This deplorable condition shows the necessity of adopting the German system of identification, the only effective one, whereby each soldier on being mobilized for a campaign is made to wear a medallion on which are engraved name, home, rank, and regiment, suspended from a chain tied around the neck. So long as the skele ton endures, this medallion will remain fastened to the spinal column and yield its information.

From the time we entered the general hospital commenced the Improvement of hos- active work of renovation and modernization, and this never pitals. ceased until the day when yellow fever compelled our evacuation. Bathrooms, water-closets, etc., were attached to each ward, pipes and sewers laid, old unde ground drains clogged with filth opened, torn up, and filled in. The genera' work of sanitation throughout the province is well known and needs no descriptic here. It is especially in the city of Santiago itself that it was carried out with system and thoroughness, under the supervision of four medical officers whose principal duty was to make house-to-house inspections.

The careful, every-day cleaning of Santiago had led us to hope Yellow fever in 1899. that yellow fever would probably not break out this summer except, perhaps, in a few sporadic cases of mild type, but we were doomed to disappointment.

On June 15 an American civilian was found with yellow fever (black vomit) in a dirty lodging house, where he had slept for several weeks, in Enramadas street; he was conveyed to the yellow fever hospital, where he died the next day, the postmortem confirming the diagnosis.

On the 16th 5 enlisted men from the Fifth Infantry, under observation at the general hospital, were also taken to the yellow fever hospital-2 from the band quarters, 1 from the guardhouse, 1 from the commissary storehouse, and 1 from the city. On the 17th another case occurred in the guardhouse; on the 18th 1 more in the guardhouse and another in some other part of the building. It had become almost certain that the Fifth Infantry barracks were infected in several places, especially the guardhouse and band quarters.

Officers and soldiers were not the only sufferers in this epidemic. American civilians, mostly Government employees, and a few Spaniards were likewise attacked, cases occurring in hotels, lodging houses, and even private houses, so that by the end of July at least a dozen distinct foci of infection could be traced.

A cause of great concern to the medical department was the infection of the gen eral hospital, produced by the cases brought to its isolation and observation wards from the Fifth Infantry barracks. The grounds were so extensive that such course seemed justifiable, but it was running a risk, which events showed to be an unreasonable one. The general hospital was accordingly vacated early in July, and it has been determined, with keen regret, not to occupy it again as a military hospital. but to turn it over to the city as a civil hospital.

To the several reasons advanced to explain this epidemic, such as the disinterment of yellow fever bodies, the digging of streets to lay pipes, etc., I am not inclined to attach much importance.

In my opinion there is no such thing as acclimation in Cuba for North American soldiers; a few months, or even a year or two, will give them no immunity whatever against tropical diseases, and may benefit them only by teaching the absolute necessity of temperate habits. Only one thing immunizes against yellow fever, and it is an attack of the disease. Malarial fever prevails all over the province, and no white or colored American soldier is safe against it; it decreases somewhat in the winter mouths, but much less than had been expected, while altitude, if more than 300 or 400 feet, has a distinct effect upon it. All American troops coming to Cuba at any season will suffer more or less from malarial fever and other tropical diseases, especially if camped under canvas, being then exposed to many great and sudden changes of temperature; thus, during the winter, the Fifth Immunes, in tents, had a rate of sickness at least twice as great as that of the Fifth Regulars, in barracks. It seems possible, by building comfortable barracks on high and salubrious sites, to reduce malarial fever to a minimum of 3 or 4 per cent. As to yellow fever, it may break out in any town in spite of all ordinary precautions, and soldiers can only avoid it by remaining in the country, either in barracks or in tents.

NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS.

The annual inspection of this important and constantly growing institution was made by Maj. C. H. Heyl, inspector-general, accompa nied by Mr. W. T. Kent, accountant of the Inspector-General's Department, and occupied the time from August 9 to November 12, 1898.

This was the first inspection of the Home under paragraph 866 of the Army Regulations as amended by General Orders, No. 56, Headquar

ters of the Army, May 27, 1898, which provides that this inspection may be made by any officer of the Inspector-General's Department, instead of by the Inspector-General in person, as was previously the

case.

The inspection showed that a praiseworthy desire for an economic administration of affairs pervades the entire institution, that excellent results had been obtained, and that the officers of the various Branches had shown very commendable zeal and efficiency; that they have generally maintained a very satisfactory state of discipline, and that their efforts seem directed with kindly consideration toward the welfare of the veterans as well as toward a strict compliance with the laws aud regulations governing the Home.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, the population of the Home, as shown by the trimonthly reports from all the Branches, ranged from 17,756 on July 10, 1898, to 19,671 on February 20, 1899, and the average population for the entire year was 18,835, an increase of 265 over the average for the fiscal year 1898 and of 657 over that for the preceding year, 1897.

The first members for the new Branch at Danville, Ill., were reported January 30, 1899, when 142 were present, and the membership of that Branch ranged from that number to 249 on June 30, 1899, and the average population for the period from January to June was 218. So the actual increase during the fiscal year at the other seven Branches was only 47. The wonder, however, is not that the increase at these Branches was so small, but rather that there could be any increase whatever, since the Homes have long been overcrowded, even with aged and infirm men sleeping in all kinds of out-of-the-way and unsuitable places. Many of the worthy veterans who desire to avail themselves of the benefits of the Home must necessarily be denied for lack of room and accommodations. It has often been pointed out that this grave difficulty might be overcome or ameliorated if means were provided for carrying into effect the outdoor relief already authorized by law, and very many of the worthy veterans themselves would hail such a provision with the greatest satisfaction. The fiscal affairs of the Home are shown in Appendix C.

Outdoor relief.

It is not understood that outdoor relief is in the same favor with the Board of Managers of the Volun teer Home as with the regulars, the latter having 32 per cent in 1898 of its members under this heading. But, if it should seem desirable, the following tabulation indicates the absolute amount of money turned into the surplus fund from the appropriations for the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers from 1893 to 1897, and the number of men per year that could have been furnished outdoor relief, at $8 per month, by using the surplus fund alone, which amounted to nearly a million in five years:

It is thought by some that the maximum membership of these Homes will not be reached in something like eight years, and the number of veterans unsuccessfully applying for admission is only diminished temporarily by the erection of new Homes which may not be needed long; but if outdoor relief, say of $8 per month, was offered in lieu of admission, it would be availed of not only by many now in the Homes, but also have a tendency toward reducing the number of applicants, thus more fully meeting an exigency necessarily temporary in character. This expenditure seems to be warranted by section 4833 of the Revised Statutes, which is as follows:

The Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers are authorized to aid persons who are entitled to its benefits by outdoor relief in such manner and to such extent as they may deem proper, but such relief shall not exceed the average cost of maintaining an inmate of the Home.

The plan has been tried and works admirably at the Regular Home and it is understood it is in vogue and considered with favor at several of the State Homes, and only requires authority to use the surplus already accumulating annually, as shown in the preceding table.

SOLDIERS' HOME, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Under the act of Congress of March 3, 1883, the Inspector-General of the Army is required to make in person, once each year, a thorough inspection of the Home, its records, accounts, management, discipline, and sanitary condition, and make report thereof in writing. The last annual inspection was made during the week ending July 22, 1899, and report thereof submitted, accompanied by the usual exhibits concerning men, money, supplies, and other matters. A summary of the report is shown in Appendix D.

MILITARY INSTRUCTION AT COLLEGES.

The connection of the War Department with military instruction at agricultural colleges and State and private institutions of learning dates back to 1866, when Congress authorized the detail of twenty army officers to duty at colleges as instructors of military science and tactics. This number was gradually increased by various acts of Congress until now there are authorized for this duty 100 army officers of the active list and an indefinite number of the retired list, and under the act of May 14, 1870, arms and equipments were provided for these colleges.

In 1887 the first inspections by this Department of the military feature and organization of these colleges were made, which resulted in renewed efforts and a largely increased number of colleges giving improved military instruction under army officers. Since then inspections have been regularly made in the spring near the close of the college year, which was the most acceptable time, except in 1898, when the officers detailed had been previously withdrawn on account of being more urgently needed for active field service, and in 1899, because the lack of officers prevented a renewal of these details. But it is believed (and known in some instances) that the military organization and instruction, being firmly established and recognized as a valuable factor of education, was not discontinued altogether with the withdrawal of the army officers, which seems to have been accepted as a very temporary emergency. Two colleges only have been inspected at the particular request of their authorities, as follows: University of Wisconsin, at Madison, and Michigan Agricultural College, at Lansing.

The excellent work carried on at these colleges, where more than 15,000 young men annually received military training by a corps of experienced army officers, has not been without beneficial results; and the United States have been fortunate in having so large a field to select from in recruiting its forces, whether commissioned or enlisted. The material is superb, and none better can be found anywhere. It is sincerely hoped and earnestly recommended that some way may be found, which will not interfere with operations in our new possessions, by which military instruction can be resumed under the supervision of army officers, and that representatives of these battalions be assembled in an annual encampment under perfect arrangements. The colleges desire it, and the Government can hardly afford to widen the breach which has already engulfed a whole school year and threatens another. Would it not be well to give those officers a chance who, on account of wounds or disease or long service in the tropics, are in need of a change, but still capable or desirous of performing light duty? The minimum amount of work prescribed (vide General Orders, No. 93, AdjutantGeneral's Office, 1893) is only one hour per week for theoretical and two hours per week for practical instruction. There should be no difficulty in finding a sufficient number of capable officers who would prefer a detail of such light duty to enforced idleness. Our standing Army, which must remain the center whence military information emanates, is our main reliance for disseminating knowledge gained by practice and experience, and inculcating correct military principles and imbuing the young generation with patriotism and a martial spirit. The more young men we train annually in military affairs the stronger grows the nation as a military power, and the more reliable and commendable the care and conduct of the men in the ranks; and it is our traditional policy to rely upon impressing the people with correct military principles and knowledge.

INSPECTION SERVICE.

The departmental system of inspections which was inaugurated by General Orders, No. 11, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General's Office, series of 1898, has now been in operation for about eighteen months. It superseded the six inspection districts into which the United States had previously been divided and which gave thoroughly satisfactory service in all that pertained to inspections and their central supervision, and insured intelligent and uniform methods with increased efficiency and beneficial results to the service. But all may not prefer such incisive and effective inspection, though it is believed that it did not arouse any new opposition among the regiments or companies of our organized fighting force.

If uniformity, efficiency, regularity, and completeness of inspections are desirable in the system of general inspection, it must be recognized that under the department system the department commander orders all inspections of matters under his immediate control, but the Secretary of War orders all other inspections, which cover many millions of dollars; and there is, therefore, a dual control which is liable to interfere with the prompt discharge of the duties imposed, and unconsciously hamper uniformity and effective supervision. When all inspections were prescribed in orders and regulations, which insured complete, thorough, and uniform annual inspections of everything and an effective central supervision, the good results of an unhampered inspection, under the closest touch and sympathy with the Secretary of War and MajorGeneral Commanding, were very clearly demonstrated by experience,

so that the military service has been particularly free from irregularities or aspersions where the general inspection has been directed by and reported only to the immediate superiors of this Bureau; and the evil results when this general inspection is obstructed or unduly hampered by others have been also demonstrated.

During the last lustrum it is believed that a thoroughly satisfactory and irreproachable method was adopted, at least, as far as the line of the Army was concerned, in response to an appeal submitted to the Honorable Secretary of War; and perhaps some of the success then attained may again appear desirable. In an indorsement to the Secre tary of War of July 15, 1889, from this Bureau it was stated that

Whatever pertains to general inspection in the United States military forces and War Department, the Inspector-General's Department is ready and zealous to do and asks to be wholly trusted with, and craves in doing it the assistance and support of all who wish well to the service. If we are to be excluded from our proper sphere of activity and responsibility or handicapped by inadequate or half hearted assistance the best results can not be expected. And this leads directly to an appeal to the Secretary to give this Department a moment's kindly thought and attention if he can make the time, and then give it the force, the amount and importance of its work demands, not only within these walls but everywhere the honesty and efficiency of the military service is most thoroughly established.

Congress was asked to bestow some essential increase, and it was understood the Secretary, General Sheridan, General Schofield, and one or both military committees approved.

The working force is so small that if it were doubled it still would hardly be noticed except for the good it may do.

By its organization it is almost precluded from doing any harm, but may do good, and if improved and strengthened it can be made capable of much further benefit to all phases of the public service. The mere incidental statement early in this indorsement showing that the few officers in this Department have over a thousand regular inspections to make, located every where and including almost every military subject and incident, and often touching closely the honor or efficiency of the service, indicates these officers are not idlers nor untrustworthy, and yet these inspections are hardly half of what is or ought to be required of us.

Both the number and importance of these inspections have since been vastly increased.

The return to the departmental system of inspections at a time when we were on the eve of war seems to have been a step backward, and in the general readjustment may have been the cause of overlooking matters in the earlier stages of mobilization which should have had the attention of inspectors. It is the legalized fighting organization-the brigades, the divisions, the corps, and the Army-which deserves the first attention and assignment of inspectors. There was a general readjustment of officers and service throughout the entire military establishment during the preparation for war both in 1861 and 1898; and line officers were promoted and detailed to perform staff duties, and staff offi cers given command of troops with a higher rank in the Volunteer Army, as must always be expected in a skeleton army on declaration of war. And in the matter of handling inspection reports it is found that the reports which do reach the office are not received so regularly or promptly as was formerly the case, and some have never reached this office, thereby making the records here incomplete.

In some cases reports of inspections made on the recommendation of the Inspector General have appeared in the public press before they were received in the office of the Inspector General of the Army.

Can it not be fairly recognized that under the Secretary's immediate directions the inspection service and the reports thereof pertain to this Bureau, and that on it should rest the responsibility for a complete, prompt, and thorough general inspection of all branches of the military service, and the proper handling of the reports thereof as they are received in the War Department.