The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-08
A BLOW AT CONGRESS
TIME SUITED FOR INVASION
WASTED BY DELAY.
HE WENT TO CUBA NOT AS A VISITOR
But as Commander in Chief of American Forces
--plan of Operations was His. .-Had it
Failed Blame Would have
Fallen on Him.

Fallen on Him.
New York, Sept. 1.-THE United States
transport OLDHAM, having on board Major
General Nelson A. Miles and his staff;
Major Grcenleaf, Captain Whitney, the
Second regiment of Wisconsin volunteers,
consisting of thirty officers and 800 men.
and the hospital corps from Porto Rico
arrived here to-day. Mrs. Miles, son
and daughter were also on board the
transport, which sailed from Ponce,
Porto Rico on September 1st. The sur
geon in charge reported all well on
board and no sickness or deaths during
the voyage. Ihe troops We're in the best
of spirits. The big transport was de-
corated profusely with palms and draped
with flags. From the fore truck was fly
ing the American ensign over a large
Spanish flag, while long strings of inter-
national code flags were floating from
each masthead to the rails.
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, two battalions of the Second re-
giment of Wisconsin volunteers, / learn
cd the following facts concerning the
Cuban and Porto Rican expeditions. In
the first place, let me say that the war
has closed after being conducted large
Iy as General Miles stated publicly at
the beginning of the war that it would
be- The statement was publicly made,
and general order was issued by him,
as commander of the American Army, III
which the plan he has striven to pursue
was foreshadowed. namely: Seeking to
accomplish results with the least possible
loss of life. In an interview in the lat
ter part of May he said:
The United States Government is
too strong, too great and too powerful
to commit any foolish act in comes ion
with the proposed invasion of Cuba.
Referring to the proposed rush to the
fever stacker city of Havana, he said:
.''No officer is fit to command troops
who. from any motive whatever, would
needlessly risk the life of a single soldier.
either from disease or the bullets of the
enemy / have never sacrificed the
lives Of men under my command, and do
not propose to subject them to any I'M
necessary risks in the present campaign
'.In the order issued to the army at
an early date, he directed that:
OPPOSED ATTACKING HAVANA.
Every officer, of whatever grade,
will, so far as may be in his power, guard
and preserve the health aud welfare of
those under his charge. He must labor
IN Il. 10 n.ff I, i'm
self and his subordinates in military drill.
instruction and discipline, and above al
he must constantly endeavor by precept
and example to maintain the highest
character. to foster and stimulate that
true soldiery spirit and patriotic devo-
tion 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 suited
for campaigning in Cuba had been eX-
hausted in debates and delay in Con-
gress, and in necessary preparations
General Miles was opposed to rushing
an ill-prepared, undisciplined and un-
equipped army in a movement against
the capital of Cuba, defended by 100 900
trained Spanish troops, and in this posi-
tion he stood practically alone for sever
nj weeks. Havana, Matanzas, Santiago
and a few other points were drawn on
IS military map as hot beds Of disease,
destruction to an army, and places to be
avoided. especially during the sickly sea-
son. When finally called upon to sub
nit plan of campaign. he did so and
pnt 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 harrass Tue
Spanish forces. The cry of ON TO Ha-
vana' should be encourag ged. but when
the transports. loaded with troops, We're
out of sight of land they should sail rs
straight as steam power could bear them
10 the gate of the Antilles, and the key
of the whole position, Porto Rico; then.
having seized and occupied that island,
IL movement was to follow by means OF
II strong cavalry force which was to
be organized and equipped by August or
September. He contemplated that ~
600 cavalry thrown to the centre of Cuba.
cutting the Spanish forces in two and
SHOWING west to Havana, by the time the
rainy season was over and it would be
imp0ssibIe to vancouver an army, we
could move against that city with we'll
organized well-equippcd and well-dis-
ciplined army and complete the capture
Of the Spanish forces.
MILES TO THE RESCUE.
'"The enclosure of Ceryera's fleet in