The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-11


been acclima;ed and were equipped with
lsa guns There was still time, he sad.
to put is..o regular troops in healthy
camps until they could be used IN Cuba
with safety In order that the volunteers
should be speedily maae efficient. On April
Is Gen Miles wrote the secretary Of war
that they should Dc encampe5 for sixty
days in their respective states and Dis
c.piined and equipped and their officers
instructed, SO all-important. he said, to
health and efficiency.
Need of AccIimatfnE Men.
This preliminary work should be done
before the troops leave their states" wrote
Gen. Miles, who. in his report. adds this:
''Congrega ting tens OF thousands Of men,
many Of whom were not uniformed and
scarcely any properly equipped. in great
camps, away from their states, rendered
il difficult for them TO he properly sup
piled with food cooking utensils. camp
equipage and blankets. tentage. medical
| supplies, transportation, etc, and was 10
a great extent the cause, il my judgment,
/ Of the facilitating effect upon the health
! and strength OF the men, who were ether
wise IN good physical condition. The ma
| teriaI necessary 10 cIoIhe and equip large
! armies was not even manufactured at that
| time. and the consequent condition of the
| troops for weeks and months Was injurious
| TO the commands IN many ways
The report recites orders made by him.
| dated May 3, prescribing the proper equip
ment of the different commands. which,
| Gen. Miles says. were delayed In publica-
ton from May Is until that date.
Orders referred TO for the sending OF the
| regulars to New Orleans. Tampa and Mo
| bile 10 begin the invasion Of Cuba; for the
| gathering OF troops al Chickamauga and
| for the movement Of 10000 troops on Gu
ha, but none OF these movements ma
,ertalized. He says:
The wan. o. proper equipment and am
muniton rendered the movement imprac-
t!cab.e."
At this point there is brief DEPRESSION,
where In a paragraph Gen. Miles refers to
| Gen. Merritt's expedition as organized and
equipped and conducted as being success
| ful in every way.
Gen. Miles then pays an eloquent tribute
| 10 the brilliant exploits Of Leuts Rowan
and Whitney. who secretly explored Cuba
| and Porto Rico and ascerlained the mill
tary situations.
Wanted 20 Go With the Command.
He resumes the report with an account
of the dispatch of Gen. Skaters exped-
ton saving: Il desired 10 go with this
command"-his exact request on this point
as telegraphed from headquarters at Tam
pa was as follows:
This enterprise is SO important that l
desire TO go with this army corps or TO
Immediately organize another and so with
II To ion and capture position No. :. Now
that the military Is about to be used l be-
lieve 1t should he continued with every
energy making the most Juiicious exposi-
ton of il 10 accomplish the desired re-
suits"
He also stated
This expedition had been delayed
through no fault Of any one connected
with it, Ii contains the principal part OF
the army. which for intelligence and ehi-
cheney is not excelled by any body Of troops
on earth
The telegram was dated June ,. and the
day following Secretary Ager telegraphed
in reply;
THE president wants 10 know the ear
Hest moment you can have an expedition
AIRY force ready to so 10 Porto Rico large
enough to take and hold that island with"
OUT the force under Gel.. Shafter."
Gen Miles response was: In ten days
He next speaks OF the unsuira bility OF
transports WI lSA "tit AiNAA4AftiA LiIte4AN
steamers. and of the accumulation of troops
and supplies at Tampa, crowiing the ia
cilitles there and causing great delay.
Finally. the Santiago expedition sailed on
June "A and Gen Miles quotes an order is
sued by him TO Gen. Shafter. directing the
latter to make number OF Inquiries 20
ascertain whether every possible provision
had been made for the transports for the
hoe al Nlfac
wagons landing boats. etc, winding up:
II would suggest that thorough attention
be required to every detail in order 10 in
sure perfect order in the disembarkng OF
your command.
Summoned to Washington.
The order is dated june II. and June 10
Gen Miles received the following dispatch
from Secretary Alger:
important business requires your pres
ence here: report At once. Answer.
June - Cen Miles submitted to the sec
rotary OF WAR a written plan Of The cam
patgn Briefly stated. the points were:
That provisions be made for the recep-
ton o. at least $1,000 Spanish prisoners.
Thai. after capturing Santiago. some deep
water ports be taken on the north coast OF
Cuba That Nusvitas b. captured and
thai with cavalry and light artillery and a
small body OF infantry an advance he
made into Puerto Principe IN the interior
with troops. and thence move towards Ha-
vana. This would occupy the time until
September 90; the troops Ncul8 he Ia the
most healthy part of Cuba during the rainy
season and the prisoners could be employed
In roadmaking Should a Spanish force he
advanced ia villa Clara the er,irs United
States army could Toe thrown between that
point and Havana. the spanish army could
be divided and b. beaten In detail Should
that plan be rejected. then after capturing
Santiago the entire army shou.d be removed
20 TIE western end ~ tae Island and a
campaign made aEsiHs: Havana"
Gen Miles next recites A. order 10 him
self from Secretary Alger TO organize an
expedition for operations against the enc
ny In cuba and Porto Bco"
From tae order later June = Il appears
that an expedition was 20 - organized an
d>r the immediate command of Gen. Brooke
fer such movement. The command m