The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-03

was seriously considering Withdrawing five miles
so as to get near the railroad. He describes the
present condition of the army. with Wheeler and
Young sick, Hawkins wounded and himself con-
fned to the tent four days by the heat. He also
speaks OF urging Sampson to an entrance. but the
text of this telegram has been published, both
in the report of General Shafter and General
Miles. The secretarys answer has not been. It.
with Skaters retoinder' was as follows;
Washington July 3, 1910 p. m
major General Shafter. Playa del Este:
Your first dispatch received. or course, you
can irdge the situation better than we can at this
end of the line. IT. however. you could hold your
present position especially San Juan heights. the
effect unon the country would be much better
matter 10 you. This is only suggestion. We
shall send you reinforcements at once.
r. "a. ALGER,E Secretary OF War"
playa del Este. via Haiti creceived Washing
1.-THE Honorable Secretary of War. Washington:
Headquarters Fifth Corps. July s.-shall hold
''sHAFTER, Major General
July Adjutant General Corbin telegraphed
ments he wanted, and told Of the starting from
this country for Santiago of 200 troops from
Tampa, 5000 from Newport News and 1900 from
Charleston The secretary supplemented TINS lat
er in the day with the following dispatch:
We are forwarding reinforcements 70 you TN LLlls ,
some one should come to relieve you? Are you
going to be able TO stand through? What do you
'R A. ALGER Secretary of War
In dispatch Of the same date TO Shafter, Sec
Ietary Algef directs him to intercept al press
dispatches and make report to him at the close
of each day of events of special importance.
FIRST NEWS OF CERVERAS PURPOSE.
"A dispatch dated. Camp. Santiago. July g..
from Shafter to the secretary Of war conveys the
first news Of the attempted escape of the Spanish
fleet. Lieutenant Allen had reported that Ger
vera had started out about 10 o'clock that morn
| ing Duffield had telephoned from Siboney that
Sampson had signaled for the chase. and the
French consul had informed General Garcia that
Cervera going out at about 10 o'clock, having
told the consul that it was better to die fighting
than TO blow up his ships in the harbor.
On the day Shafter reports that he had
demanded the surrender of Santiago under threat
OF bombardment, but up to 4:3O had received no
answer He saws: 1.-THE situation has been pre-
carious on account of the difficulties of supplying
command with food and the tremendous fighting
eapabity shown by the enemy from @ ms h aose says
that he is physically exhausted still, but had
eaten little for the first time in four days.
Shafter transmits copies of his demand Tor the
surrender of Santiago, and the reply, refusal
CT date Of July g. and then shows that he post
| poned the bombardment until noon OF the 5th In
order to allow the foreign consuls to remove
their people to Ell Caney. He explains TO the
submits the matter to the President. The con-
suls had told Colonel Dorst that there We're not
to exceed 5000 troops in Santiago and that Shat-
ter could starVe them out, letting the noncom-
batants come out leisurely The secretary repled
that, for humanity's sake, he approved the post
ponement of the bombardment as proposed lnougn
| Shafter would be justified in carrying out the
| original threat. Later the same DAY Genefdl
| Corbin directed Shafter to use his own Judgment
| about how to take the city, only, Tor MANIFEST
| possible The secretary also added snort tele-
! gram saying that he had not intended TO direct
| Skaters movements, as he was the pest Juage
| of the situation and the country had every Ialtn
| in his wisdom. Later still, on July T. the follow
| ing telegram was dispatched:
i major General Shafter Playa del Este Cuba:
/ After conference with the President and the
secretary of war l am directed to say your con-
tinued illness brings sorrow and anxiety In case
| YOU are disabled General Wheeler would, of
/ course, succeed to command HIS illness, Wnch
| we also regret is feared to be serious as TO
prevent his assuming command. You must de-
/ termine whether your condition is such as 70
| REQUIRE you to relinOush command If so. and
| General Wheeler is disabled you will order the
next general officer in rank for duty to succeed
| you and take up the work in hand. 1t is not ex-
| pecteG that your forces will make assault until
| they are ready. o,,
The response follows:
Camp Near Santiago, Cuoas July ..
| "Adjutant General, Washington:
Il not at present so much Ill as exhausted
| from the intense strain that has been on me fo'
! the last two months. l am also suffering from
| an attack of gout, which prevents me from NOV
| ing about I have, however, the whole business
in my hand and am managing it through able
/ staff officers. When do have 10 give up Will.
| better soon SHAFTER
Major General Commanding"
PANDO ENTERS SANTIAGO.
On the Sd General shafter reported that PandO
could not get into Santiago, but on the 4th he re-
ports Pando's entry, with 5000 troops from Hol-
| gum and asked about his reinforcements.
| ON the 9Th Shafter reported that he was RETURN
| ing the Spanish wounded, he being satisfied that
such a course would the seeds Of dissatisfac-
tion in the Spanish ranks, as, he says. 'the SOL
diers said they We're fighting the church and were
| In a telegram dated San Juan, July 4, Shafter
4 saws: II regard 1t necessary that navy force
an entrance into the harbor OF Santiago TIA NOT latet %
/ than the 9Th inst, and assist IN the capture OF
that place. II they DO, De4leVe tiie plaEs WIFI
surrender without further sacrifice OF life:
| A supplementary telegram declared that II the
| army was to take the place alone, 1900 troops
| We're wanted speedily. and then it was not Ger
| tain account of the stormy weather ana a
/ surer way was through the bay. In reply, he was
| told on July s. by General Corbin to confer with
/ Sampson at once for cooperation in taking San
| tiago and latter the fullest expression of views,
you will agree upon the time and place OF at
In the afternoon of the same day General Cor.
! bin telegraphed that the secretary Of war founc
/ II evident from your several reports that you do
| not consider your force strong enough to make u
! successful assault upon the Spanish army IN
! the point of wisdom to await reinforcements. the
| embarkation of which you have already been ad-
| yised You must be the judge of the time and
! manner Of assaults The President has directed
| that you and Admiral Sampson have conference
| and determine upon course OF cooperation pest
! calculated to secure desired results with least
S'tT The NEXT dav Sbafter was telegraphed: 1.-THE
| secretary of war is anxious to know what pres
| pect there is of breaking through the mines lt0
| will be very glad, even with delay, to have CO.
/ VI
! July Shafter telegraphed that, after conSulta-
| ton with Sampson the navy was disfnclined to
force entrance, except as last resort, would bonn
bard city for twenty-folp hours, and then Try 70
! force the entrance with small ships. He had
/ made another demand for Torals surrender,
| which he hoped would succeed He says: "As a
| last resort I will try running In transports.
| don't consider my force sufficient to warrant an
| assault the city, though ! believe it would be
| successful, but at fearful loss, of course IL
| would be criminal to hope for the end to be
| gained which is merely the capture of a few
| thousand men, and when II is seen we are
| getting them by siege
| Shafter was telegraphed that 1t reported
| here that his men We're without food. He replied
| on the 9th that the day of the battle the men
/ had piled up and left their blankets and haver-
| sacks and were not able to get them until the
| next night. Some of them may have been hungry,
| but On the night of the battle pack trains de-
| livered food along the line. They were without
tobacco for several DAYS, Ii was only by great
| exertion that coffee, sugar meat and bread could
| be got OF these the had full rations,
| though coffee was lacking for twenty-four hours.
| MILES STARTS FOR SANTIAGO.
| The next communication is a note from General
| Miles at army headquarters at Washington an
nouncing his intention OF leaving Washington on
the following night. Two days later, July 8, the
| following dispatch was sent:
| Washington, July s.
''Mator General Shafter. Playa del Este:
| Secretary of directs me to inform that
/ General Miles left here at 10:45 last night fol
Santiago, but with instructions not to in any man
/ supersede YOU as commander of the forces In
| the field near Santiago long you able for
/ duty ii. G. CORIlN, AdJutant General.
| The following dispatches announce the sailing
| Of Miles on the Yale, his arrival at Sboney, and
| the extension of the line of investment. On the
| sth General Corbin asked Shafter II he recon-.
| mended the armng of his volunteers with Krag-
Jorgsnsens. and the reply was Immediately as