The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-16
OUR MILITARY SYSTEM WRONG
AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH
FIGHTING TO HIDE ITS EVILS.
Inquiry by Gen. McCOOIx Regarding a
Transfer of Command of the Army
Referred by Witness to shafter.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-General Breclx.
1nridge continued his testimony before the
war in vestigating commission to-day. His
testimony to-day dealt with the campaign
in Cuba and the transportation of troops to
that island. He had, he said, gone TO Cuba
| as inspector general. arriving at Tampa on
the 5th OF June. He had observed casually
| the preparations for the Decentralization Of
troops before tho expedition left and had
concluded that they We're quite inadequate.
L made no report, however," he said, las
General Miles was on the ground and could
observe for himself" Continuing, he said
there was no preparation for landing In the
face of an enemy other than that which the
navy might furnish. So far as he had OBJ
served there were only two lighters and two
scows secured on behalf of the army before
the departure from Tampa 1t was his url-
derstanding, however, that the army and
navy were cooperating in this expedition.
Speaking of the conflict of authority on
the transports he said the masters of the
vessels did not respond as promptly as
might have been desired. True, he said
there was little navy cadet on board each
OF the vessels, but he had no authority
An actual naval officer, or an officer OF the
quartermaster's department on each vessel
would have been better, What was needed
was prompt communication between the
commanding officers and the vessels and the
masters Of the transports did not respond
very promptly"
He was questioned at some length con-
cerning the conduct Of the campaign M
front of Santiago, and replied that the re-
suit was what he had expected it would be-
He thought the compaign was consistent
with the character of the men who con-
Quoted it-what was to be expected from
the limitations of General Shafter Il
think" he said, eft would have been diff
ferent if General Miles had been in COM
mand-that it would have been more sue
cessfully conducted / think he has more
of the spark and genius of command than
any man in the army, and am sure that
If he had had charge he would have been
in the front rank"
ToRAL AND THE LORD DID 1T.
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested that the
battle in front Of San Juan had been fought
and the victory won within eight days of
landing. General Breckinridge, in reply,
said the victory had been won when Gen.
ToraPs nerve gave out" This he continued,
had been the war of all others when success
had been won in its earliest stages. He be-
lieved that the war was the Lords war and
that this wonderful success was due to His
supervision. The time for the battle was,
however, short enough. Yet it must be re-
membered that the distance between the
battlefield and Siboney was less than half
days march, but while he considered the
result as marvelously commendable he did
not feel that General Shafter was above
criticism in the conduct of the campaign.
General Breckenridge could not believe the
outcome to the fact that the army was one
which was capable of meeting all calls. mo
matter how it was tangled up" he said, 1T
went to victory" He had at the time
quoted Lord Beresford, when he said to his
army upon certain occasion: II have led
you into devil of a fix and it is now your
duty to fight like hell to get me out of it."
He was sure at least that all engaged in
the war had acted with zeal and every man
had done the best of which he was capable.
and he had never known g. war In which
there was not criticism at the close of it.
General Breckenridge spoke of the inspec-
tor generals Office as having been emas-
culated by the order requiring the reports
of subordinates IN that office to be made to
the adjutant general and said that when
he discovered this was so he went into the
field as Offering the only arena in which he
could be of real service. He had intended
to say in effect: There is the desk in my
office; do as you please with it." General
Sanger was there. He, too, is from Mehi-
gan. / thought he could take control of the
office if it was desired; but he did not re-
main"
Continuing his testimony, bearing upon
the inspector generals duties, he said that
his criticism of the change was based on
the fact that it deprived the central au-
thority securing information and as con-
sequence the office was practically useless
THE order had the effect Of cutting the UNI
biical cord,' he said, land the circulation
was not good" AS result of the change,
when he had asked for facts in the Office to
include in his report. he had failed to find
any there.
SYSTEM DEFECTIVE.
Resuming his remarks of a general char
acter. General Breckenridge expressed the
opinion that there had not been enough
fighting 10 obscure other results common TO
war He thought the evils which had been
experienced were inevitable under our
American system He condemned this sys-
tenn as most reprehensEble, and said the vol
unteer soldier must always suffer the worst
of the consequences. IF the regular stands
up under il better than the volunteer" he
said, 1T is only because he has had time
TO adjust himself 10 the unfavorable condi-
tions." He traced all the rest TO the want
of preparation and mobilization in time OF
peace. and that in turn to the failure OF
Congress to appropriate the necessary
money for reforms
Replying to a question from Mr. Wood
bury ne said that considering the system,
he thought the government had done fay