The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1898-12-24
FINDS SOME FAULT
MILES TELLS, HIS STORY TO WAR
INVESTIGATORS.

Men at Santiago short OF Food and Medi-
cines and Unnecessarily Exposed His
Plans Not Accepted Proposed to Delay
the Land Fightins Until the Rainy Sea-
SON Endod-spoke with Bitterness Of
the .Embalmed Beef" Served to the
Troops.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Geperal Mel
son "A. Miles, commanding the United
States army, and General Wesley Mer-
ritt, commander of the American forces
at the capture of Manila, were the prin-
cipal figures before the war investiga-
ton commission during the day. Gen.
eral Miles responded to the summons Of
the commission only after several days
consideration. He was accompanied by
his own stenographer. His examina-
ton was comparatively brief and not
sensational. He spoke with some bit
terness as to the ''embalmed beef" and
the ..canned beef furnished the army
in the field. This he characterized as
an experiment for which "some one in
Washington" was responsible. He said
that the landing facilities of the Santi.
ago expedition were inadequate and
that the men were short of rations and
medicines and might have been better
protected from exposure to fever con
tagion.
In beginning General Miles described
the railroad confusion at Tampa and
the crowded condition of the trans.
ports making up the Santiago expedition
Fortunate tha Weather Was Good.
''It was most Fortunate" he said
.'that the transports had good weather
If they had encountered a severe storm
the loss of life or the suffering, at least
must have been fearful. AS it was
with fair weather, the. men below
crowded in with the mules and supplies
could get on deck, which would have
been impossible otherwise"
The commissary stores taken, he said
were sufficient, but the medical supplies
were inadequate.
Arrived at Santiago the supply Of
tentage and food was very limited, par
TALLY on account of inability to get the
food ashore, because of lack Of barges
and small tugs or launches. Another
reason for the deficiency was the sup
plying of thousands of Cubans, includ
ing the Cuban army, with food.
"Were the medical supplies at tina
time sufficient for the needs of the com
mand?" he was asked.
He read a dispatch from Genera
Shafter on Aug. 4, which referred to 1
''chronic scarcity of medicines" ani
that four men had just died from lacl
of medicines There was at no time
said General Miles, sufficient medicin,
for the troops.
Hts Plans Not Accepted.
General Miles stated the first plan
for sending troops to Cuba were not his
as he was opposed to sending troop
there until Cervera's fleet was located
The question at the outset was nava
problem and the dispatch Of troops, il
his Judgment, then hinged on whicl
feet should destroy the other. The de
struction of Cervera's feet, he said, set
tied that problem. He then wanted t.
operate with a small force against tn
Spanish forces by harrassing them dur
ing the sickly season, aiding the Cuban
and not endangering the lives of hi
own force.
As to Chickamauga, General Mile
said he had recommended mobilizinJ
the regulars there and portion Of th
volunteers after some of the regular
left, but he never anticipated 1900
men would be sent there, and when b
found it overcrowded he had recon
mended the distribution of the force
among other localities.
General Merritt told the commission
that he regarded the Philippine expedi
tion as a decided success and would con
duct it on the same lines if he had it t
do over. He spoke in high terms Of tn
troops under him apd said his army wa
well supplied with medicines and food