The record-union., 1898-08-05

Il write only because I cannot see
our men, who have fought so bravely
and who have endured extreme hard
ships and danger uncomplainingly, go
to destruction without striving so far
as lies in me. to avert a doom as fear
full as it is unnecessary and unde-
served. Yours respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
Colonel, Commanding First Bri-
gade.
After Colonel Roosevelt had taken
the initiative, all the American gem
eral officers united in a Round Robin
address to General Shafter. 1t reads:
We. the undersigned officers c,m-
manding the various brigades, divis-
ions, ETC., of the army of occupation in
Cuba, are Of the unanimous opinion
that this army should be at once TAX IN
out of the island of Cuba and sent to
some point on the northern sea coast
Of the United States, that it can be out
OF danger to the people of the United
States; that yellow fever in the army
at present is not epidemic; that there
are only few sporadic cases, but that
the army is disabled by malarial fever
to the extent that it's efficiency IS le-
stroyed, and that it is in condition to
be practically destroyed by an cpl
demic of yellow fever, which is sure
to come in the near future.
I'VE know from the reports of COM
petent officers and from personal OBJ
servations that the army is unable 10
move into the interior, and that there
are no facilities for such move if at
tempted, and that it could not be at
tempted until too late. Moreover, the
best medical authorities of the island
say that with our present equipment
we could not live in the interior during
the rainy season, with losses from ma
larial fever, which is almost as deadly
as yellow fever.
This army must be moved at once,
or perish. AS the army can be safely
moved now, the persons responsible for
preventing such a move will he re-
sponsible for the unnecessary loss of
many thousands of lives.
Our opinions are the result of care
full personal observation, and they are
also based on the unanimous opinion
of four medical officers with the army.
We understand the situation abso-
lutely. =.
j. Ford Kent. Major General Volun-
teers, commanding First Division, Fifth
Corps.
u. c. Bates, Major General Volun-
teers, commanding Provisional Divis-
ion.
Adam r. Chaffee Major General,
commanding Third Brigade, Second Di-
vision.
Samuel Summer, Brigadier General
Volunteers, commanding First Brigade
Cavalry
will Ludlow, Brigadier General Vol
unteers, commanding First Brigade,
Second Division.
"Adelbert Ames, Brigadier General
Volunteers, commanding Third Brigade,
First Division.
Leonard Wood. Brigader General
Volunteers, commanding city of San
tiago.
Theodore Roosevelt Colonel, COM
manding Second Cavalry Brigade
Major NJ w. Wood, the Chief Sur
geon of the First Division, said:
The army must be moved north
adding with emphasis, cor it will be un
able to move itself"
General Ames has sent the following
message to Washington:
THE Hon. Charles H. Allen, Assist
attn Secretary of the Navy: This army
is incapable because of sickness from
marching anywhere except to the
transports. If it is ever to return TO
the United States, it must do so at
once" @
To a correspondent of the Associated
Press General Ames said: IF / had
the power, l would put the men on the
transports at once and ship them north
without further orders. I am conf
dent such action would ultimately be
approved. A full list of the sick would
mean a copy Of the roster of every
company here"