The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-15
SKATER ON HIS VICTORY.
HE TEEEs or TAKING shNTTAeo At
THE OMAHA JUBLIEE

Doesn't Know let why the Spaniards Sur
rendered ~ They Did, Ne snys-Ths
Fighting the Least Part Of the Campaign
-Horrors Of the Climate-Shaftsr's Plans.
oMAHA. Neb, Oct. 1%-Gen. Skater was the
Peace Jubilee speaker to-day. His reception
was no lsss enthusiastic than that given the
President. Hisladdress was q plain. matter-of-
fact account OF the Cuban campaign. He said
in substance:
II regret that I am not able to express in
fitting words my appreciation of the reception
that I have received at your hands. For what
little I may have done I have been rewarded far
beyond my widest dreams. ] little thought
that 1 should reach the highest rank when
marched away thirty-slx years ago a. q volun
teer Of infantry. The highest reward q soldier
can receive in the gratitude and appreciation Of
his countrymen. and this I believe I now pos
sess.
Perhaps the most appropriate thing I can
say IL to give you q short history Of the cam-
paign in Cuba that has ended with 20
much honor to our arms. 1 was ordered
to report at Washington and informed
that 1 should lead the first expedition
from the United States. I was ordered to
Tampa with q view to making . reconnois-
sance in Ouba in force. but this plan was
subsequently abandoned. and we re-
NAMED there ready for whatever service
might be demanded. Then we were Or
dered to 60 and assist the feet to cap
ture the harbor and city Of Santiago and
we embarked with an army Of 1900
men. We had absolutely no maps Of Cuba. but
born at Santiago, and guided by information I
received from them | deterrined to land at
s co1y }TS me that my judgment was Correct, !"
zone 70 the Tropics without .sIsastet: and
human power. and endurance. Although
undeP, the the R RSas flag Sa"t the siimate was
something awful. You who have never
sliRRs sSsSl 1 it sslid hSTFG that S Ro x eSsG Strong Fsi
adn nSSs ! b5 had d landed 5S;s.tt the ri, S1tir snS S5%Iy1 On p
sastopmed 70 .aEhtin9 men who, were poor
y ssa Sst onf san at tSs isRtt af% G%Sa;ltt des Of F oSr
soldiers 1t has been said that froops In
could not be, successfully SssSiled. but VIC
proved we'd the fS. fall 5ssyyiS q that IT. id e. c,ntrro ., F,
Caney. and q division was detached to
make na1FS ths charge | tbh S%ls hd that y.
Until 80 IN the afternoon. The Spaniards e1:
peeteed 70 h be KILLED insS,t i they they were S apt u sfn,s SO
and NO prisoners were taken.
th ave Hs never WNS n H thU e SSSt. RTsSSS S S1e the c P0Slt o1t
the next morning TO make an attack. but Il was
f%ruitlesS. and only lasted an hour. Then the
campaign was practically over. 1t was simply
necessary to convince the Spanish com
R Rsn ,sssnt tn1s s Ris sSSss snd T aissRRSls sss
small army we, had captured 23.376
reach. Why the Spaniards surrendered when
they could have abandoned their position and
believe it was. because they had been informed
that the Spanish Government had decided to
give up the fight and surrender their soldiers
In theeastern part Of the island.
The problem q that campaign was
ot It and the soonest over: There were
who were in the civil wal remember
that there were many times during the
conflict when We were. short of rations.
but then we could always forage, But
in Cuba there was nothing to .conflscate.
and the army depended entirely on the
supplies that were forwarded with the greatest
difficulty over roads that were at times i'm
was done by the regular, army. the volunteers
did all they wero required to do. and they dbl
like soldiers"