The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-01
Not Offered by Men Selected
Through a POIiticaI Pull.
THE PRESIDENT HAD NO VOICE
TN the Matter the Omcers Being Ap-
pointed by the Governors of the
Various states i'm Which the
Regiments Were Raised.
False Charges as to- EN-
pcnditufes.

I IS
/ official acts of Secretary Alger who to-
morrow viii relinquish his portfolio, was
TO prepare q statement covering several
matters regarding the conduct Of the war
which have been the subject OF criticism
I'm the public press. particularly with re-
ference to the appointment Of staff Of
ncers in ihe volunteer army. The state
ment follows:
.I am led 10 make the following state
ments 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
Times. containing assertions Whlch nave
no foundation in truth.
"At the commencement OF the war Win
Spain. and for several years prior 20 tnat
time. the regular army consisted OF Only
$500 men. with the minimum number OF
officers prescribed by law. The situation
can be partially appreciated when II is re-
membered that within sixty days from the
declaration of war, the strength OF the
army was increased 90 ZljV0 men and
everything for the equipment Of this great
force. including clothing, tents. trdnspor-
tati0n. medical supplies. camps and camp
equipage ana an that pertains 90 equip
ping am army for service had to- be man
ufactured, transported and distributed for
uses.
NOT THROUGH 4 PULL.
"Fr0m the statement referred 10 the
public might Dee led 20 believe that the
volunteer ARMY was 0fiicered by men
selected through political influence by
the Secretary of War by special favor and
without any regard go fitness for the du-
ties they were tO perform. As is wei
known. the volunteer force. with the eX-
copuon of three regiments of engineers
three regiments OF cavalry and ten regi-
menis off immune infantry. was made up
OF regiments from the various States. the
officers of which We're all appointed eX-
Clusively by the Governors of the re-
epective States from which the regiments
came. and amy officer found untitled for
service and discharged was replaced by
another in The same manner. The pros.-
dent had no voice or control in The mat
ter.
"The returns OF the volunteer army
show that ip August lHs there were 207.-
1fi enlisted men and s.1,5 officers in those /
regiments. This with the regular army /
recruited up Go the war strength. made |
a1 aggregate force of about z110 Of /
hcers ANA men. The volunteer officers /
appointed by the President numbered, al /
Told. 1859 of This number 80 were taken /
from ,he regular army and 5el from civil [
Ife
"The scarcity of rcgimental officers in /
The regular service owing to appoint !
Ipent- n the volunteers special recruiting /
and other details have $50 reduced their
number that 90 have taken large num-
bor for tho service with tha volunteers /
would have seriously impaired the cfii-
cheney of the regular regiments For a
little over thousand appointments made
hy the President the number of appiica-
ti0ns was over 25NN and each applicant
was accompanied bv certificate OF abil-
itr and in most Instances. thc military
service. either in Oh, regular army or
State organization. OF the applicant. and
not uireluently in both. These certif-
Gates showed that each ono was as WI
qualified for the position he sought and
-o which ho was appointed a7 could Doe
possible for men iu civil life in this
country
WHERE THEY CAME FROM
"Of the number appointed thcr. We're.
.or instance twenty-five major generals.
IF whom nineteen Wero taken from the
regular army and seven from clyil llfe.
Jf these seven all but one We're graduates
# West Point Military Academy and an
lad distinguished themselves in comm and-
mag during the civl war OF hriradler
uegals there were one hundred and two
appointed siXty-siX from tho regular /
rmy and thirty-siX from civil life Those
rom civil lito had all seen service during
Doe civil war on on our western frontier
nd al had proved themselves competent
% command
"I. had been stated and repeated many
imcs that DE Secretary of War made
hese appointments Wh Do the truth is that
ery few We're made upon bis recon
nfutation although he caused the entire
'st. with tbo rccomm .ndatioBs to be com
iled and placed before the President for
is selection. I would only Doe glad %
ave had tho honor to have made these
ppointmcnts. 80 better. no more Ioyaf |
r more patriotcs Of of men, as a whole.
YEP served thair country and their au-
ointmerfs We're credit not only to The
pu0u.ing power. but t0 the country they
errcd. There were exceptions. hut that
ould NOT have been forcseen I'm every
'2ik ~ lfe men are found who cannot
.~ry ONT successfully the work they I
ave undertaken There We're three rcgi-
lenta of cavalry. the officers OF which q
.orc appointed hy the Secretary Of War
Nlonel Leonard wood now a hricadicr
oncrM and comanding the Departments
. Santiago and Puerto Principe. was one 9
these. Colonel g. Rigsby and Colonel | :
0rrcy both good officers. were the other =
80. There were but three regiments Of
lgincers. ihe coloncls of which were all J +,
aduatcs of the Military Academy and /,
lt only thc officers, but the enlisted men,
ere selected with view Ca their special 4
mess. and. in most Instances upon The =
concentrations of the co'oncls them ,
lives. and all proved most Chcient =
THE IMMUNEs I,
There were also ten regiments o. I'M =
une infantry. OF whose colonies eight =
ere graduates OF the Military Academy -
no we're selected for special fitness 10
mmand. and in tine short time these | =.
giments were in service, developed re- u
arkable proficiency q
Criticisms as TO the amounts and a
ethods OF expenditures which could i'm | b.
y the wrong or careless use OF money IN
ere also made by the London Times.
4 4