The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-05
THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.
GEN. LABToNs TESTIMONY As TlKEN
BIZ COL. DENNY.

He Describes the Landing and Advance of
His Troops TO Ell Cnney, and Says There
Was No Suffering hat Could Have Been
Avoided-Dificulty in Landing Supplies.
WARRINGTON. Nov. 4.-Col. DENLY this after
noon made public the testimony OF Major-Gen.
| II. w. Lawton. which was given on Oct. 81,
while the commission was on It's Southern trip.
Gen. Lawton said that the instructions pre-
scrlbing the order OF landing In Cuba contem-
plated the assistance OF the navy. The landing
occupied moro time than was anticipated. rs
the sea was quite rough and the operation
very difficult. He saw no accidents in the con-
fusion. and as soon as the greater portion Of
his division was on shore he advanced on
Siboney, whence the Spaniards reiterated. He
sent q force of fifty Cubans ahead. and
they had a skirmish with tho enemy
at Guasimas. Gen. Wheeler arrived and
advanced on Guasimas and attacked tho Span
iards. Gen. Chaffee was sent to reinforce him.
and later Gen. Lawton himself moved to the
front. Caney was found to be q strongly forti-
fed town. and Gen. Lnwton and Gen. Chaffeo
consulted Gen. Shafter. laying their plans be-
fore him. He approved them. and instructions
were issued so that on the morning OF July 1
each brigade proceeded toward designated po-
sitions about Caney. Caney was taken and q
battalion was sent to take care OF the wounded.
do you know II all the wounded were
found?" asked Col. DENLY.
Every man in my mman was accounted
for except one. and he was atterward accounted
for. There were no ambulances, but the sur
geons had provided themselves with every
thing they thought necessary. The men were
practically without any cover. though q great
many had shelter tents. The supplies were In
fairly good shape. Some were brought in pack
trains and some in wagons. The roads were so
bad that the mules could carry only half a load"
Where do you fix the responsibility OF not
having tents there? 2"
II don't fix it at all" answered Gen. Lawton.
because 1 do not think there was any respon-
slbility aboutit. They were without tents from
the fact that it was impossible to unload them
from the ships. 1t is a difficult matter to unload
a ship in a rough. sea. The sea was so rough
5deosnsedh.' T Thsrs s we're sn fe% eon phd Is from aOt the
men,"
lying uncared for in the bushes. There. was a
great deal Of sickness because OF the climPte.
Had the. rations or the want of retions Of
as \ th i9i; P { had. If we had tents and tent
cooking; there would perhaps have been : little
less sickRe ssSj,t bat to- to P nro y t tent and d the the
my experience. and / have had a great deal"
ton ali the clrcSmstSness no serious or gross
mistakes were made. There was no lack Of
care on the part OF any OF those In authority.
we had with u.s." he said. "as fine staff
officers as there are in the world, No, better
desy, and no human being can do more than
they. Everything was furnished that could be.
can't see that there was any trouble: T we
Influenced the health Of the men. II we had
waited. 80 per cent; would have been sick.
was being rapidly destroyed by sickness when
1t was recalled"
Gen. Lawton could not see how It could be
done differently il IL had to be done over again.
He did not think the navy should have control
OF the transports. The army should have abso-
Lutte control Of transports, The, army and
navy in his opinion won't,a act together, Two
men cannot the same Affair." he
added.