Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-15
SHAT TER'S REPORT
Of the Campaign Of Santiago
Made Public.
Was Obliged BY Conditions to Force
Matters in Cuba.
Ably Supported throughout by All His Officers
and Men.

! Washington, Sept. H.-Gen. Skaters
report Of the campaign which termi-
mated in the fall of Santiago has been
made public. He briefly recounts the
organization for the expedition and its
embarkation and then devotes the re-
mainder of his report to the operations
about Santiago. Gen. Shafter says the
exhibition was undertaken with COM
plications Of Geographic instructions of
May 80 from headquarters of the army
in which it was stated:
| Admiral Schley reports that two
| cruisers and two torpedo boats have
been seen in the harbor of Santiago.
Go with your force to capture garrison
and assist in capturing harbor and
| fleet"
| The report gives in detail the troops
assembled at Tampa. The cavalry was
dismounted because of lack of trans
portation for the animals and because
1t was believed that mounted cavalry
could not operate efficiently near San
tiago. This, Gen. Shafter says was
subsequently found correct.
After recitinG the delay at Tampa
due to inadequate facilities, Gen. Shat
| ter says that, June Z, he received Or
| ders to sail without delay but not with
less than 10000 men. After some of
the transports had already reached the
lower bay, Geographic instructions were
received from the secretary of war di-
recting that the sailing or the expe-
| dition be delayed waiting further Or
ders. The delay was occasioned by the
| navy reporting that Spanish war yes
sci had been sighted in the Nicholas
channel. The ships in the lower bay
were Immediately recalled.
! The expedition sailed on June a.
with SIS officers and 1902 men. Gen.
| Shafter briefly covers the trip and
| landing and his first meeting with Gen.
| Garcia, adding:
During the interview Gen. Garcia
| offered the services of his troops COM
prising about 1000 men in the vicinity
1 OF Asseradores and about 500 under
! Gen. Castillo at the little town of Gu
| jababo. a few miles east of Baiquira
! | accepted his offer, impressiiig upon
| him that could exercise no military
| control over him except such as he
| would concede and as long as he served
under me 1 would furnish him rations
| and ammunition"
| After comforting with Admiral Samp-
| son and Gen. Garcia, the plan of cam
paign was outlined by Gen. Shafter
The Decentralization was to commence
| on the 22nd at Daiquiri, with feints by
the Cubans at Cabanas, and by the
| navy at various shore points, in order
| to mislead the enemy as to the place of
| landing.
These movements" Gen. Shafter
says. committed me to approaching
Santiago from the east over a narrow
road, at first in some places not better
than trail. running from Daiquiri
through Siboney and Sevilla, and max
Ing an attack from that quarter. This,
in my Judgment, was the only feasible
plan and subsequent information and
results confirmed my Judgment"
OF the early operations and the skir-
mish in which the Rough Riders par
ticipated. the report says:
Gen. Young's brigade passed beyond
Lawton on the night of the 23d-24th,
thus taking the advance and an the
morning of the latter date, became en-
gagged with Spanish force entrenched
kin strong position at La Guasiama,
a point on the Santiago road about
there miles from Siboney. Gen.
Young's force consisted of one SQUAD
ron of the LIST Cavalry, one of the 10th
Cavalry and two of the LIST United
States Volunteer Cavalry, in all 964 off,
GERS and men.
The enemy made an obstinate resis-
tence. but We're driven from the field
with considerable loss. Our own loss
was one officer and, Is men killed. six
officers and 46 men wounded. The re-
ported loss of Spaniards was killed
and "a wounded. The ngagement had
an inspiring effect upon our men and.
doubtless, correspondingly depressed
the enemy. as it was now plainly de-
inonstrated to them that they had foe
TO meet who would advance upon them
undeE heavy fire delivered from en-
trenthments.
Gen. Wheeler, division commander.
was present during the engagement.
and reports that our troops, officers and
men fought with the greatest gallantry.
This engagement gave us a well water
ed country further to the front, on
when to encamp our troops"
The report continues:
II was not until nearly two weeks
after the army landed that it was nos
sible to place on shore three days' sum-
plies in excess of those required for the
daily consumption.
On June 30, reconnoitered tba
country about Santiago and made nv
plan Of attack. From a high hill from
which the city was in plain view