The Irish standard., 1898-11-19
SKATERS SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.

SKATERS SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.
In his testimony before the war inves-
/ tigating committee in Washington the
other day, Gen. Breckinridge, who went
to Cuba as inspector general of the
army of invasion. said some things not
very complimentary to Gen. Shufter, the
heavy man OF adiDose tissue, who con-
Quoted the campaign in Cuba by tee-
phone while lying in his hammock five
miles from the battlefield Being asked
his opinion of the result of the cam
paign. Gen. Breckenridge said he thought
it was consistent with the character of
the men who conducted it and then ad-
ded: II think it would have been diff
ferent if Gen. Miles had been in COM
mand-that it would have been more sat
isfactorily conducted. | think that he
has more of the spark of genius of COM
1nand than any man in the army, and I
am sure that if he had had charge, he
would have been in the front rank
Secretary Alger saw to it that Gen.
Miles should not win any military re-
nown in the war with Spain and pitch
forked Shafter to the front for reasons
best known to himself. Victory was
gained not through any sliiilfuI strategy
on the part of the Michigan commander,
but in spite of him and simply because
Gen. Toral's nerve gave out" at Il criti-
cal moment. when Shafter was contem
plating retreat. Gen. Breckinridge de-
,lared that American success was due t.
ihe supervision of the Lord and he dit
not think that Gen. Shafter was above
criticism in the conduct OF the CAM
paign." He ascr1hed the outcome to the
titct that the army was one which wae
apable of meeting all calls. adding tha.
no matter how it was tangled up il
went to victory" TO make his meaning
better understood Gen. breckenridge said
that he had at the time quoted Lord
Beresford. who said to his army on
similar OCCASION: II have led you into
devil of Il fix, and it is now your duty
to fight like hell to get mo out of it," If
that is not hard slap at Shaftcr we fail
to understand the English language. No
general with horse sense would have
used the men under his command as
Shafter did before Santiago With
small force poorly equipped and without
artillery he ordered an attack on the for
tilted position of the enemy and made no
ri..i. Il
tendance for the famished and wounded
soldiers.
In his answers to questions put to him
by members of the investigating COM
ridge did not desire to show Skaters
incapacity except by insinuation. He
admitted that he visited Shafter in his
tent when the latter was i'll, but when
asked il the sick general then offered him
the command of the army he said he
preferred not to answer. AS a matter
of fact, suggested Gov. Beaver. "he did
not turn the command over to you?'
mo, he did not" said Gen. Breckinrdge,
and do not think that there is any i'm
propriety in my saying that he could
not have done So
No matter how anxious the committee
may he to whitcwash Secretary Alger
and his Michigan protege. the people of
this country have made up their minds
that the late war was not properly man.
aged, as far as these two worthless are
concerned. Victory was achieved in
spite of them by the bravery of Ameri
can soldiers. The secretary of war APP
pears to think that the result of the state
elections is Il complete vindicaton of his
management of the Cuban campaign. but
he is cgrcgiously mistaken AS he will
find out when congress assemblies. \
man who has displayed such downright
incfllciency as Alger is nothing short of
being Il criminal and should be driven
from public life Nothing but his wealth
and political backing keeps him in Nc
l[inley's cabinet.