The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-09-15
REPORT IN FULL
LContlnued from Fltst Pase. }

Continued from First Page
becoming so apparent ! was anxious
TO bring the siege to an end but In con
mon with most OF the officers Of the ar
my, / did not think an assault would
be justihable.
"Iuy ~. / informed the Spanish com
mander that Major enerai Miles. com
rains. The weakness Of the troops was
marsier In chief Of the ermy. had jus,
arrived in my camp and requested him
to grant US a personal interview on the
following day. He replied he would be
pleased to meet us. The interview took
place on the 18th.
General Shafter then gives the de-
tails OF the final surrender, his entry
into the city and the raising of the
American flag. In closing he says:
Before closing my report. l wish e
dwell upon the natural obstacles l had
to encounter and which no foresight
could have overcome or oblrefated
The rocky and precipitous coast at
forded no shelter landing places, the
roads were mere bride paths. the ef-
feet OF the tropical sun and rains upon
unacellmated troops was deadly and a
dread of strange and unknown diseases
had its effect on the army. At BalqulrI
the landing Of the troops and stores
was made at a small wooden wharf
which the Spaniards tried to burn bu,
unsuccessfully, and the animals were
pushed into the water and guided to =
sandy beach about 200 yards in extent
At Siboney the landing was made on
the beach and at a small wharf erec-
ted by the engineers.
Il had neither the time nor the mer
to spare TO construct permanent whar-
YES. In spite Of the fact that had neal
ly 1000 men continuously at work or
the roads. they were at times impass-
able for wagons.
The San Juan and Aguadores river:
would often suddenly rise so as to per.
vent the passage Of wagons, and ther
the pack trains had to be depended up
on for the victualing of my army al
well as the 10000 refugees, who coult
not. in the interests of humanity b,
left to starve while we had rations. or
ten for days nothing could be moved
except on pack trains.
AFTER the great physical strain anS
exposure of July ana 2, the malaria
and other fevers began to rapidly ad
vance throughout the command. and ol
July fourth, the yellow fever appeare,
at Siboney Though efforts were mad
to keep this fact from the army
soon became known.
"The supply of quartermaster an,
commissary stores during the cam
paign was abundant. and notwith
standing the difficulties in landing an
transporting the rations. the troops o
the firing line were at all times sup
piled with its coarse compotents name
ly oat bread. meat, sugar and coffee.
"There was no lack OF transporta
tlon, for at no tins up TO the surrend
er could all the wagons l had. be us
ed.
"In reference TO the sick and wound
ed, have TO say that they received eN
cry attention that It was possible I
give them. The medical officers worke
night and day to alleviate the suffer
ing, which was no greater than lnyaI
iably accompanies a campaign.
THE discipline OF the command wa
superb. and I wish 10 invite attentIC
to the fact that not an officer wa
brought TO trail by court martial an
as far as / know. no enlisted man. TIL
speaks volumes for an army Of th
size and In a campaign OF such dur
tion.
IN conclusion. desire to express
the members OF my stan. my than
for their efficient performances of I
duties required OF them. and the go
/ judgment and bravery displayed on
occasions when demanded"
General shafter recommends for pl
motion and brevets the following OF
cers;
1 Lieut.. Col z. c. M'clerland. Lie
:; Col Georgia MDerby. Lieut.. Col. ].
/, Miley, MAJ. r. H. Knoble. Lieut.. Col
], J. Astor Lieut.. Col J. F. Pope. Maj.
d w. Groesbeck, Lielt Col. Charles
y Humphrey Lieu, e'l r. West
= Mai. c. n. STAR. MAJ Lsos BJla!
y L. II. Plummei Capt ]. c. Getmore
y nd Capt. w. 0. MKittrick
v