The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-10-12
ALGER'S BOOK OUT.
The E~x-Secretary of War Talks of
When He was in Office.

the Spanish-American war which wa
delayed some by the death Of Presidenl
Mckinley was sent from the press OF
Thursday Of this week.
Opening his book with a survey o.
the Cuban situation in 1898, Genera
Alger says:
"The thoughtful observer OF public
events during The years 1887 need
hardly be reminded that both the
Cleveland and the Mckinley admins.
~trations sought by every honorable
means to avoid complications with
Spain, though protesting against the
conditions prevalent IN Cuba"
He then comments upon our unpre-
paredness for war at that time and the
splendid spectacle of the country's
response to the governments ultima,um
upon Spain.
He then leads the reader through
the hurried preparations for war, its
embarrassments and difficulties, the
persecution of the office seeker, the
disappointment OF hundreds of volun.
teers, the demands of seacoast cities
and towns for immediate aud impossi.
bic protection and the savage criticism
of the military administration plans of
campaign. and The. battle with the an.
parently endless list of shortcomings
and grievances.
Then followed the plans of cam
palgn, the embarkation at Tampa.
which was severely criticised at the
time, but which Geneaal Alger is now
convinced that, all things considered,
was not a mistake. The account of the
march on Santiago is graphically pic
tured and prepares one for The fights at
ElCaney aud San Juan.
The Ground robinn incident comes
IN for a fair share of space. While the
negotiations fol surrender were pend.
Ing before Santiago, the general officers
OF Skaters army met and signed a
round robin which was given out for
publication. This paper showed great
alarm over the threatened coming of
yellow and enteric fevers, aud went on
to say "This army must be moved a,
once or 1t will perish" OF the round
room Itself, General Alger says he has
no criticism to offer. But he does
crlticise the publication of it, saving
that 1t was one o. the most unfortunate
and regrettable incidents of the war.
General Alger reviews at length the
differences between General Sbafter and
Admiral Sampson, and quotes MANY
onlclal letters. He concludes this
cuapter IN these words:
at is difficult to account for Admiral
seeming attitude towards
Inc army during the operations before
santiago, as well as to excuse him for
MS contrary statements subsequently
MADE In his official report. After the
% OF July the admlral's conduct NAV
que TO the keen disappointment
resulting from his on.participat,on in
me engagement with Ceryera's souad-
on. Possibly he felt that Sbaf,er's
for a conference on the morn.
ng OF July ), innocent though it was.
responsible for his being deprived
Inc nonor of actively participating
Is commander in chief IN ono ~ tho
most remarkable victories in the annals
d naval warfare"
otthe Miles. Egan controversy over
oe alleged furnishing of "embalmed
'eel 10 the army, General Alger saws.
"'he commission appointed by the
''e''uent at my request to investigate
ne conduct of the war departmen, n
"e war with Spain, commonly known
IS The war investigation. or the Dodoo
'"'"''S'on' met on the oath day of
september, 1898, Up to the 2ls, NJ
december 1898, this commission b.d
aSeh testimony in seventeen ,owro
cities ana in many different camns.
raining wherever it went, to the CHI.
ems soldlers or e~x.soldiers, an oppor.
'"'y 10 appear for complaint or
'S''mony of any kind regarding the
onducl OF the war.
1.-The commission visited numero,o
which there still were manv
'oosands of soldiers, both regulars aud
oIun'eers' who were invited to give
'e'' eVldence without regard to rank
7 service. On the 2l.t of December
- "aJor general commanding the
my OF the United States ornoorod
w., 'ne commission then sitting in
a'nlngton, and made his s,o,on.,
II" respect to the canned. fresh md