Show I r GVVAR OffiCIALS T 1 f I GIVEN A CHANCE I Alger Commission Will Examine Ex-amine Their Records I SERIES OF QUESTIONS FOR EACH OFFICrAL i Scope of the Inquio Outlined By the Commission I Each Bureau Invited to Tell WhAt It Has Done In the Way of Organizing Or-ganizing and Equipping the Army Gommission fill Receive Complaints Com-plaints When Submitted In Writ ingList of Questions Submitted to Secretary Alger I Washington Seat 27The war Investigation In-vestigation committee resumed its Ia vors at Ie oc1ock in the Lemon build inz and at the close of the mQrning I session gaie out a numb of docu ments bearing upon the work to be un frtakell These comprise the letter of Ecretary Alger to the Dresldent reo questing that the investigation be made a brier address to the DubUc in the shape of a resolution a letter from I Chaiunan Dodge to the ecretary and to the heads of the various Itpartrnpnts of the war department calling for specific spe-cific information bearing upon the conduct con-duct of the war With the letter to the secretary of war were enclosed questions Indicating the character of informatlOn desired at the hands of the surgeon general the quartermaster eneral the subsltence department the ordmll1 department and the adjutant general The letter from Secretary Alger addressed ad-dressed to the president asking oran investigation of the war department is as follows War Department Washington Sept t 1898 To the President = I have the honor to ask that a boardS consisting of from five to seven members of the most distinguished soldiers and civilians that can be selected be aDDointed by you with full Dower to investigate thoroughly thor-oughly every bureau of the war department depart-ment in connection with the mustering muster-ing clothing supplying and arming of troops transportation the letting of contract and cl1arteiIng vessels and rill expenditures of every kind as well as of orders issued by this department Jndeed that everything connectcd with the army be thoroughly InveS gated uyiur information uR A ALGER Secretary of VLI LETTER 19 ALGER At the conclusion dr the morning sea I1n ot the war investigating commis > Im the following lctti to Secretary lger outlining the scop of their worJ ves given out Tf the Secretary of War SirPursuant to authority conferred Jpon us by the president we hare the honor to request that you direct the ad jutant genoral the Quartermaster general gen-eral the commissary general an1 the mrgeon gCl1crai the chief of ordnance and the thief of engineers to furnish us ass as-s oa RS practicable information as to the cOIUticll l f their several departments at the time of the declaration of the war with Spain uIll the operation of those departments from that time until the present Ye desire the information to include the followil viz FirstThe times and places of the mob ilIzatim of the regular and volunteer tro0p8 SHondThe organization of these troops IOU the various subdivisions of the army the personnel or the brigade division corps and army commanders and of then staffs whether appointed from the perm uncut establishment from the national guard or from civil life ThirdThe amount and kind of camp and garrison equipage and other supplies that were on hand at the beginning of the war the amounts subsequently purchased when and where delivered to your department de-partment and when andwhere actuall issued is-sued to the troops and when and where purchased FourthSlmilar Information in regard to e furnishing the troops with arms and accoutrements EirthVhlch of the volunteers were armed and equipped in the various stare camps and which In the general camps SixthUpon whose recommendation or jUdgment the varIous general rende youses were selected and the reason for such selection SeyenthFull particulars relative to the transportation of troops by seaS giving an account of the provision made for the 4 accommodation and care of the sick and 4 wounded EighthAn account of the quantity quality and kind of food furnished the troops and in case that any of them failed of being plentifully and seasonitojy supplied state the reasons therefor I NinthAs to the proper tentage beds linen medicines food and other necessary equipment and supplies for the use of tho hospital corps of the army If there was any lack of these things at any time state the reasons therefore TnthYhether the medical staff was efiic1ent and sufficient at all times for the proper care of the slpl and wounded and if not state the reasons therefor EleventhSuch Information relative to the conditions and oleratlohs or the Ordnance Ord-nance and engineerIng departments as will be of value to us in our investigations investiga-tions We have outlined briefly a portion only of the Information that we trust you will be able to give us It will be satisfactory to have it communicated to us in writing or by the chiefs of the several bureau in person with the submissIon of such records confirming their statement as they may be pleased to hand ns To aid you in comnlylng with this request re-quest there is submitted herewith a lIst of special questions to which as far ag is possible answers arc desired Very respectfullRANVILLE I GRANVILLE Y DODGE PresIdent To Secretary Alger the commission has addressed six questions for his reply re-ply QUESTIONS FOR ALGER FirstPlan of campaign prOposed immediately im-mediately after the declaration of war Was it intended to move at once on Havana or that the campaign should be postponed until autumn SecondWhen was the Santiago cam palgn determined upon ThirdWhen was Tampa selected as the If base of operations FourthVhy were summer camps es tahllshcd at Fernanl1inaJacksonvlllo and TamJa tthWhY was the Puerto Rico cim I paign determined upon F SixthWhy were the troops held on transports after embarkation at Tampa I and not permitted to sail for severa Y days 7 7COMMISSION COMMISSION RESOLUTIONS It The retolutlons dopted by the commission com-mIssion were as follows Resolved first That the secretary of war the adjutant general the quartermaster quarter-master general the ommissarr general pld the surgeon general be requested to Lransmit this commission all complan I f + 1 1 that have been received by them since April 1 1898 touching the conduct of the war Resolved second That this commission invitus and is ready and will receive and consider any complaints about the management man-agement of any of the varIous branches oftho war department from any person or persons that we respectfully request I that such complaints be madi In writing stating facts that thd party may know Qf hll5 own lnowledge plainly and in de tall giving names of any otficers or enlisted 1 en-listed men who may be charged with misconduct or Incompetency addressed to the secretary or the commIssion at Wash Ington D C MEDICAL INQUIRY The 17 questions addressed to the medical department are Firstwhat was the organization of the medical department on April 1 1898 How man officers wIth their rank how many hospital stewards and what was the size of hosnltal corps SecondHow many ambulances and litters lit-ters were available ThirdAn army of what size was the department able to completely fit out with medical officers stevlards and hospital corps and necessary surgical Instruments and supplies of every character FourthBetween April 1 and Aug 31 1893 what steps were taken for fully supplying sup-plying an army of 2OW men with aU necessary surgeons stewards hospital corps ambulances Utters surgical instruments instru-ments and medical supplies of all and every character FifthHow many general hospitals were organized where located how equipped and managed number of patients and number of deaths in each case between April 1 and Aug 31 iSIS S1xthHow many hospitals were established es-tablished at various camps what were the arrangements for the care and 1 om fort of the sick and wounded how many sick were cared for at each camp and I hospital and how many deaths occurred SeventhWhat if any railroad ambulance I am-bulance trains were established where were they lQcated and used EighthHow many hospital ships were I obtained how were they equipped how managed md what work did they perform per-form What arrangements were made I and how were the armies operating in Cuba Puerto Rico the Philippines supplied sup-plied with medica officers medical supplies I sup-plies and food for the sick and wounded NinthWhat number of surgens of volunteer hospital stewards nurses attendants at-tendants etc were employed between April 1 and Aug 31 In addition to those in the servIce of the United States on April 1 15S nthere all vessels used In trims portn sick and wounded thoroughly In I specte by a medical officer before troops were permitted t embark and were they fully supplied with surgeons surgical instruments In-struments medical supplies of every I character palatable water and proper food forsickand convalescents EleventhVero the armies operating in Cuba Puerto Rico and the Philippines I fully supplied with efficient surgeons stewards and with ambulances litters surgical Instruments medical supplies of I I nil and Iinds wounded and proper food for the sick I lweifhpre the chief surgeons in the various camps instructed to carefully I watch their sanitary condition to look after their cleanliness to demand the I proper supply of water to test the water as to its character to look into thc cookIng cook-Ing arrangements to locate the sinks and to see to their proper care ThirteenthWhy were regimental hospitals I hos-pitals In camps abolished and division satisfactory hospitals substituted Were the results FourteenthHow were the surgeons employed em-ployed in the field in camps and in general gen-eral hospitals selected Vas there any regular examination required and as it rule have they proved efficient and faithful faith-ful fulFifteenthHow FifeenthHow were the hospital stewardu the nurse and attendants selected se-lected SixteenthWhat i any I om plaints in writing have been received by the surgeon Ienetalih rdferene t the prompt com uiiiinge l with req isions the lack of proper medical attendance te lack of surgical Instrumentsthe lack of proper pare food and water for the sick and wounded with armies in the field or with I troops 1 camp or men in general hospitals hos-pitals and field hospitals or on railroad trains or transports at sea in fact what I i any complaints have been made in writing in reference to the issuing of proper supplies or the performance of any duty appertaining to the medical department I de-partment of the army eventeenthVhat funds were at the command of the department on April 1 I and what additional funds were available able bv Aug 31 under general or special i legislation SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT I Th Information required of the sub sistehce department is outlined as follows fol-lows 1 FIrstWhat was the organization of subslstence department April 1 1898 the number and rank of cccrs and number num-ber of commissary sergeants SecondVhat addition in number and rank of regular officers and what number num-ber of volunteer officers were appointed 11 the subsistence department between April 1 and Aug 31 lhlrdFor an army of what size was the army prepared to fully supply all necessary clothing camp and garrison equipage on April 1 ISIS FourthWas te clothing on hand and ready for Issue to troops and that previously pre-viously Issued or a character suitable for use In a tropical climate FlftYhat amount of tentage was avaiable and were the troops sent from garrison life to the field at once furnished with necessary tentage and other Cluarteraster supplies necessary for use In camp life I SixthVhat steps were taken for fully supplying an army of 250 men with suitable clothing cap garrison ul page and what amount of material of each kind had been obtained and what amount issued up to Aug 31 iSIS SeventhHow many public animals and how many wagons with bqnes were available April 1 ISIS EighthVhat steps were taken for ob taming additional animals wagons and harness hOw were they obtaIned and what number had been purchased and Issued by Aug 3 iSIS NinthThat arrangements had been made Drevious to April 1 iSIS for the rapid movement of troops by land and by water elithhat arrangements were made and how many troops were actually moved by railroad and by vessel between April 1 and Aug 31 ISIS EleventhWere full and complete arrangements ar-rangements mad for supplying the troops operating in Cuba Puerto Rico and the Philippines with suitable clothing cloth-ing and with camp and garrison equipage equi-page and quartermasters stores for armies operating In the field Twelfth How many and what vessels were purchased and chartered for transportation trans-portation of troops What was the capacity of each vessel Was It properly arranged for the comfort of the troops so far as was possible Was there a full supply of water for use of troops arranged in every case and was each and every vessel carefully inspected by an officer or a general of the deartment and pronounced satisfactory before troops were permitted to embark ThirteenthVhat arrangements were made for the disembarkation of troops when there was a possibility of it being done outside of a harbor Foureenth hen soca1ed permanent camps were located what arragt ments were made for a full and com nlete supply of water for use of troops Were tent floors furnished In any cases other than for hospitals If so where and to whom FifeenthWhen troops were moved by rail for long distances were there any arrangements made for supply I water Were there any unnecessary delays in the movements of troops from the camps established on the return of the army from Cuba SixtentWhat it any complaints in writing have been received by the quartermaster general in reference to tle prompt compliance with proper requisitions or complaints of any character char-acter hi reference to the oeratons of the department ir connection with the movement of troops the Issuing of proper and necessary supplies or the performance perform-ance of any duty apDertalnlng to the quartermasters department SeventeenthWhat funds were at the command of the department April 1 IS93 and what additional funds were available by Aug 31 iSIS under general gener or special legislation ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT The chIef of the ordnance department Is asked to inform the commission concerning con-cerning the details as to the organIza ton of he department on April 1 lat the request calling for full details concerning I con-cerning arenas guns mortars and I ammunition the question in each case I specifying the information desired The I chief of the ordnance department Is also asked for information a to how I many sets of horse equipment for cavalry and light artillery were ready at that time as he is also as to how many knapsacks haversacks meal cans tin cups knives forks and spoons were then available He is requested to give the same facts as to the equipment equip-ment on the 31st of August and state how many additional articles were obtained ob-tained The following are the last questions addressed to this official FifthWhat if any complaints In writIng I ing have been receive by the chief ot I ordnance In reference to the prompt I compliance with roper equlstons or complalts ot any character tn referenc to the operations of the ordnance department I de-partment In connection with furnishing necessary armament for pcrument defenses de-fenses or siege and field artillery rifles I equipments for infantry artillery and cavalry and ammunition of all kinds I SixthVhat funds were under the control I con-trol of the department April 1 ISIS and what additional funds were available by I Aug 31 under general or special legislation I legisla-tion legsla The reuest of the adjutant general I calls for specific information 1S to the J number of volunteer troops for the war includin officers and men and as to their distribution Specific information is asked concerning ing the expeditions to Santago Puerto Rico and the Phlmlnes the inaulries in each of these cases calling for the number of regiments of regular and of volunteers with the maximum number num-ber of tr005 operating in each campaign cam-paign sDecified with the organization of the command its commanding general gen-eral cors division and brigade commanders com-manders the number of officers and enlisted en-listed men killed and the number who have died from wounds or disease The adjutant general is also required to supply the following Information Location of camS in the United States by whom selected number of regiments and number of officers and enlisted men of regulars and of volunteers volun-teers at each camp organization of cams names of commanding generals gener-als together with names of divisIons and brizade commanders length of I time each camD was maintained and number of deaths by disease at each camp I The commission adjourned at 130 oclock until tomorrow at 10 ocock I is not eXected that the commission I will make much progress until returns begin to come in from the inquiries sent I out I Later committees will be appointed to I the take country testimony in different places In |