Evening star., 1898-07-14
GEN. MILES STATEMENT.
TOO Late to Make Any Changes in
the Plan of Campaign.

OFF JURAGUA, July IL pm-Gen
Miles went to the front today and will
probab bly, remain there the greater part Of
tomorrow. He went ashore early this
morning and telephoned to Gen. Shafter
The latter advised him not to start out un-
til later, as the roads were in a frightful
condition from the rains and badly blocked
by supply trains
The general waited until noon and then
set out, accompanied by Troop A, of the
I'd Cavalry, the only mounted troop of Gen.
Skaters army.
1t was raining heavily when the start
was made. The general was attired In a
long black macintosh and wore rubber
riding boots and a black slouch hat orna-
mented with narrow strand of gilt cord
His Statement.
Owing to the deep mud, it was almost
dark when he reached the front To the
correspondent of the Associated Press, who
accompanied him to the front, Gen. Miles
said:
Il have not come down here to take COM
mand, and shall probably remain but a
few days. 1t is too late to make apy
changes in the plan of campaign, even if
desired to do so. But l have no complaint
to make. Things seem to be moving in
good shape. l intend to look over our lines
and positions. and study the situation thor
oughly but 1 will not interfere in the con-
duct of the campaign. This Is likely to be
the only trip shall make to the front"
Gen. Miles was much interested in the
war maps and information regarding the
trails and the chances of getting artille-y to
the front. His journey was a very trying
one, owing to the rain and mud, the latter
In many places being up to the horses
knees.
The last two days have been the worst Of
the campaign, SO far as the weather is con-
cerned. Fierce tropical thunder storms
have been frequent, with an almost contin-
uous downpour of rain. The rifle pits and
trenches at the front have been flooded and
last night few men in the besieging army
were able to sleep, owing to the amount of
water on the ground
The already heavy hardships endured
have been greatly increased, and much i'll
ness is likely to result, as no adequate
shelter is possible.
Rain in Torrents.
The trail to the front is In frightful
shape. The streams and the fords are
swollen and the soft soil is cut into almost
impossible shapes by the wheels of the sup
ply wagons. One of Gen. Randolph's light
batteries occupied a whole day in getting to
the front.
The rain is coming down in torrents to-
night, and a thunderstorm is raging along
the coast. If the storm continues it is like
ly to delay operations seriously.
Troops from the auxiliary cruisers Yale
and st. Paul have been landing In the rain
all day, and have been going into camp
wet and miserable. 1t has been a bitter ex-
perience for the raw troops, but they will
be pushed right on to the front tomorrow
The beach tonight is dotted with the
spluttering camp fires of the new arrivals
The men are clustering about the feeble
flames in dismal groups. many of them
without the slightest shelter from the trop-
ical downpour.
The feet was inactive all day. The Brook
lyn occupied a position about five miles
west of the harbor entrance, and the re-
mainder OF our warships were strung along
the coast as far east Juragua. At the
latter point the flagship New York lay
nearly ali day.
Rear Admiral Sampson and Gen. Miles
were frequently in communication during
the forenoon. Gen. Miles went on board
the New York at about o'clock and a fire.
quent exchange of notes between the two
their long conference could not be ascer-
tanned. but it is supposed to have related to
concerted attack upon Santiago.
Several of our ships, including the New
ark, with Commodore Watson on board
spent the day coaling at Guantanamo bay.