The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-18
BEST IN THE WORLD
General Miles Opinion of United
States Regulars.
VOLUNTEERS DIFFERENT
CAUSES OF THE DELAY AT TAM
PA EXPLAINED.
The General Blames the Postoffice and
the Railroads-Talks About the
Army, the Cuban Campaign and
the Cooperation of the Insurgents
Expects An Early Fight.

/
Washington, June 17.-Major General
| Miles, general in chief of the army
accompanied by Colonel Maus, Major
| Davis and Colonel Greenieaf of his
staff, arrived in Washington today
after having directed the departure OF
the first army OF invasion to Cuba.
General Miles looked hale and hearty
despite the three weeks incessant work
of bringing order out Of chaos in the
hurriediy concentrated army.
The general continues to wear his
citizens dress while all the officers
about him are in fatigue uniforms and
save for the pith helmet such as is
worn in the East Indian service he
shows no evidence of coming from the
field. He conferred with Secretary
Alger for half an hour before the
cabinet meeting and then had a long
talk with General Luddington, quarter
master general, on the condition of the
quartermaster's supplies Speaking in
a general way, of his observations,
General Miles said:
Having spent some time with the
troops during trying period of hurried
preparations / am glad to say that
they are a splendid body of men, which
the country may well be proud of AS
to TIE regulars, they are the finest
corps in the world, without any excep-
tons, in physical development, effici-
ency, experience, discipline, marks
manship, equipment, and all that goes
to make up frst-class soldiers OF
course the volunteer army is not as
we'll equipped Some OF the states sent
men into the field in very good condi-
ton, notably Massachusetts and New
York. Others sent their quotas with
out arms, equipment or clothing. They
were not soldiers at all, only en-
ployed men. 1t takes time to make
soldiers of these men. There must be
uniforms, arms, ammunition, equip
ment, camp equipment, tertage, trans
portation and hospital supplies. Then,
in addition, they have to have ordn-
ance. artillery, siege trains, entrench-
ing tools, horse equipments. engineer
ing appliances of all kinds, balloon
appliances, etc. After that comes to
moving an army across the sea, with
ali the dangers and vicslssitudes of an
ocean voyage. The work, with its
infinite detail. has been carried out, I
am glad to say with a fair degree of
success and the command Of 1900 men
under General Shafter moved away
with an outburst of patriotic en-
thusiasm which overcame the trials
they had. passed through.
CAUSES OF DELAY.
General Miles attention was directed
to the reports coming from Tampa of
great confusion and delay in preparing
the expedition and getting it off for
Cuba.
Yes said he. there were causes
contributing to this delay. In the first
place the postoffice service at these
points of army concentration is very
deficient When 10000 to $4,000 men
are added to The population of the
small towns and all men are sending
and receiving letters from their friends
and relations at home, besides the
large amount of official business
carried on, the local postoffice facilities
are entirely inadequate. That has been
one of the troubles at Tampa, Chicka-
manga, and other places and as a. re-
suit the official communications to
and from the war department, on
which depend the regularity of move
ment of many kinds of stores, has been
seriously delayed. Then, in gathering
the munitions Of war for an army, it
was necessary 10 have the service OF
a great number of trains loaded with I
stores, crowding the meagre railroad
lines far beyond their usual capacity.
However, this is being Strengthened
j .
cv~rccnlc."
OF INSURGENTS !
There have been many very splendid !
acts OF heroism, even in the brief time /
he troops have been employed, con-
-iEued General Miles. Captain Dorst s I
several expeditions have been of great /
service to the government, his last one |
n particular being important in results. /
l. ~, r,-to
IF going direct to Cuba, he went north 1
and east of Nassau. then turned south I
md landed in Cuba at port called 1
3a.es.
The special Importance of this trip /
vas in opening direct communication /
between General Garcia and myself. /
Two OF Garcia's staff officers had re-
urEed from Cuba with Rowan and /
.sme to Washington to see me. One of
hese l sent to Banes with the supplies
f arms, with instructions to General /
iarcia, saying l wanted him to move
Ill his forces to Santiago de Cuba. The
Message to General Garcia was sent
Tune 2, reaching him June 8, and / got
lis reply by cable from Mole St. Mich
las June l. He had about 5000 armed
cubans before he received the NUM-
ions of war by Captain Dorst. The
upplieS sent him will enable Garcia to
General Miles was asked for the COM
nunications between himself and Gar
ia, and, glancing them over, he gave
kerr general purpore.
In my communication to him l asked
i'm to move as large a force as DOS
ible to the vicinity of the harbor of
santiago de Cuba, and TO cooperate
With our army and navy on their ar
ival, which l hoped would be within a
CIV days. He was to drive in and har-
SIS any Spanish troops near Santiago
e Cuba, threatening and attacking
hem at all points, and preventing any
from reaching that
oint. Pending the arrival of our
roops, he was to seize any positions
asst or west of Santiago, or both.
ihich could be used to advantage by
ur artillery.
He replied that he would regard my
fishes and suggestions as orders, and
Tould Immediately adopt measures to
cncentrate his forces as directed"
General Miles does not apprehend any :
niger serious delays in disembarking
he troops on Cuban soil. The trans
crts have a large number of small
oats to assist in this work. The en-
ineering corps has large barges, and
pontoon train by which they can put
lgether a floating pier, so that, unless !
lere is a very rough sea, or the men
re compelled to diSembark in the surf,
hich is not anticipated, the disembar- {
alton is expected to proceed rapidly.
When General Miles was asked If he
zpected an early fight, he answered,
conically: That's What they've gone {
,rn