The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
SECRETARY ALGER TALKS
Of the Conduct of the
Spanish War.
NO CRITICISMS @ MIKE

A1S ~ A~C
Orher Arm Omcers-GeneraIs Shat
ter and Ons Praised for the conduct
of Their Campaigns-The Matter OF
Army RatiOns in Havana Explained.
Df.appearance Of Wen IN Cuba Mys-
terry to the Authorities.
New York. February 13.-Secretary
of War Alger, who came here yester-
day TO attend the Lincoln dinner of the
Union League Club in Brooklyn to-
night, will leave for Washington at
midnight tonight.
In regard to the report of the war
commission, S cretary Alger said that
he would rather say nothing about 1t
until he had read the entire report.
General Alger, however, said that he
had carried on the work all the way
through the war to the best OF his
ability.
During the war;" said the secretary,
when we had so much to do, crit1-
cisms began to appear in some papers.
When this happened l gave orders that
these papers should no be sent to me,
as there was no time to waste. My
first duty was to conduct he afalrs OF
the department as we'll as l could"
General Alger compared the depart
ment with a large private business,
saving that many unforeseen things
happened in the department just as in
a large private business. Storms came
ND which could not be prevented.
Some times the manager of a pri-
vate business" said the secretary,
"has looked over the field and believes
ne has good and faithful helpers.
Then he learns that he has been incor-
rect in his thought and that some of
his men have not proved true. These
are generally unforeseen things which
will happen in any large private bust
ness concern, as we'll as to a govern
ment department, Though the work
of the wal department was difficult, L
carried it on, as was my duty, to the
best of my ability
When asked about the criticism by
the war department of General Mics,
Secretary Alger asked to be excused
from talking about that.
Secretary Alger said, in connection
with the intended naming OF a COM
manding officer fer the army, that he
thought a regular, army man would be
named in preference to a volunteer,
although congress could do as 1t
wished about such a matter. lie SAID
Thai the volunteers have no standing
after their two years term OF service.
Secretary Ayers attention was call
ed to the selling of supplies in Havana
at less than the regular market rates,
in connection with which it was said
that the supplies were all army rations.
The secretary said:
Colonel Bliss, who was in charge
of the collection of customs at Havana
was asked to investigate this, when it
was learned that such sales were being
made. Some persons were selling sup
plies at less than any one else could sell
them after importing them and pay
ing the duty. Colonel Bliss found that
two men were buying up all the sur
plus rations from the troops. The ra-
lions the troops received were more
than they could use and it is consider
ed legitimate to sell them again. 1t
is a general practice in the army for
companies to sell their surplus rations
and place the sums received to the
credit of the company funds. These
two men were in away, carrying on a
legitimate business.
Colonel Bliss found that they had
a storehouse full of flour and coffee
and some other things and that they
were able to sell flour at 81 a barrel less
than persons who were importing
flour and paying duty on it. He told
them after consulting Washington that
they must either pay duty on the goods
or he would prevent them from selling
them. This practically stopped this
practice Orders were given to the
commissary department to buy back
the extra rations so that the soldiers
would get as much from the govern
ment as from outsiders and save the
scandalous talk"
In s~peakinsamOf the Philippines and
santiago campaigns, secretary Alger
said:
General Shafter and his expedition
had to land on a hostile island and do
the attacking during the worst season
there, the hottest part of the rainy
season. General Otis had been at Ma
Mia for some time and he was pre-
pared for the attack. In Santiago
General Shafter had to attack the
S~paniards, while in the Philippines
our forces occupied the position the
Spaniards had in Santiago.
General Alger said he wished to
make no criticism of General Otis,
who had Ion brilliant work in Ma
Mia. He said that the two campaigns
could harly be compared as they had
been fought at different seasons and
from different positions. The General
in each case, he declared, was entitled
to great credit.
Secretary Alger spoke generally of