The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-10-09
ALGER'S NEW BOOK
Ex Secretary Refers to Con-
duct at Santiago


book o nthe spanish-American war,
which his popular publisher states
has been delayed and changed be
cause Of the death OF President Nc
Kinley. viii be issued next Thursday.
Opening his book with a survey Of
the Cuban situation in 1893, General
Alger says
the thoughtful observer Of public
event.. during the years lS95-97 need
be reminded that both the Cleveland
and the Mckinley administrations
sought by every honorable means to
avoid complications with Spain though
protesting against the conditions pre-
vslent in Cuba"
He then comments upon our unpre
pareaness for war at that time and
the splendid spectacle Of the country's
response to the governments ultima
tum upon Spain. He then leads the
reader through the hurried prepara-
tions for war, its embarrassments and
difficulties. the persecution of the dis
appointed office seeker, the disap-
pointment OF hundreds of volunteers,
the demands OF the sea coast towns
and cities for immediate and impos-
sible protection and the savage criti-
ciam of the military administration
plans Of tie campaign, and the bat
ties. with the apparently endless list
OF short comings and grievances.
Then follow the plans Of the cam
paign: the embarkation at Tampa,
which was severely criticized at the
time but which people generally are
now convinced, all things considered.
was not mistake
The account of the march on San
tiago is graphically pictured and pre-
pares one for the fights at Caney and
San Juan.
The round robin incident comes
in for a fair share of space. While
the negotiations for surrender We're
pending before Santiago the general
Officers of Skaters army met and
signed a round robin itself the author
says publication. This paper showed
great alarm oves the threatened com
ing of yellow and tropical fevers and
went on 80 say This army must be
moved at once or it will perish"
or course the round robin itself the
author says he has no criticism to
offer. but he does criticize the publ.
cation Of IT, saying that it was one Of
the most unfortunate and regretable
instances Of the war
Alger Viviseets Sampson.
General Alger reviews at length the
differences between General shafter
and Admiral Sampson and quotes
many official letters re concludes
this chapter 10 these worlds
1T Is difficult to account for Adj
miral samp50n's seeming attitude to-
wards the army turing the operations
before Santiago as wen as to excuse
him for mis- contradictory statements
subsequently made in his official re-
port. After the third of July the adj
mirals conduct may be due TO the
keen disappointment resulting from
his noa participation IN the engage
ment with Caryeras squadron Pos
sibly he felt that Skaters request for
a conference on the morning of July
3. innocent though &c was, was res
ponsible Cor his being deprived of the
honor Of actively participating as
commandorin-chief In one of the most
remarkable victories in the annals OF
naval warfare"
Embalmed Beef Matter.
or the Miles Egan controversy over
the alleged mrniahing of "embalmed
beef" to the army. General Algei
says:
THE commission appointed by the
president at my request to investi
gate the conduct of the war depart
ment In the war with Spain. common
~ known as the war Investigation OF
the Dodge commission me on the
l2th day of September 1925 Up "a
the 2lst day OF December, 1898, this
commission had taken testimony in
seventeen towns and cities and 80
many different camps, granting where
ever II wont, TO the citizens, soldier
or ex-soldier, an opportunity 20 ap
pear Tor complaint or testimony o.
any kind regarding the conduct of tho
war The commission visited numer
ous camps Ina which there stil were
many thousands Of soldiers, both reg
ulars and volunteers. who were mvit
ed TO give their evidence without re
gard 10 rank o, service
lnexeusable and Unsoldierly