Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-08-12
The Santiago Campaign.
Lights aud SideliRhts on Some Of tn
Developments since ~ was over.

Lights aud Sidtlights on some Of the
developments since ~ Was over.
Whenever the inside history Of the San
tiago campaign is written it will be i'm
teresting, and will doubtless contain reve.
lations which some men in high station
would rather not see in print The liter
allure on the subject Is voluminous, and
has grown rapidly during the past week
1t began with very pointed letters from
Col. Theodore Roosevelt, com handing the
Trough Riders one Of them addressed
to Gen. Shafter. in which he wrote about
the fever conditions among the troops at
Santiago, and urged their immediate re-
moval, and the other to Secretary Alger
This letter to the Secretary was the real
rock Of offence. This was its essential
part & -.
"My Dear Mr. SecretdrV ] am writ
ing with the knowledge and approval Of
Gen Wheeler. We earnestly hope that
you will send us most of the regulars, and
at any rate the cavalry division, including
the rough riders, who are as good as any
regulars, and three times as good as any
State troops, 10 Porto Rico. There are
1900 effective men In this division. if
those who were left behind were Joined to
them we could land at Porto Rico in this
cavalry division close to 1000 men who
would be worth easily any 10000 National
Guards armed with black powder Spring
fields or other archaic weapons,
Very respectfully,
"TmoDoUr Roo~FvLIT.'
Upon receipt of this letter the Secretary
cabled the following letter to Col. Roose-
welt
'Nour letter of 23l is received. The regu-
lar army.the volunteer army and the rough
| riders have done well, but ! suggest that,
/ unless You want TO spoil the effects and
/ glory of your victory, YOU make no iuyid.-
! Gus comparisons The rough riders are
/ no better than other volunteers They
/ had an advantage ia their arms. Tor which
! they ought 20 bee very grateful
''K. A. Alcer. Secretary of War
RoostvelCs letter was entirely private
and personal 100 its nature and contained
/ such suggestions as a man like Roosevelt
had perfec, right TO make. In spite Of
this fact Secretary Alger a. once made the
whole business public, and clearly showed
his weakness in doing SO.
Roosevelt's letter TO Gen. Shafter 81 owed
the alarming condition Of the American
troops IN Santiago. the 1000 on the sick
! list he said, aitortinc but faint index of
the general dcuiitauon Not ten per cest
were ii, for active duty The whole force
was so debliiated by exposure boy the ai-
ternate soaking in the rain and roasting .
the sun. and by malaria teyers. that an
attack OF yellow fever woui Kill of the
men like so many sheep. lie showed that
/ il was entirely needless to keep the troops
longer az Santiago, and urged that they be-
sent TO some point North where they would
/ quickly recuperate
In connection with Roosevells letter
the commanding officers under Gen. Shat
ter addressed "roun1 Robin" to him.
setting forth these conditions. and saying
that the army must be moved at once or
perish This protest was not pleasing TO
the wal department, and steps were lmmr-
diatcy taken 20 bring the Santiago army
North at the earliest MON, nj possible.
They are to be taken TO a camp al Mon
tauk, L.
a few regiments OF men, supposed 20 be-
immune from yellow fever, WILL Dee left Cd
do garrison duty at Santiago.
There arr charges and counter-charge,
almost without number OF the respous
biity for this state OF things, and for mis-.
takes alleged 90 hav, been made in con.
Quoting the Santiago campaign. but the de-
tails are wearisoma for the general reader
20 follow. The fact remains that the cam
paIru was successful tina, ID was shor,
and that the loss of life among our troop.
was a. small as could have been expected
What neither the war department nor th.
people a.lzei was into what a pest hon
of malaria and yellow fever our troop,
were thrust VIXEN they captured Santiago
Another feature of the campaign at San
tiago has had reference TO the amour, 70
credit 90 which Admiral sampson and
Commodore Nchley are respectively EMIT
ied The partsaus of ocu.-y proUab.,
without his knowledge or consent. have iu
sisted that the glory of the destruction OF
terveras flee, wa, has alone, and that
Sampson had robbed him of his due boy
not publicly proclalm.ug this fact Fortu
uately Secretary Long has taken the who,,
matter into his hands and SET 10 a, rest b.,
the vigorous letter which is elsewher.
printed
There is q growing feeling that Secreta