The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-08-04
ALCER'S STATEMENT.
The Outgoing Secretary of War Re-
plies to Certain Criticisms.
HE MADE FEW ARMY APPOINTMENTS
Not Dollar of Money Misappropriated
or Embezzled out of the Millions
That Were Expended by His
Department.

Washington, Aug. lone of the last
official acts of Secretary Alger, who to-
day relinquished his portfolio, was &c
prepare n statement covering several
matters regarding the conduct of the
war which have been the subject of crit
icism in the public press, particularly
with reference to the appointment OF
staff officers in the volunteer army.
The statement follows:
am led to make the following statements on
account of the many criticisms which have
been made by the public press and especially
On account Of recent article which appeared
in the London Time, containing assertion
which have no foundation In truth. At the
commencement of the war with Spain and fol
several years prior to that time the regulaI
army consisted of on.y 5000 men. with the
minimum number Of oficers prescribed by law.
The situation will be partially appreciated
when IL is remembered that. within 90 days
from the declaration Of war. the strength Of tht
army was increased To 2i5OIO and cvcrythinl
for the equipment Of this great force, including
clothing tents. transportation, medical sup
plies, camps and camp cquipagc and all that
pertains to equipping an army for service hut
to be manufactured, transported and distrb.
uted Cor use.
TIE returns OF the volunteer ar ny show that
and s,is5 officers in those regiments. This
with the regular army recruited up to the wal
Strength, made an aggregate force Of about 27i
600 officers and men The volunteer officers ap.
pointed by the president number, all told. l,U3A
Of this number al were taken from the regular
army and 5gl from civil life. The scarcity of
regimental officers In the regular service owing
to appointments in the volunteers special
recruiting and mastering details, had sc
reduced their number that to have
taken a larger number for service with
the volunteers would have seriously impaired
the efficiency Of the regular regiments. For o
little over 1000 appointments made by the pres
ident, the number Of applications was over
25,OOJand each application was accompanied by o
certificate of his ability, and in most instances
the military service, either in the regular army
or a state organization, and not infrequently IN
both. These certificates showed that each one
was rs well qualified for the position he sought
ana to which he was appointed rs could be pos.
sible for men in civil life In this country. OF
the number appointed there were, for instance
% major generals, of whom 10 were taken from
the regular army and seven from civil life OF
these seven all bat one were graduates Of West
Point military academy, and all had dstin-
ruishcd themselves In command during the
civil war OF brgadicr generals there were lO1
appointed, SO from the regular army and 81
from civil life. These from civil life had all
seen service during the civil war or on our west
crn frontier, and all had proven themselves
competent to command.
IL has been stated and repeated many times
that the secretary OF war made these appoint.
meuts, when the truth is that very few were
made upon his recommendation. although he
caused the entire LIST, with the recommended.
tonS. 90 be compiled ana placed before the
president for his selection. | would be only toe
glad to have had the honor O. have made IN este
appointments, No bette" no more loyal OF