Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-08-03
SKATERS REPORT.
The Condition of tho Troops at
Santiago Rapidly Improving.
FOUR KEW 5PAPER CORRESPONDENTS.
Prove Troublesome and Are Expelled
From Cuba Criticisms Replied 20
Ia "a DiGnifed Manner by
General Shafter.


tiago was rapidly Improving and said
he hoped, in the course of day or
two, to have them all located in COM
Portable camps where they may rest
and recuperate, and where the sick
may recover. lie is feeding 1000 OF
the Spanish prisoners of war, and,
although he has not yet been able to
furnish them tents, this deficiency is
being made good and, meanwhile,
their present condition is no worse in
this respect than was their condition
before the surrender.
The general makes no mention of
the alleged letter from Garcia to him
self, nor does he speak OF any fric-
ton between them, whence the de-
partment has come to doubt the au-
thenticity of published stories on
these subjects.
In his report to the war department
relative to conditions at Santiago,
General Shafter has thrown some
light upon the difficulties in which
certain of the newspaper correspon-
dents there have involved themselves.
From his report it would appear that,
animated by an ambition TO take a
prominent part in the important
events following each other in rapid
succession at Santiago after the mi
tiation of the negotiations for the
surrender of tie city, a few of the
correspondents were guilty of grave
breaches of military law, necessitat-
ing prompt corrective action by Cen
eral Shafter. Thus, for instance, one
correspondent in his efforts to take
part in the flag raising over the city
ham, resisted the military officers in
the execution of their duty and even
attempted a personal assault upon
the commanding general. This made
him subject to summary and severe
punishment, even death, yet General
Shafter, probably realizing that igno-
rance Of military law was the expla-
nation Of the action, contented him
self with xpelling that correspon-
dent from Cuba.
A more serious offense, from the
fact that it might easily have led to
rioting and loss of life, was that cf
three other correspondents who. it
appears by General Skaters report,
by circulating infammatory posters,
stirred up the town. they were line
wise deported, and, as evidence that
he has no i'll feeling toward the pa
per represented by them, but desires
only to exercise such control as is
imperatively demanded in the inter-
est of safety to our troops and pro-
lection OF the people under their care,
General Shafter has declared that
these correspondents may be imme-
diately replaced by others from the
paper who will observe the rules of
prudence.
No mention is made of any other
cases requiring attention, and it is
indicated that the relations between
the newspaper men and the army
officers at Santiago are generally
amicable and satisfactory.
In very dignified manner General
Shafter takes notice of some of the
severely critica newspaper articles
that have appeared, touching the con-
dition of the troops before Santiago,
while they lay in the trenches. lie
admits that there was a shortage of
tobacco for time, but shows con-
clusiveay that there was no lack of
the necessaries of life, and that the
troops were adequately supplied with
hard bread. bacon, sugar and coffee.
nLthough this bill of fare is not as
extensive as that afforded troops in
garrison. it embodies the main feat
ures of the army ration while on the
field service aud removed from a base
of supplies.
As il has been alleged in some quar-
ters that there was lack of purpose
in the battles incident to the advance
upon Santiago, it is Interesting to note
that, while General Shafter admits
that for two days he was himself
lying i'll, owing to the great heat and
exposure, he asserts that the plans
laid down in advance for the move
ment we're carried out with absolute
eXactness.
With the week just closed the
United States saw the end of the third
month of the war with Spain, and the
responsible officials from the presi-
dent down to the lowest employee who
has TO do with shaping the course of
events, feel nothing but satisfaction
at the progress made. An army of
q quarter of a million men has been
modified, armed and equipped, and
much of it has seen service. The bat
tiles preceding the capture of Santi-
ago have been rema rkaDle in many
respects, and, in the opinion of mill
tary experts, have covered the United
States army engaged with imperish-
able glory. Modern warfare of type
developed in these engagements was
absolutely new and untrIed not only
TO the United States army, but to the
world.
No such charge is recorded in his
tory as that made upon the stone fort
and the blockhouses browning the
hills of FL Caney. There have been
engagements between trained troops
and savage races in the jungles OF
India and on the hills of South Africa
of late years that conveyed. in o
slight manner. the possibilities OF
modern weapons. But these battles
fought by the Fifth army corps have
been the first in which large bodies
of troops of civilized nations on both
sides have been engaged with all the
implements of modern warfare. and
the result is bound to be highly in
structive to the military student and
TO extort admiration for the splendid
Fighting qualities of the United States
soldiers from the most unwilling
critics. Few officers in any army have
hid more experience in Lard fighting,
especially in rough country, than
that old Indian fighter. General Hen
ry, so that some weight must be at.
tached TO the opinion expressed by
him in the following personal letter
addressed by him 70 Adjutant General
Corbin, dated front of Santiago, July
u:
We had pleasant sail down, but,
having to row the men ashore. took
some time TO get off. We left Sibo-
ney at p. m. yesterday with tRs
Eighth Ohio, and searne into cam !
--uere aboss-'hree miles from the front.
In company with General Rrecken-
ridge. rode to the front to Genera,
Wheeler's headquarters, and. flag
OF truce being up, had an opportunity