist
ed OF only 10000 men with the mini
mum number of officers prescribed by
law. The situation can be partially ap-
preciated when it is remembered that
within 50 days from the declaration Of
war the strength of the army wa; in
creased to $4,000 men and every thing
FOR the equipment of this great force
including clothing, tents. transporta-
ton, medical supplies, camps and camp
equippage and all that pertains to
cqupping an army for service, had to
be manufactured, transported and dis
tributed for use.
From the statement referred to. the
public might be led to believe that
the volunteer army was otlicered by
men selected by political influence, by
the secretary of war. by special favor
ana without any regard to fitness for
the duties they We're to perform AS
is we'll known the volunteer force. with
the exception of three regiments of engi-
hers, three regiments of cavalry and 10
regiments Of immune infantry. was
made Up Of regiments from the vari-
Gus states. the officers of which were
all appointed exclusively by the gov
ernors of the respective states from
which the regiments came and any Of
lcer found untitled for service ana dis
charged was replaced by another in the
same manner The President had no
voice or control in the matter.
The returns Of the volunteer army
show that in Augusta. 1898. there were
2o',2f4 enlisted men and S1S5 officers in
those regiments. This. with the regu
lar army recruited up to the war
strength, made an aggregate force Of
about a13,Oo0 officers and men. The
volunteer officers appointed BY the
President numbered .all told 1882 OF
this number All were taken from tho
regular army and 591 from civil life.
the scarcity of regimental officers in
the regular service owing to appoint
ments in the volunteers special recruit
ing and mastering details had so re-
duced their number that to have taken
a larger number for service with the
volunteers would have seriously i'm
pared the efficiency of the regular regi-
ments.
For little over 1000 appointments
made by the President the number of
was over 5000 and every
was accompanied bv a GER
tliicate of his ability and in most in
stances of military service. either in
the regular army or a state organiza-
ton and not infrcqucntly in both. These |
showed that each one was
as well qualified for the position he |
sought and to which he was appointed |
as could be possible for men in civil |
life in this country
"Of the number appointed there
were. for instance, &c major generals. |
of whom 19were taken from the regular
and seven from civil life. OF these |
seven all but one were grauatcs Of !.
West Point Military Academy and all
had distinguished themselves in COM |
nand during the Civil War. OF brig
adler generals there We're 102 appoint
I'd, from the regular army and Sc |
from civil life. Those from civil life
had all seen service during the Civil
War or on our Western frontier. and
all of them had proven themselves
to command
1T has been stated and repeated
many times that the secretary of war
made appointments. when the truth is
hat very few We're made upon his rec
although he caused the
entire list with the recommendations NJ
% be compiled and placed before the
President for his selection. l would be
>nly too glad to have had the honor
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