The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-23
Lack of "A Head.


troops in starting on an expedition is due
largely 20 the fact that there does not
appear to be any one having supreme au-
thority capable OF successfully directing
military movements. We DO not mean to
criticise the President or any one Of the
army officials. We are not sufficiently
wdll acquainted with all the facts 10 do
So
But We are certain that there was great
laundering in getting the Santiago eXpe-
dition started, and when the troops
landed on Cuban soil it was found that
many things were mssing-things which
were of the highest importance.
The transports which carried our SOL
diers from Tampa to Santiago remained
in Tampa bay several days after the
troops had gone on board of them. The
weather was intensely hot and the sol
diers suffered greatly in their cramped
quarters. If one thoroughly capable man
had had charge of the Santiago expedi-
ton troops would not have been ordered
aboard the transports until the expedition
was about ready to start.
Gen. Shafter is now being criticised for
losing 90 many of his men in the battles
Of July and 2. Il is claimed that he used
his Infantry to take places which should
have been taken by the artillery. But the
reason probably that he did not use artil-
lery was that he didn't have H. Was it
his fault that he didn't have it or the
fault Of those who looked after the details
of the expedition, or the fault of Wash
ington officials who were so anxious that
Santiago should fall on or before July
that they didn't give the general in COM
mand time to put his big guns in posi-
ton? Was he not urged to make a quick
campaign, and thus forced to do things
which his judgment did not approve?
All Of these things show the absence of
a clear headed, capable commander hav-
ing authority to do what he believed
ought to be done.
The same lack of harmony is apparent
in the Porto Rican campaign Gen. Miles
did not sail as soon as he was expected to.
The President, 1t is said, became very I'M
easy because of the generals delay. He
was afraid that the part of the expedition
which sailed from Charleston. under the
command of Gen. Wilson, being without
convoy, might meet with some mishap.
One reason given for Gen. Miles delay
was that Admiral Sampson had failed to
provide warships to convoy the trans
ports. Another statement was that the
war department had failed to send Gen.
Miles his orders. The official whose duty
it was to forward them had neglected TO
do so
Here again the absence of a controlling
mind is apparent. Admiral Sampson was
allowed discretion as TO what warships
he should send to Porto Rico and when
he should have them ready to accompany
Gen. Miles and the orders intended for
Gen Miles guidance were stuck away in
a pigeon-hole, where they would have re-
manned if Gen. Miles had not notified the
department that he had not received
them.
In the civil war, on neither side was
there much harmony of action until Gen.
Grant was given absolute command of all
the Union forces and Gen. Lee the COM
mand of the armies of the Confederacy.
In The beginning of that war there was
much confusion, owing to many headed
authority. When authority was given to
one man far better results were obtained
with less effort.
Thus far in this war Gen. Miles does not
appear 10 have control of the army and
Admiral Sampson is not allowed a free
hand with the navy. The President and
his advisers in Washington are conduct
ing the campaign The only officer allow
ed to do as he pleases is Admiral Dewey,
and he has given so much satisfaction
that his praises are on every lip. Would it
not be better to depend more upon the
commander who is on the field of action
and less upon the military and naval adj
visers who see the situation as it presents
itself In the war and navy buildings in
Washington?