The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-08
LEADS ALL NORTH GAR0ZNA 2AES TIM NEWS AMID GRGULATDD

the harbor of Santiago changed the con-
ditions and made it necessary to move
military force to that point General
Miles while at Tampa, organized the
exDeditiOn and felt the Importance OF me
enterprise so greatly that he requested
permission to accompany that expedition
or to Immediately organize another to JON
it. This permission was not granted SO
far as accompanying that expedition was
concerned, but authority was granted 10
eOuip q second For movement and 0p-
GRAFTON against the enemy i'll CUBA anu
Porto Rico However, before this eX-
petition was equipped, calls were maue
for additional forces to go to Santiago,
and they were Immediately forwarded.
On the third day of July General Shaftor
telegraphed that his losses had been
greatly underestimated; that he met With
stronger resistance than he anticipated,
and that he was seriously considering the
advisability of falling back to a position
five miles to the rear, and that he hdd
been unable to be up during the heat Tor
four days. Under such circumstances.
General Miles telegraphed General Shat
ter that he would be with him within
week with strong reinforcements, OF
course taking the troops prepared for
the second expedition, which had been
ordered by the President to operate
against the enemy in Cuba as well as in
Porto Rico. These reinforcements We're
pushed rapidly forward and some of
them arrived in advance of the command
ing general and were put in position in
the trenches around Santiago. Under
verbal instructions of the President, Gen
eral Miles was directed to go wherever
he deemed his presence was required and
that he should give such directions as in
his opinion were best for the army and
the Government.
MILES IN COMMAND.
"These were the circumstances under
which General Miles left Washington,
arriving at Santiago July 18th, not as
a private individual, nor as visitor
ANY pretense that he went there dis
robed of his authority or official capacity
is too childish to be considered by sen
siDle men. From the moment he arrived
at santiago he was responsible for what
might occur. He arrived there with
the Yale. Columbia and Rita, loaded
with infantry, and three ships loaded
with artillery. beside those already dis
troops and artillery named on the west
side of Santiago, as was understood De-
fore leaving Washington, and before he
went ashore he made the necessary ar
rangement accordingly. He then pro-
ceeded to the front and after consulting
with General Shafter, a note was sent
TO the Spanish commander by General
Shafter saving that the commanding
general Of the United States Army had
arrived in his camp with strong rem
forcements. and would meet him between
the lines at any hour agreeable TO him.
The reply of the Spanish commander
was that he would meet him ut II o'clock
the next morning. The meeting WIS
held, and after some conversation be-
tween General Shafter and General
Toral. General Miles frankly informed
the Spanish General that he had left
Washington six days before and that il
was then the determination of the Gov
ernment that this portion of the Spanish
army must be captured or destroyed. He
also informed the Spanish General that
his reinforcements had arrived with
him, that some of these forces had al
ready disembarked and the remainder
would he disemharked on the west side
of the harbor and that it was useless
for him to contend against the newt
able These transports could also be
plainly seen by the Spanish from Moro
Castle and other points. General ToFl
replied that so long as he had rations
and ammunition he had to fight i'll order
to maintain the honor of the Spanish
army. In response to this he was in
formed that he had already maintained
the honor of. the Spanish army and that
further efforts would be useless and
would result in the wanton sacrifice of
human life. He then said that he was
waiting to hear from his Government ami
was informed by General Miles that he
had already taken much time for that
purpose and would be given until day
light of the following morning it being
then three O'clock, to submit his final an
'swer. He begged for longer time and
earnestly requested until II O'Clock The
next day. This was finally granted oy
General Miles, the meeting dissolved ana
the officers separated. On returning
from this conference. dispatch was re-
ceiyed by General Miles from Washing
ton as follows:
ALGER'S ORDER TO MILES.
Washington, d. c., July 13, 1893.
:" "'Major General Miles:
You may accept surrender by grant
ing parole to officers and men, the Of
ficers retaining their side arms, the Of
ficers and men after parole to be permit
ted to return to Spain, the United States
assisting. If not accepted then assault.
unless in your judgment an assault would
fail Consult with Sampson and pursue
such course as to the assault as you
jointly agree upon. Matter should be
settled promptly.
(Signed) II. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War
'This," the statement says, docs not
look as if General Miles was there as -
visitor. He was charged with the re-
sponsibility of ordering an assault upon
the entertainments and Qualifications of
an army, which, if successful, would cost
at least five thousand men. or Of with
holding the assaulting if in his Judgment
cuch accoult would fail M Draa ron, Jic