The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-03

well TO announce that the army got On
board transports and started, as they
said yesterday. Say nothing about it be-
ing recalled, but let our naval vessels go
over the course that our transports would
have gone over, with the hope of finding
those Spanish ships. Does not the pres
ence of Spanish war vessels in Cuban
waters render 1t extremely hazardous TO
send troops on transports until they are
captured, destroyed or driven away? And,
under the circumstances, it is expected
that l shall organize expedition number two
Arrangements had been partly made be-
fore the presence of the Spanish ships was
announced. Miles, Major General Com
handing
War Department, June 9, 1S9S.-Maj,
Gen. Miles, Tampa, Fla: The President
directs me to say that no change of plan
viii be made that expedition number two
must be organized as rapidly as possible.
We are looking for transports and am
satisfied the navy will take care of that
problem. Give nothing out. r. A. Alger,
Secretary of War
Tampa, Fla, June g. 1898, 2:45 p. m.-
Secretary of War, Washington: lie seems
that it is a naval problem yet unsolved,
and ii might be advisable for the command
now on board transports to have the pro-
lection of the entire navy TO convoy IL TO
No l, No. 2, or Nuevitas,. or, If this is con-
sidered too hazardous, then to keep the
troops in healthful camps, as they are
now and assist the navy to destroy the
Spanish fleet There are here twenty five
good steamers that could be used to carry
water coal and supplies, guns, revolving
cannon and mortars, etc, and they could
be added to the force of the navy. 1t
seems strange to be suggesting that the
army assist the navy in this way, but l
am sure we would receive most loyal sup
port when the waters are safe for cross
ing with the army.
Miles, Major General Commanding.
On June Acting Secretary Allen of the
navy wrote the Secretary of War that by
the 18th the naval convoy from Sampsons
fleet would be ready to start without re-
gard to the Spanish ships, and in sending
this dispatch to Maj. Gen. Miles at Tampa,
Adjt Gen. Corbin, by orders of the secre-
tary, directs that Miles transmit it to
Shafter On the 18th the Adjutant General
communicated directly with Maj. Gen.
Shafter, suggesting that the army trans
ports leave Tampa about eighteen hours
before the Key West division of the con-
voy reaches Rebecca ShoaL
Several kilograms on this subject were
exchanged directly between the war de-
partment and Gen. Shafter and not until
the 18th of June is anything printed as
coming from Miles, when he reported that
1 $500
telegram is sign Miles, Major General, in
stead of Miles, commanding, as in. the
case of some of the preceding kilograms.
There seems 20 have been lack of uni
formity however, in the method of adj
dressing and signing this whole series of
dispatches June 10 Col. Michlers by di-
rection Of major general commanding, re-
ports to the adjutant general the list of
general officers who sailed with Shafter.
The explanation of Miles summons from
Tampa is afforded by the following extract
from the report:
The following dispatch was sent to Maj.
Gen. Miles June IS, after Gen. Shafter had
sailed, the object being to have the major
general commanding fit out the expedi-
ton for Porto Rico:
Washington, D. c., June Is, 1s9S.-MaJ.
Gen. Miles. Tampa, Fla; Important BUSH
ness requires your presence here. Report
at once r. A. Alger, Secretary of War.
Tampa, Fla, June, Is, 1898. Secretary Of
War. Washington, D. c.; l leave by the
first train, TIPS this evening.
Miles, Maj. Gen. Commanding.
Following these are some kilograms an
nouncing the further movements of the
transports and the landing of the Shafter
expedition at Daiquiri. The secretary in
cludes ihVhis report the plan of campaign
IN written form submitted by Gen Niles
on June "a, and already published as part
of the latter's report. This, in substance,
was to proceed after the capture of San
tiago. to capture a fort on The north shore
of Cuba, and a force of $1,000 cavalry and
make a march through the interior Of the
country upon Havana from that base. The
secretary has this to say: THE plan of
campaign recommended by Gen. Miles, in
his letter dated June "a, was not approx
ed"
Under date Of June 25, Gen. shafter re-
ports 10 Adjutant General Corbin from
Playa del Este the facts attending the
landing of the troops at Daiquiri He
saws that all the Cuban generals are of
the same opinion as himself that the land
ing should be made east of Santiago. He
saws the assistance of the navy has been
of The greatest benefit and enthusiastically
.givefis and without them he perhaps would
NOT have landed at all. He wanted moth
ing at that time At this point com
munication is inserted directed to Gen.
Miles by the secretary, ordering the for
nation under command of Gen. Brooke
of the expedition against Porto Rico, and
directing that immediate preparations be
made.
krtefegram from Shafter to the secre-
tary. dated off Siboney. June q, after re-
ferring to precautions taken to mark sol
diers' graves, says:
Gen. Dufield'sg command ashore
will not act hastily, though l believe /
can take the place within forty-eight
hours, but, I fear, at considerable loss
of life There is no necessity for haste,
as we are growing stronger and they
weaker every day. The health Of the
command is reported 10 me by the sur
geon as remarkable outside of the wound
ed. There are to-day less than $50 men
sick; so far no wounded have died and
but two men of disease since leaving Tam
pa"
On the 18th Shafter reports that he does
not intend to take the siege guns to the
front until they are needed as they might
block the road. Several kilograms from
Shafter follow, telling the history Of each
days event in the campaign, coming down
20 the battle of the LIST of July, when
Shafter first estimated his loss at 400 and
then reported that this was an underes-
innate.
Another depression from the history of
the Santiago campaign about this point
In the shape of a letter from Miles as TO
the Secretary of War suggesting that