Items of Interest August 10, 1899 Issue

Items of Interest

July 31, Secretary Alger gave out for publication that part of his statement which relates to his administration of the war department. He calls attention to the magnitude of the work to be accomplished when within sixty days from the declaration of war the strength of the army was increased from twenty-five thousand to two hundred and seventy-five thousand, and everything for the equipment of this great force had to be manufactured and distributed. He places the responsibility for the appointment of the officers of the volunteer army upon President McKinley; the appointments are defended, however. The retiring secretary denied that there was any improper use of funds. This defence of his administration and incidentally of President McKinley was his last important act in the office of Secretary of War, and his official title was appended to it.

Mr. Holls, secretary of the American delegation to the Peace Conference, in the course of an interview, said, "There are a few facts which are better than any argument. It is a fact that nearly all of the eminent diplomats who were delegates to the Conference, came here two months ago sceptical, if not cynically pessimistic, and it was freely rumored that they would soon leave the work to their underlings. Yet hardly one has even been absent from a single sitting; and those who were most ready to stop at the beginning are now most deeply impressed with the value of the work."

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