Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-10-11
ALGER SCORES MILES.
One Of the Principal Chapters Of
Ex.Secretary's Book.
CONDUCT OF wAR WITH SPAIN.

Derelictions In Connection With
Santiago and Porto Rico Cam
paigns-Sought to Embarrass the
Department, Former Secretary
Says.
General Russell A. Ayers book on
the "Spanish-Amerlcan War;" publish
ed by Harper Bros. New York, ad-
vanced sheets Of which have been
given to the press, is creating much
comment and reopens the discussion
Of questions relating to the conduct of
the campaign against Spain while he
was secretary Of war.
In his opening chapters, says writer
in the New York Tribune, General
Alger makes palmer than ever before
the utter unpreparedness Of the coun-
try for war. The law making the
$50,0OO,000 appropriation was SO word
ed that up to the declaration Of war 1t
could not pe used for the most neces-
sary part Of army equipment. Conse-
Quently there was much confusion In
organizing for the campaign. The
government did not have and factories
could not supply promptly munitions
and clothing required, and many of the
shortcomings Of the army severely
criticised at the time were not due to
the officers or the department, but to
the impossibility of doing on short no.
tice what should have been prepared
for by congress years before.
The book does not refer directly to
| the attacks made upon General Alger
personally or give any account of his
relations with the administration or
the events leading to his retirement
1t defends the army appointments and
| declares that no favoritisln was shown
| In selections; that the greatest care
| was taken to choose fit men. and that
as many regulars were taken for vol
unteer service as could be spared from
| the army establishment without i'm
pairing its efficiency.
The substance of General Ayers
chapter on the army beef controversy
was published in The North American
| Review Of last January. and the pub
| lie Is already familiar With his defense
Of General Eagan's administration,
though not of the language for which
| the latter was court martialed, and
also with his structures on General
Miles. In other respects he is also Sc
we're on General Miles. After recount
ing what he calls the generals "impos-
sible and impracticable" plan to move
an army from Nuevitas westward to
Santa Clara. building roads with the
| aid of prisoners. be says:
This proposition. however. was only
one of numerous others which were not
approved. Many Of the generals pro-
posals were obviously impracticable
and not infrequently absolutely impos-
sible. He recommended the shipment
| of 10000 men to Key West where all
drinking water would have to be
brought In tank ships. With our hands
full at Santiago and not enough troops
there. he proposed to send a battery
of artillery and regiment Of infantry
as an expedition to the Isle of Pines,
then Of no military or strategic i'm.
portance He insisted on sending to
Cuba. for use with infantry operating
| In a tropical jungle and over a country
| impossible to vehicles, his portable
| shields. each weighing 1000 pounds
and each occupying as much room on
| a transport as hospital ambulance.
| He recommended the abandonment Of
| Santiago after Cervera's feet had been
| destroyed. thereby lifting the siege OF
| the city and large garrison. without
| reaping the fruits of victory ten prac-
| tically in our hands. He wanted 800
| marines of the navy placed under his
| control: he expressed the opinion that
| q proposed force of 1852 men. mostly
| volunteers. was 10000 more than will
be required for General Merritt's
Philippine expedition. and while in
Porto Rico he cabled to the war de-
partment a recommendation that the
manufacture of Springfield rifles. .45
caliber ammunition, all white canvas
tentage and black leather equipments
of every description be discontinued.
as they are obsolete and should not be
q part of the army equipment
In answer to this last recommended
ton the following dispatch was sent
by General Alger under date Of Aug.
8. 1898:
LAS you ought to know, the last .45
caliber Springfield rifle was manufac-
tured in 1893. Smokeless powder car
tridges are now being manufactured
and will be forwarded. l suggest that
you get along with what the govern
ment has on hand"
Continuing. General Alger says:
ut was decided that General Shafter
should command the Santiago expedi-
ton, otherwise known as the Fifth
corps, and after sailing orders had
been issued to him General Miles was
| directed to organize an expedition to
Porto Rico. Upon the capture Of San
tiago. which it was then believed would
require but short time, General SHAFT
ter and bis force were to rendezvous