Conduct Of The War

Washington, Sept. 27. - The war investigating commission resumed its labors at 10 o"clock in the Lemon building and at the close of the morning session gave out a number of documents bearing upon the work to be undertaken. These comprise the letter of Secretary Alger to the president requesting that the investigation be made, a brief address to the public in the shape of a resolution, a letter from Chairman Dodge to the secretary of war inclosing a list of inquiries to the secretary and to the heads of the various divisions of the war department calling for specific information bearing upon the conduct of the war. With the letter to the secretary of war were inclosed questions indicating the character of information desired at the hands of the surgeon general, the quartermaster general, the subsistence department, the ordnance department and the adjutant general. Letter to Secvetary Alger. At the conclusión of the morning sesBion of the war investigating commisBion the following etter to Secretary Alger outlining the scope of their work was given out: "Office of Commission Appointed by the President to Investígate the Conduct of the War Department in the War with Spain, Lemon Building, Washington, D. C, Sept. 27, 1S98. To the Secretary of War. - Sir: Pursuant to authority conferred upon us by the president, we have the honor to request that you direct the adjutant general, the quartermaster general, the commissary general, the surgeon general, the chlef of ordnance and the chief of engineers to furnish us as soon as practicable information as to the condition of their several departments at the time of the declaration of war with Spain, and the operations of those departments from that time until the present. Information Desired. "We desire the information to include the following, viz. : "1. The times and places of the mobilïzation of the regular and volunteer troops. "2. The organization of these troops into the various sub-divisions of the army, the personnel of the brigade, división, corps and army commanders, and of their staffs, whether appointed "rom the permanent establishment, 'rom the national guard or from civil ife. "3. The amount and kind of camp and garrison equipage and other supplies :hat were on hand at the beginning of the war, the amount subsequently purchased, when and where purchased, when and where delivered to your dejartment, and when and where actualy issued to the troops. "4. Similar Information in regard to furnishing the troops with arms and accoutrements. "5. Whieh of the volunteers were armed and equipped m the various state camps and which in the genera) camps. Selection of Rendezvous. "6. Upen whose recommendation or udgment the various general rendezvous were selected, and the reasons for uch selectief "7. Full partioulars relative to the ransportation of troops by sea, gíving an account of the provisions made for he accommodation and care of the sick and wounded. "8. An account of the quantity, qualty and kind of food furnished the roops, and in case that any of them 'ailed of being plentifully and seasonaily supplied, state the reasons there'or. "9. As to the proper, tentage, beds, inen, medicines, food and all other necessary equipment and supplies for the use of the hospital corps of the army. f there was any lack of these things at any time, state the reasons thereor. The Medical St;4t, "10. "Whether the medical staff was efficiënt and sufficient at all times for he proper care of the sick and woundd, and if not state the reasons there'or. "11. Such information relative to the conditions and operations of the ordnance and engineering departments as will be of value to us in our investigaions. "We have outlined briefiy 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 bureaus in person, with the submission of such records confirming their statements as they may be pleased to hand to us. To aid you in complying with this request there is submitted nerewith a list of special questions to which as far as is possible answers are desired. Very respectfully, "GRENVILLE M. DODGE, "President." Slx Queries for Alger. To Secretary Alger the commission has addressed six queries for his reply as follows: 1. Plan of campaign proposed immediately after the declaration of war; was it intended to move at once on Havana, or that the campaign should be postponed untll autumn? 2. When was the Santiago campaign determined upon? 3. Why Tampa was selected as the base of operations? 4. Why were summer camps organized at Fernandina, Jacksonville and Tampa? 5. When was the Porto Rico campaign determined upon? 6. Why were the troops held on transports after embarkation at Tampa and not permitted to sail for several days? Resolutions of the Committee. The resolutions adopted by the committee were as follows: "Resolved first, That the secretary of war, the adjutant general, tlje quartermaste.r general,' the commisi=ary general and the surgeon general be qrested to transmit to this commission all complaints that have been received by them since April 1, 1898, touchir.g the conduct of the war. "Resolved second, That this commission invites and is ready and wil] receive and consider any complaint3 about the management of any of the various branches of the war department, from any person or persons; that we respectfully request that such complaints be made in writing, stating facts that the party may know of his own knowledgre plainly and in detail, giving names of any offlcers or enlisted men who may be charged with misconduct or incompetency, addressed to the secretary of the commission at Washington."