The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-08


States transport OLDHAM, having on
board Major General Nelson A. Miles
and his staff, arrived here to-day. Mrs.
Miles, son and daughter were also on
board the transport, which sailed from
Ponce on September l. The surgeon in
charge reported all well and no sick
ness or deaths during the voyage.
The following statement, emanating
from General Miles, was given to the
reporters on board of the OLDHAM. 1t
is in the form of a letter in which
General Miles is mentioned in the third
person:
While at Porto Rico and during the
voyage returning on the OLDHAM, on which
steamer were General Miles and staff and
two battalions of the Second Regiment OF
wisconsin Volunteers, learned the fol-
lowing facts concerning the Cuban and
Porto Rican expeditions. In the first
place, let me say that the war has closed,
after being conducted largely as General
the war that it would be. The statement
was publicly made and a general order
was issued by him as commander of the
American army, in which the plan he has
namely, seeking to accomplish results
with the least possible loss of life. In an
interview in the latter part of May he
said: 1.-THE United States Government is
too strong, too great and too powerful to
commit any foolish act in connection with
the proposed Invasion of Cuba
Referring to the proposed rush to the
fever-stricken city of Havana he said:
No officer is fit to command troops who,
from any motive whatever, would need
lessly risk the life of a single soldier
either from disease or the bullets of the
enemy. l have never sacrificed the lives
of men under my command and do not
propose to subject them to any unneces-
sary risks in the present campaign
In the order issued to the army at an
early day he directed that every officer
of whatever grade will so far as may be
IN his power guard and preserve the
health and welfare of those under his
charge, He must labor diligently and
zealously to perfect himself and his sub
ordinates in military drill, instruction and
discipline, and above all he must con-
to maintain the highest character to fos-
ter and stimulate that true soldierly
spirit and patriotic devotion to duty
which must characterize an effective
army"
The principles thus enunciated have
been zealously observed from the first.
Owing to the fact that the season for
campaigning in Cuba had been exhausted
in debates and delay in Congress and in
necessary preparations. General Miles
was opposed to rushing an i'll prepared
undisclplined' and unequipped army in a
movement against the capital of Cuba,
defended by 100000 trained Spanish troops.
and in this position he stood practically
alone.
When finally called upon to submit a
plan of campaign, he did so and put it In
writing. In substance he took the stand
first, that every effort should be made to
equip the Cubans and thereby enable
them to harass the Spanish forces. The
aged, but when the transports, loaded
with troops, were out of sight of land
they should sail as straight as steam
power could bear them to the gate of the
Antilles and the key of the whole posi-
tion-Porto Rico. Then, having seized
and occupied that island, a movement tc
Cuba was to follow by means ms ;, Of
ganized ana equipped by August or Sep
TENDER. He contemplated that 10000 cav
airyImen tn thro gi to the center Of Cuba
moving west to Havana, by the time thu
rainy season was over and it would bt
possible to maneuver an army we coult
move against that city a well organized
well equipped and well disciplined army
and complete the capture of the Spanish
forces.
The Enclosure of Cervera's fleet in tn,
harbor Of Santiago changed the condi
tions and made 1t necessary to move &
military force to that point. Genera
Miles, while at Tampa organizing the ex
petition, felt the Importance of the enter
prise so greatly that he requested permits
sion to accompany that expedition or t
join another to join It, This permission
was not granted, so far as accompanying
that expedition was concerned, but au
thority was granted to equip q SECOND
for movement and operation against tn,
enemy in Cuba and Porto Rico" How
ever, before this expedition was equipped
calls were made for additional forces, tt
go to Santiago and they were immediate
1y forwarded.
The statement then leads up to Miles
trip to Cuba and the circumstances o.
the surrender of Santiago. After Miles
conference with Toral the commanding
general of the American army received
from Washington the following dis
patch:
WASHINGTON, ~. c., July 13.-Majo
General Miles: You may accept surren
men, the officers retaining their sid
arms; the officers and men after parol
to be permitted to return to Spain, tn
then assault, unless in your Judgment Al
assault would fail. Consult with Samp
son and pursue such course as to tn
assault as you jointly agree upon. Mat
ter should be settled promptly.
r. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.
This, the statement says, does no
look as If General Miles was there a
a visitor. He was charged with the re
sponsibility Of ordering an assault upo
the intrenchments and Notifications @
an army which If successful would hav
cost at least 5000 lives, or Of withhold
ing the assault if in his judgment sue
assault would fail. No greater discre
ton was ever given to any genera
commanding an army, and what /
more. as will be observed, he was au
thorized to accept the surrender, whic
in the interest of his subordinates h
generously declined to do and wen
away, leaving all the honor to his mex
in rank General .Shafter. On the. morn
ing succeeding the first interview let
ter was received from General Tora
of which the following is literal trans
lation: 49,
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July IA, 1893.
General in Chief Of the America
forces = Honored Sir: His Excellenc
the general in chief of the arm
of the island of Cuba telegraphe
from Havana yesterday at D. N
the. following Believing the busl
ness of such Importance as the capitula