The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-15
PREPARATIONS INCOMPLETE
BUT CONDITIONS DID NOT AD-
NIT OF ANY DELAY.
Supplies Had to Be Taken Over a
Narrow Wagon Road, and Fear
Was Entertained of Ships
Being Driven to sea-
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-General
Skaters report of the campaign which
terminated in the fall of Santiago has
been made public. He briefly recounts
the organization of the expedition and
It's embarkation. and then devotes the
main body of the report to the active
operations about Santiago. General
Shafter says the expedition was under
taken in compliance with telegrahpic
instructions of May 80 from headquar-
ters Of the army, in which 1t was
stated: Admiral Schley reports that
two cruisers and two torpedo-bo boats
have been seen in the harbor of San
tiago. Go with your force to capture
garrison at Santiago and assist In cap
turing harbor and fleet"
After reciting the delay at Tampa,
due to inadequate facilities, General
Shafter says that on June he received
orders to sail without delay but not
with less than 10000 men. After some
transports had already reached the
lower bay, Geographic instructions
were received from the Secretary of
War directing that the sailing Of the
expedition be delayed awaiting fucther
orders This delay was occasioneo by
the navy reporting that a Spanish war
vessel had been sighted in the Nicholas
channel. The ships in the lower bay
we're Immediately recalled. The expe-
dition sailed on June II with SIS officers
and 1902 men.
General Shafter briefly covers the
trip and landing and his first meeting
with General Garcia, adding: Dur
ing the interview General Garcia Of
fered the services of his troops, COM
q in ha
of Aserradores, and about 5000 under
General Castillo at the little town of
Cujababa, few miles east of Baiquiri.
I accepted his offer, impressing 1t upon
him that I could exercise no military
control over him except such as he
would concede, and as long as he served
under me / could furnish him rations
and ammunition.
After comforting with Admiral Samp-
son and General Garcia, the plan of
campaign was outlined by General
Shafter. The Decentralization was to
commence on the 22d at Baiquiri, with
feints by the Cubans on Cabanas and
by the navy at various shore points in
order to mislead the enemy as to the
place Of landing.
General Shafter says: These move
ments permitted me to approach San
tiago from the east over a narrow road,
at first in some places no better than
q trail. running from Baiquiri through
Siboney and Sevilla, and making at
tack from that quarter. This, In my
opinion, was the only feasible plan and
subsequent information and results
confirmed my judgment"
OF the early operations and the Skin
mish, in which the Rough Riders par
ticipated, he says:
General Young's brigade passed beyond
Lawton in the night of the 23d and 24th
thus taking the advance. and on the
morning of the latter date became engag-
ed with Spanish force entrenched in q
strong position at La Guasima, a point
on the Santiago road about thirty miles
from Siboney General Young's force
consisted of one squadron of the First
Cavalry. one of the Tenth CavaIrv and
two of the First United States Volunteer
Cavalry, in all 964 officers and men. The
enemy made an obstinate resistance, but
were driven from the field with consid-
cradle loss. Our own loss was one off,
Ger and fifteen men killed, six officers
and fifty-six men wounded. The report
ed losses of the Spaniards were nine
killed and twenty-seven wounded The
engagement had an inspiring effect on
our men, and. doubtless, correspondingly
depressed the enemy, as it was plainly
demonstrated to them that they had to
face a foe who would advance upon them
under heavy fire delivered from en-
trenchments. General Wheeler. division
commander, was present during the en-
gagement. and reports that our troops
officers and men. fought with the great
est gallantry. This engagement gave us
q well-watered country farther to the
front on which to encamp our troops
1t was not until nearly two weeks after
the army landed that 1t was possible to
place on shore three days supplies in
excess of those required for the daily
consumption. On June 30 reconnoitered
the country about Santiago and made
my plan of attack. From high hill
from which the city was in plain view
! could see the San Juan hill and coun-
try about Ell Caney. The roads were
very poor, and, in fact, little better than
bride paths until the San Juan River
and Ell Caney were reached.
General Shafter explained at a meet
ing of generals his plan of battle. which
follows:
Lawton's division, assisted by, Capron's
light battery, was ordered to move ont
during the afternoon toward Ell Ca
ney to begin the attack there early
the next morning. After CARRYING
FL Caney Lawton was to move
by the Caney road toward San
tiago and take a position on the right OF
the line. Wheeler's division of dis
mounted cavalry and Kent's division Of
infantry were directed on the Santiago