The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-08
DAILY. $40 a YEAR.
CENTS COPY.
WEEKLY 2.TIMES-A-WEEK 81 A YEAR
GEN. MILES REACHES GOTHAM.
HIS VOYAGE FROM PORTO RICO DE-
VOID OF SICKNESS OR DEATH.

His stan, wife, SON and Daughter
and "a Regiment OF Volunteers Ac-
company Him on the obdam, which
Was Gnuy Decorated with Flags
and PRIms-The COmmander Gives
out Letter-Statement Reciting
the Incidents Preceding the Gu
ban Campaign, and His Connection
With the Expeditions Sent to sam
tiago-WRs Commander Through
out the Campaign.
New York, Sept. THE United States
transport Obdam. having on board Mai.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles and his staff Mai.
Greenleaf, Capt Whitney, the Second
Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. con-
sisting of thirty officers and 500 men. and
the hospital corps, from Porto Rico, ar
rived here to-day.
Mrs. Mics. son and daughter. were also
on board the transport, which sailed from
Ponce on Sept l.
The surgeon in charge reported all well
on board and no sickness or deaths dur
ing the voyage. The troops were In the
best of spirits. The transport was deco
rated profusely with palms and draped
with flags.
FROM the fore truck was flying the
American ensign over a large Spanish
flag. while long strings of international
code flags were floating from each mast
head TO the rails
The following statement emanatine from
Gen. Miles was given to the reporters on
board of the OLDHAM. It Is In the form Of
letter in which Gen. Miles is mentloned
In the third person:
"hlie at Porto Rico and during tha
voyage returning on the Obdam on which
steamer were Gen. Miles ana staff two
Dattallons Of the Second Regiment of Wis
consln Volunteers, l learned the follow,o,.
iacts concerning the Cuban and Porto
Rican expeditions. In the first place let na
say that the war has closed after being
conducted largely as Gen. Miles stated
publicly at the beginning of the war thar
1t would be. The statement was publicly
made and general order was issued bv
hln1 as commander of the American army.
en- which the plan he has striven to pursue
was loreshadowed. namely, seeking to ac-
complish results with the least possibla
loss OF NE In an interview in the latter
| part Of May he said:
THE United States government "a TOO
! strong, too great, and too powerful to
| commit any foolish act In connection with
the proposed invasion of Cuba"
"Heterring TO the proposed rush to the
fever stricken city OF Havana, he said:
NO oflcer Is nc to command troops Who
from any motive whatever, would need
iessly SIX the life of a single soldier,
either from disease or the bullets of the
enemy. / have never sacrificed the lives
OF men under my command, and do not
propose TO subject them to any unneces-
sary risks in the present campaign
In the order issued to the army at
on early date he directed that: Every
officer, of whatever grade, will, so far as
may be in has power, guard and preserve
the health and welfare of those under
his charge. He must labor dlligently
and zeaiously TO perfect himself and his
subordinates' In military drill instruction
and discipline, and above all he must
constantly endeavor by precept and exam
pie, to maintain the highest character to
foster and stimulate that true soldierly
spirit and patriotic devotion to duty which
must characterize an effective army
"Thc principles thus enunciated have
been zealously observed from the first.
Owing to the fact that the season suited
for campaigning In Cuba had been ex-
hausted in debates and delay In Congress,
and in necessary preparations, Gen Miles
was opposed to rushing an nl-prepared,
undisciplined and unequipped army in a
movement against the capital of Cuba de-
Tended by 10000 trained Spanish troops,
and In this position he stood practically
alone for several weeks Havana Ma
tanzas, Santiago and a few other points
were drawn on his military map as hot
beds of disease, destructive 10 an army
and places to be avoided, especially dur
ing the sickly season. When finally called
upon to submit a plan of campaign he did
so and put 1t IN writing. In substance
he took the stand. first that every effort
should be made to equip the Cubans and
thereby enable them 10 harrass the Span
ish forces. The cry Of ION to Havana'
should be encouraged, but when the trans
ports, loaded with troops were out Of
sight of land they should sail as straight
as steam power could bear them 20 the
gate of the Antilles. and the key Of the
whole position, Porto Rico, then
having seized and occupied that
island movement to Cuba
was to follow by means Of a strong
cavalry force, which was to be organized
and equipped by August or September.
He contemplated that 5000 cavalry
thrown to the center OF cuba, cutting the
Spanish forces in two and moving west
to Havana, by the time the rainy season
was over, and>it would be impossible to
maneuver an army, we could move
against that city well organized well
equipped and wen disciplined army and
complete the capture of the Spanish
forces.
THE enclosure of Cervera's fleet in ths
harbor of Santiago changed the conditions
and made 1t necessary to move military
force TO that point Gen. Miles, while at
Tampa organized the expedition, felt the
importance of the enterprise so greatly
that he requested permission to accom-
many that expedition or to Immediately or
panize another to join it. This permission
was not granted, so far as accompanying
that expedition was concerned, but au-
thority was granted to equip a second
for movement and operation against the
enemy IN Cuba and Porto Rico
However. before this expedition was
equipped. calls were made for additional
forces to go to Santiago. and they were
Immediately forwarded. On July Gen.
shafter telegraphed that his losses had