The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-04
4 Statement FROM AIG[R.
In Defense of Conduct
of the War.
The PRESS CRITICISMS

As TO the Appointment of O0Rcers Of
the volunteer Regiments Answered.
Most Of These Omcers Appoinsees Of
the Governors OF Stases-The other
Appointed Chiefly by the President.
Good Records Made BY the APP
pOintees Of the Secretary.
Washington. July 3.-One Of the last
official acts Of Secretary Alger. who.
tomorrow, will relinquish his portfolio.
was 10 prepare a statement covering
several matters regarding the conduct
or the war which have been the sub
ject Of criticism in the public press.
particularly with reference 10 the ap-
pointment OF staff officers in the volun-
teer army. The statement is as fol-
lows:
II am led TO make the following
statements on account Of h many
criticisms which nave been made pub
lie by the press, n especially on &C
count Of a recent article which appear
ed in The London Times containing as
sertions which have no foundation in
truth.
AT the OF the war
with Spain, and for several years prior
to that time, the regular army con-
sisted of only 25, 200 men, with the mimi
mum number of officers prescribed by
law. The can be partially APP
preciated when il is remembered that
within sixty days from the declaration
OF war the strength Of the army was
increased to 275 1000 men, and everything
for the equipment of this great force,
including clothing, tents, transportation.
medical supplies. camps and camp
equipage, and all that pertains to equip
ping an army for service had 10 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 differed by men
selected through political influence by
the secretary of war by special favor
and without any regard to fitness for
the duties they were to perform. AS is
we'll known, the INT force, with
the exception Of three regiments of engi-
neers, three regiments of cavalry, and
ten regiments of immune infantry, was
made up of regiments from the various
states, the officers Of which were all
appointed exclusively by the governors
of the respective states from which the
regiments came, and any officer found
unified for service ard discharged was
replaced by another in the same man.
ner. The president had no voice or
control in the matter.
The returns of the volunteer army
show that in August, 1898, there were
207, PA enlisted men and S,7S5 officers
in those regiments. This, with the reg
ular army recruited up to the war
strength, made an aggregate force OF
about 275, 0o0 officers and men. The
volunteer officers appointed by the pres
ident numbered, all told, 1902. OF this
number AL were taken from the regu-
lar army and 591 from civil life. The
scarcity of regimental officers in the
regular service. owing to appointments
in the volunteers, special recruiting n
mastering details, had SO reduced their
number that to have taken a larger
number for service with the volunteers
would have seriously impaired the eff
ficiency of the regular regiments. For
a little over 1000 appointments made
by the president, the number of appli-
cations was over %. 0C0 and each appli-
cation was accompanied by a certii-
ate of ability and in most instances OF
the military service, either in the regu-
lar army or a state organization, of
the applicant and not in~freQuSntly in
both. These certificates showed that
each one was as we'll fitted for the po-
sition he sought n to which he was
appointed as could he possible for men
in civil life in this country. OF the
number appointed, their were, for in
stance, twenty-six major generals, OF
whom nineteen were taken from the
regular army and seven from civil life.
OF these sever all but one were gradu-
ates of the West Point military acade-
my and all had distinguished themselves
in command during the civil war. Of
brigadier generals there were 102 APP
pointed, Sc from the regular army and
SO from civil life. Those from civil life
had all seen service during the civil
war or on our western frontier and all
had proved themselves competent to
command.
1T has been stated, and repeated
many times, that the secretary of war
made these appointments, when tho
truth is that very few were made upon
his recommendation, although he caus
ed the entire list, with the recommen-
datfon, to be compiled and placed be-
fore the president for his selection. ]
woul be only too glad to have had the
honor to have made the appointments.
No better, no more loyal or more pa
triotic set of men as a whole ever serv-
ed their country, and their appoint
ments were a creditnot only to the ap-
pointing power, but TO the country they
served. There were exceptions, bu
that could not have been foreseen. Ir
every walk of life men are foun who
cannot carry out successfully the work
they have undertaken. There were
three regiments OF cavalry, the officers
of which were appointed by the secre.
tary OF war. Colonel Leonard Wood
now a brigadier general and command.
ing the departments Of Santiago and
Puerto Principe, was one Of these. Col
onei Grigsby and Colonel Torrey, both
good officers, were the other two. Their
were three regiments of engineers. the
colonels of which were all graduates
Of the military academy. and not only
the officers, but the enlisted men, were
selected with a view TO their specia
fitness and in most instances Upon tbs
recommendations Of the colonies them.
selves. and all proved most efficient.
There were also ten regiments Of
immune infantry, Of whose colonel:
eight were graduates who were select
ed for special fitness TO command and
in the short time these regiments were
in service, developed remarkable pro.
ficiency.
Criticisms as 10 the amounts and
methods OF expenditures which could
imply the wrong or careless use Of
money were also made by The Times
This charge IS false. So far as the con.
duct OF the service was concerned M