Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-08-30

here is destitute of food or growing
crops except mangoes.
Men are in good spirits though I
is hard to tell how long the latter will
continue.
in addition to my weakness, cannot
he out on account of slight attack
of goMt, bat hope to be better soon
Lieut.. Miley had interview with con-
suls. this morning. and his report will
be telegraphed Immediately. 1 do not
send this in cipher as time is precious
(SigneD SHAFTER.
Major General
1T was this situation which deter
mined Gen. Miles to go to Cuba. The
day he sailed with reinforcements,
July z. he sent the following dispatch
from Washington: rE
'Shafter. Santiago:
Take every precaution against sur
prise and be on the lookout that the
enemy does not turn your right flank
and come in on the line of your COM
municDtions. Reinforcements are be-
ing sent forward as rapidly as possible.
but you will have to be the judge of
the position you are to hold until re-
Inducements can reach you.
(Signed) MILES.
Major General, Commanding.
General Miles sailed for Cuba. On
July II at noon. he reported his safe
arrival to the war department and at
once assumed charge. reporting to the
secretary Of war. All of the subse-
quent business of the surrender was
entirely in his hands as shown by the
fact that the war department COM
municated with him directly. not even
mentioning Skaters name in the nu-
merous dispatches. The following dis
patch is an excellent example:
Washington. D. c., July 13, 1898.
Major General Miles:
"'You may accept surrender by
granting paroles to officers and men.
the officers refining their side arms.
The officers and men after parole will
be permitted to return to Spain. the
United States assisting. If not ac-
cepted then assault unless in your
judgment an assault would fail. Con-
suit with Sampson and pursue such
course as to the assault as you Jointly
agree upon. Matters should be settled
promptly. s8T 5i1t7f ~ -
(Signed) r. A. ALGER.
Secretary of War
"This dispatch recognized Miles as
commander and gave him authority to
act. Shafter was entirely ignored. In
theface of this situation Secretary AL
ger through Gen. Corbin sent dis
patch to Gen. Shafter, assuring him
that Gen Miles did not come to Cuba
to supersede Shafter in any way. This
dispatch Gen. Miles refers to as secret
! for he says he did not know it had been
sent, not being notified from Washing
ton and Gen. Shafter saying nothing
| about it, After the surrender. Gen
thorized Shafter TO appoint peace COM
missioners and. judging from Skaters
report that all was over, he instructed
him as to the disposition OF the troops
"July Is, Gen. Shafter wired Gen. Mile!
that the surrender was not as complet'
as he thought. and said:
| "'Please do not go away with the rein
forcements, as may yet need them +
miles promptly replied by wire from
Baiquiri that the surrender is complete
and the Spaniards must surrender
ION July 16. Gen. Shafter wired Mile
that the surrender was finally complete
and Gen. Miles replied through Adjutan
General Gilmore as follows:
1.-The commanding general is yer.
much gratified to hear that the surrende
| is complete, He directs that you tele
graph anything, of Importance and tn
condition of your command daily.
Gen. Miles then reported the condition
of affairs to the secretary of war. wit
Of his kilograms to Miles, Secretary Alge
says:
LAS soon as Santiago falls. the troop
must all be put In camp as cOmfOrtabl
as they can be made and remain. l SUP
pose. until the fever has had it's rnn.'
Miles did not agree with Secretary Al
ger, for July n. in letter. the genera
commanding urged the return of tn
army to the United States as soon as pos
sible. July II. after the surrender wa
complete. Gen. Shafter wired as follow
to Gen. Miles:
siboney, July II. $40 P. NJ. CReceive
July 1S).
"'Gen. Miles on board Yale:
Letters and orders in reference t
movement on camp received and will b
carried out. No one is more anxious t
get away from here than myself. 1t seem
from your orders given me that you rt
garded my forces as part of your CON
mand. Nothing would give me create
, pleasure IN serving you. general. and
shall comply with all your requests an
directions; but was told by the secre
tary that you were not to supersede me
command here. I will furnish the infOI
nation called for. as to condition Of com
manding. to Gilmore. adjutart genera
"A. III. @. (Signed) SHAFnER.
II Major General
'Gen. Miles very promptly replied a
follows:
l NCno