April 26. The Military Secretary,
Washington, D.C.
Confidential. Assumed control distribution relief supplies today. Officers and inspectors report fearful conditions indicating demoralization dishonesty and deception as might reasonally be expected from irregular services, voluntary and in many cases unorganized, this despite every effort on part of few devoted men who have worn themselves out in a task well nigh impossible. Officers and inspectors estimate that the numbers fed aggregate two hundred fifty thousand while ration issued equal one million. Every effort will be made to place service on a reasonable efficient stage which will require enormous application and considerable time. While conditions developed are appalling do not yet acknowledge incapacity to bring order and efficiency out of existing chaos.
Greely,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
