Evening star., 1898-12-21
STORY OF SANTIAGO
General Miles Testifes Before the
War Commission.
INSUFFICIENT MEDICAL SUPPLIES
Food Sent to Porto Rico Had to Be
Condemned.
REQ ESTS NOT HEEDEV

Lieut.. Col. John A. Miley chief aid 70
| Gen. Shafter, who was prominent figure
at the surrender Of Santiago. was examined
| by the war investigation commission today.
! Gov. Beaver reminded the witness that
Gen. Shafter had stated yesterday that hts
| aid has personal knowledge of many events
and details concerning the campaign If
which he only knew by report. He request
| ed Col. Miley TO state in his own way all
| facts within his personal knowledge in elab-
oration and in addition TO the general stajc-
| mcnts by Gen. Shaftcr.
| Col Miley then detailed the transfer of
| Gen. Skaters headquarters from New Or
| leans to Tampa and the preparation there
| for the various expeditions which cuiminat-
ed after some time in the dispatch OF the
| forces to Santiago. He said that before
| leaving Tampa the men were given every
| facility for bathing and shore privileges.
| He quickly and briefly described the deparl-
| ure Of the transports their arrival in Cuba.
| the landing and the formation of the troops
| preparatory to the attack upon Santiago and
| El Caney. He detailed the orders he car
! ried to the various generals from Gen.
Shafter and the movements OF the troops
upon San Juan hill.
| The Spanish Intrcnchmcuts.
Gen. Beaver: What was the character
of the intrenchments?
! Col. Miley: They were pits dug in the
/ earth thr5e OF four feet deep and several
yards wide. The ear.h Was not thrown up
/ in front of them, is usual but was scat
| tered over the surface in front. At first
they were not discovered. 1t was impossi-
be to discover them by the glass or from
| elevations"
Gen. Beaver: WAS there any wire
barbed wire-in front Of them?'
Col. Miley: NO. sir. All over the land
there We're barbed wire fences to divide
| the properties, but not placed there for
purposes of defense"
Gen. Beaver: Was any preparation mada
| 20 ascertain the position of the Spanish
| forces prior to the attack
Col. Miley: Yes, sir; the day before, aEt
| again at noon on the 3oth. But they Mvga
very much in evidence"
| He went on further TO describe the ef-
| forts of Gen. Shafter and the other gAner-
| ais to determine the character of the eng
rny's lines and the nearness of their APP
proach to the Spanish pickets.
| Col. Miley: "A great deal has been said
| about Spanish sharpshootcrs behind our
| firing lines. L want TO say that L do not
believe there ever was single Snapshots
/ er back of firing line"
Gen. Beaver: Then there were rumorS,
| and you investigated them?'
| About Spanish SharpshoOters.
| Col Miley-"Yes. sir There were rumors
and they were at once inquired into. on
I
| ing line stated that they We're being fired
| upon from the trees. In 10 case could a
| sharpshooter be found. There were uu-
doubtedly q number between the Spanish
| and American lines. because they fired at
night apon our pickets and into our camps,
! but there never were any back of our fir
! ing line or our flank who fired into our
| hospitals or upon our wounded, as has 50
often been stated"
IL, L, 81
| the Spanish rifles have something TO do
with this?'
| Col Miley-"Yes. sir. 1t was mere dam
gerous half a mile in our rear than il was
| on our firing line Their rifles had carrying
power over TWO miles, ard they fired from
| elevations a long distance away into our
| lines
| Gen Beaver-"Was Gen. Skaters head
| quarters located at a place where il would
| be most convenient to observe the joint op-
| erations against Ell Caney and Santiago
and where he could most easily cOmmuni-
| cate with his forces?'
Col Miley-"Yes, sir. on account Of the
roads. 1t was the best place.
Gen BeaYer-''The Spanish forces were
absolutely On the defensNe?'
Col. Mey-"Yes. sir; always"
Gen Beaver-'SO far as your observation
went. how were the wounded treated on
the firing line and in the hospitals
Col MMey-"Judging by the intelligence
displayed by the doctors, l should say that
| they were well cared for. l visited the
I'd, Sd and 4th, in particular and l believe
everything was done that could be done
Gen. Beaver-'Did you hear any rumors
that wounded men crawled off into the
bush and died?"
Col. MIey-"Yes sir, and every effort
was made to find them. 1 found one body
myself"
Gen. Beaver-"was it despoiled by vuI-
tures?'
Col MIley-"No. sir"
Gen. Beaver-"Did the presence Of the
vultures serve TO indicate the dead in the
bushes?"
Col. Miley-'No, sir. There were so many
of them and they were everywhere"
Gen. Merritt a Visitor.
Gen. Wesley Merritt and his aid. in civil
ian dress, at this point interrupted the pro-
ceedings. The comission gave Gen Merritt
a cordial welcome, but he only remained a
few minutes.
Col. Miley. resuming, stated his part IN
the surrender of the Spaniards al Santiago,
and at the garrisOns in Cuba. He said that
about 205OO men and arms were sur
rendered.
Gen. Beaver-"In general, what is your
impression of the camp at Santiago and
the facilities affordedg'
Col. Miley-"l THINK the camp was most
excellent in every respect"
Gen. Miles Witness
General Miles furnished another surprise
today by appearing for the purpose of Civ
ing evidence. He was accompanied by
stenographer, who took down the testimony
he gave, regardless of the commissions
shorthand expert.
do you wish to be sworn, General
Miles?' asked General Dodge, president Of
the commission.
Il think I can say what I have TO say
without being sworn decisively responded
General Miles.
General Beaver began the examination
n he Wit NV nSlrf ~
name and rank, which he did.
General Beaver-'-IO what extent did you
observe the way the supply department fur
nished supplies for the army during the
campaign"
General Miles-"My observation covered
the entire army, far II could" He
described the confusion among the railroads
at Tampa, owing to lack of storehouse IA
cihties there.