The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-09-08
MILES WAS IN COMMAND.
Kansas City Star Correspondent Says lie
Was Recognized as Being
over Shafter.

KANSAS CITY, Sept. 6.-rhe Star yes.
terday afternoon printed more matter
from its special war correspondent, Mr..
w. j. Whelpley, touching on the Alger-
Miles controversy, which said in part;
"The statement made semi officially
from Washington that Major General
Miles was not in command of the San.
tiago expedition up to the time it left
Tampa is not borne out by the official
records of the war department. These
records prove that Miles not only con.
Quoted the preliminaries with General
Garcia but was then recognized by the
war department as general command.
ing even General Skaters army.
"The details of General Skaters &C.
tual equipment and method of move.
ment were naturally left to Shafter,
but general plan was devised by Gen.
eral Miles, and directions were issued
to General Shafter by him which, after
leaving Tampa, the latter entirely ig-
nored."
The above is shown, according to The
Star, by three letters. The first of these
kilograms is from General Miles TO
General Garcia, sent from Tampa, Fla,
June 3, saying in part:
"It would be very great assistance
if you could have as large force as
possible in the vicinity of the harbor Of
Santiago de Cuba and communicate
any information, by signals, which
Colonel Hernandez will explain to you,
either to our navy or to our army its
arrival, which we hope will be before
many days.
"lU would also assist us very much if
you could drive i'll and harrass any
Spanish troops near or in Santiago de
Cuba, threatening or attacking them
at all points, and preventing by any
means possible reinforcements coming
to that garrison. While that is being
done and before the arrival of our army,
if you can seize and hold any com
manding position to the east and west
of santiago, or both, that would be ad
vantageous for the use OF our artillery,
it will be exceedingly gratifying to us. I"
The second dispatch Is Garcia s reply
showing, The Star asserts, AN under
standing with General Miles as to u
plan of campaign. 1t is sent by Lieu
tenant Colonel Allen, who said Acting
Admiral Sampson gave it to him to
send.
The third dispatch is from the war
department at Washington, and is
much the same in substance as the Sec
ond dispatch. 1t says:
"WAsHINGToN, June IL.
Major General Miles, Tampa, Fla:
"The following extract of telegram
from Admiral Sampson to secretary OF
navy repeated for your information:
MOLE ST. NICOLAS, Haiti-General
Miles letter received through Colonel
Hernandez, on June g.. Garcia regards
his wishes and suggestions as orders
and Immediately will take measures to
concentrate forces at the points in
dicated, out he is unable to do so a.
early as desired on account of his eXpa.
dltion TO Banes port, Cuba bat he will
march without delay. All OF his subor-
dinates are ordered to assist TO disem-
bark the United States troops and TO
place themselves under orders. San.
tiayo de Cuba well fortified, with ad.
vanCed entertainments, but he believes
position for artillery can be taken, as
Miles desires.
"(Approximate) $4,000 regulars and
5000 militia between Santiago and
Guantanamo. He has sent force in
order to prevent aid going to Santiago
from Holquin. Repeats every assur-
anCe of good will and desire to second
plans.-Sampson.
81. g. GILMORE,
Assistant Adjutant General"