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Of the United States forces serving in this department, the organizations have remained the same as at the close of the fiscal year 1899. There have been but a few gains and losses as to officers and men, as shown by the following table:

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These troops have remained in the same quarters throughout the year, part of these quarters being repaired Spanish barracks, and part cheap frame buildings, with corrugated iron roofs. The necessary repairs and slight improvements have been made at the various posts. The most comfortable and satisfactory posts in the department are Rowell Barracks, at Pasa Caballos, and Hamilton Barracks, at Matanzas, but it is doubtful whether this additional comfort can be attributed to the new buildings erected at these two posts in accordance with American models. It is believed for the average location, away from the seacoast, that the Spanish barracks are preferable. The main disadvantage of these barracks is that they do not conform to the American system of having officers live in the immediate vicinity of the troops. In some instances we have been compelled to quarter officers some distance from their commands, and out of sight of them. In the cities some of the officers have lived at hotels, some in private houses, and all of them more scattered from the troops and from each other than is customary in our service. In other cases where they have been required to live in the immediate vicinity of their barracks, it has resulted in their being forced to live in quarters hardly suitable to officers of the American forces.

The number of officers absent from the troops and performing various civil and quasi civil duties, thereby affecting the instruction and efficiency of their regiments, has remained about the same throughout the year, In this connection attention is invited to my recommendation of July 10, in an indorsement on annual report of inspectorgeneral of the department, which recommendation is herewith renewed, as follows:

I fully concur in all that he says in reference to the necessity for additional officers. My experience, extending over two wars, convinces me that the exigencies of service, both in peace and in war, are such, and will probably always remain such, as to require a much larger percentage of officers than is at present allowed. In my judgment there should be 1 major, 5 captains, and 5 first lieutenants, extra, to every regi

ment in the Army, to meet the multifarious details that are always necessary where commands are widely scattered and where the troops are serving in actual warfare, especially in foreign countries.

While the detachment of the officers from their troops has resulted in injury to the latter, it is gratifying to say that all civil duties which have been intrusted to the officers have been fully and faithfully performed. In this connection comparison might well be made between the services rendered by military and civil officials. The accounts of all army officers receiving and disbursing island funds have been regularly inspected by the various officers of the inspector-general's department, and have in every instance been found to be correctly and honestly kept.

Military instruction has received careful attention throughout the past year, and the improved appearance and increased efficiency of the troops show sufficiently well the effects of it. As the result, however, of another year's experience in the tropics, it has been found advisable to crowd all indoor instruction, theoretical and practical, into the summer months, reserving the five months, November to March, inclusive, for active outdoor drill, target practice, practice marches, reconnoissance, and scouting.

The relations of the troops and the inhabitants of the country, with few exceptions, have been all that could be desired. The conduct of the inhabitants has been cordial and friendly. Perfect quietude and mutual forbearance have prevailed throughout the entire year, and no disorders or disturbances whatever have arisen requiring the presence of troops outside of their posts.

The multifarious duties devolving upon the adjutant-general's department have been promptly and faithfully performed. All the details, both of military and civil business, have been attended to by this department, and all orders for both military and civil business have emanated from this department, thus saving the expense of maintaining a separate office force. (For further details as to service performed see report of adjutant-general. Appendix A.)

The usual inspections of military posts have been made by the inspector-general of the department. In addition, much work has been done with reference to the condition of cities, and municipal affairs existing therein, and the inspector has been called upon many times for the investigation of particular questions arising. With reference to the latter questions, much of the work has been done by the inspector of police of this department. (Attention has been invited to reports of inspector-general and of inspector of police. Appendices B and I respectively.)

The work devolving upon the judge-advocate's office of this department has been thoroughly and satisfactorily performed. The amount of civil work thrown upon this office has greatly diminished, as the courts have become better organized and the people have learned to feel more confidence in the administration of the laws of the land. However, the civil business still requiring investigation and decision by this office consumes as much or more time than is required by the work arising in purely military administration. (For further details as to service performed see report of judge-advocate. Appendix C.)

The medical department has continued to discharge the various duties devolving upon it successfully and with credit to the officers. concerned. The sanitary inspections of all the larger cities have fallen

upon officers of this department, and the good conditions existing at present, by which these cities are freed from the yearly scourge of yellow fever and other tropical diseases, is in a large manner due to the efficient, intelligent, and earnest manner in which the work of sanitation has been performed. With the exception of the yellow fever now existing among the troops at Santa Clara, there have been no outbreaks of epidemics in the department, and in this instance the outbreak is one for which the troops themselves can not be blamed nor can the sanitary inspectors. It has been directly traced to houses which had been infected some years previous, by the occupation of Spanish troops, and the fact of this infection having been concealed by the inhabitants of the town, its existence could not be known to the sanitary inspectors, nor could it be successfully guarded against. So far as the troops are concerned the greatest loss of men from duty has been from venereal disease. This is partly owing to the fact that but little control is kept over the houses of prostitution by the civil authorities. Under my direction the houses have been regularly inspected, and weekly and biweekly inspections have been held of the individual soldiers, under the personal charge of the surgeons, with most satisfactory results. (Special attention is called to the report of Chief Surgeon Ives, in reference to this important matter. Appendix D.)

As in other administrative departments, the quartermaster's department has transacted a large share of the civil business. Disbursements from island funds for public works of all kinds have been made by army officers, and, wherever practicable, by the quartermasters. The chief quartermaster of the department has been the chief disbursing officer. At the same time the quartermaster's work with reference to the troops has been thoroughly performed. They have been well quartered, well clothed, and amply supplied with transportation, which is of excellent quality. (For further details as to service performed see reports of chief and disbursing quartermasters. Appendices E and F respectively.)

The work done by the subsistence department has been materially lessened by transferring the supply of food for the destitute to the different Alcaldes throughout the department. The ration furnished for the troops has been in the main satisfactory. Very few complaints or recommendations have been made, though all company and post commanders still insist that the profits of the post exchange are necessary for supplementing the ration furnished. In this connection I desire to renew my recommendation of July 10, that the ration of each soldier be increased by a daily allowance of 5 cents, to provide for the proper supply of fresh vegetables, and such articles as can be advantageously purchased where the troops may be serving, and to obviate the necessity of profits from the post exchange as an adjunct to the army ration. The supply of ice has not been as abundant nor as satisfactory as desired. A more liberal supply would be advantageous to the troops, and the supply for the civil population is entirely inadequate and too expensive. (For further details as to services performed see report of chief commissary. Appendix G.)

The duties of the signal service have been fully and satisfactorily performed. Some new telegraph lines have been built, others repaired, and the service in every way improved and bettered. The work falling upon this department has at times been heavy, especially in the recent elections, but it has fully performed all services demanded of it. The

telephone line from Trinadad to a connection with the central line of the island has not yet been constructed, but it is urgently needed, as I have frequently recommended. (For further details as to service performed, see report of signal officer. Appendix H.)

The work performed by the chief ordnance officer of the department has been merely routine office work, all supplies being furnished from the depot at Havana, except small arms ammunition, of which a small reserve supply has been kept on hand here. The duties of inspector of small arms practice have also been performed by the acting chief ordnance officer of the department. The course of instruction in target practice, prescribed by orders from division headquarters, has been held. (For further details see reports of ordnance officer and inspector of small arms practice. Appendices J and K respectively.)

There has been an immense amount of work devolving upon the office of the chief engineer of the department, all of which has been faithfully performed. Practically all of this work has pertained to the civil affairs rather than military, consisting of reconstruction of public works and sanitation. (For further details see report of engineer officer. Appendix L.)

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MATANZAS AND SANTA CLARA, MATANZAS, CUBA.

Staff officers on duty at department headquarters for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900.

PERSONAL STAFF.

James H. Reeves, first lieutenant Second Cavalry, aid-de-camp, acting ordnance officer and inspector of small arms practice, from January 31, 1899. This officer has served with great intelligence and fidelity, and to my entire satisfaction.

G. Soulard Turner, first lieutenant Tenth Infantry, aid-de-camp, from October 27, 1899. This officer has shown himself to be intelligent, active, and competent. Although recently appointed to the service, he is in every way qualified for the duties of his position.

Alga P. Berry, first lieutenant Tenth Infantry, aid-de-camp, acting ordnance officer and inspector of small arms practice, from October 14, 1899, to January 31, 1900.

DEPARTMENT STAFF.

E. J. McClernand, lieutenant-colonel, acting adjutant-general, U. S. Volunteers, adjutant-general from July 6 to August 20, 1899. This officer was relieved to accept the position of colonel in the Fortyfourth Regiment of Infantry, U. S. Volunteers. He was highly commended in my last year's report, and it gives me pleasure to add that he is an officer of the highest merit and character.

E. St. J. Greble, major, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Volunteers; adjutant-general from September 19, 1899, to February 21, 1900. This officer was relieved to accept a position on the staff of the majorgeneral commanding the division. During his service with me he showed himself to be an officer of high accomplishment, great ability, and strict attention to duty.

Sumner H. Lincoln, lieutenant-colonel Tenth Infantry; acting adjutant-general from February 27, 1900. This officer is a gallant veteran of the war of the rebellion and of the Spanish war, in both of which he was wounded. He has shown himself to be highly competent as an adjutant-general, and most conscientious and faithful in the performance of all his duties. He is again suffering from his wounds, and I trust will receive a leave of absence for surgical treatment as soon as the affairs of this department are closed.

J. H. Dorst, major, Second Cavalry; acting adjutant-general to July 6, 1899; acting inspector-general from July 7 to August 17, 1899. This officer, although he served with me but little over a month, impressed himself upon me as being worthy of the highest rank obtainable. He was strongly recommended by me, and left my staff to take command of the Forty-fifth Regiment of Infantry, United States Volunteers, at the date of its organization.

Frederick S. Foltz, captain, Second Cavalry; acting inspector-general to July 7, 1899; acting assistant inspector-general from July 7 to October 8, 1899; acting inspector-general from October 8, 1899; acting engineer officer from July 11 to 29, 1899, and from October 8 to 28, 1899. This officer has shown himself to be in every way capable of performing delicate and important duties, and has served with me to my entire satisfaction. His versatility well illustrates the advantage of an education at the United States Military Academy.

Harvey C. Carbaugh, major, U. S. Volunteers; judge-advocate to October 5, 1899; acting assistant adjutant-general from August 19 to September 19, 1899. This officer left me for duty in the judge-advocategeneral's department, where he is now serving. He showed himself to be in every way capable of performing the difficult and delicate duties with which he was charged.

William J. Glasgow, first lieutenant, Second Cavalry; captain and acting judge-advocate from October 5, 1899; aid-de-camp to October 4, 1899; acting ordnance officer to October 14, 1899; inspector of small arms practice from July 25 to October 14, 1899; acting adjutant-general from November 15 to December 5, 1899, and from February 21 to 27, 1900. This officer has served with me as aid-de-camp, ordnance officer, acting adjutant-general, and judge-advocate, and has discharged his various and exacting duties with fidelity, intelligence, and industry. James B. Aleshire, major, quartermaster, U. S. Volunteers; chief quartermaster to October 28, 1899. This officer served with me as chief quartermaster of the First Army Corps, which he moved from Kentucky to Georgia, and thence to the island of Cuba, where he became chief quartermaster of this department. He is intelligent, active, methodical, and capable of filling any position in his department, from Quartermaster-General of the Army to quartermaster of a department or division.

William H. Miller, major, chief quartermaster, U. S. Volunteers; chief disbursing officer of civil funds; acting chief quartermaster to November 6, 1899; chief quartermaster from November 6, 1899. This officer has served with me from the date of the consolidation of the Departments of Matanzas and Santa Clara as chief disbursing officer of civil funds. He has performed all of his duties to my entire satisfaction. He is methodical, watchful, careful, and competent to fill the highest position in his department.

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