The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-25

Gated that the relations between the
newspaper men and the army officers
at Santiago are generally amicable and
satisfactory.
In very dignifed manner General
Shafter takes notice of some of the
severely critical newspaper articles
that have appeared, touching the con-
ditiOn of the troops before Santiago
while they lay in the trenches. He
admits that there was a shortage of to-
bacco for a. time, but shows conclusive
ly that there was no lack of the neces-
Saries Of life, and that the troops were
adequately supplied with hard bread,
bacon, sugar and coffee. Although his
bill of fare is not as extensive as that
afforded troops in garrison, it embOdies
the main features of the army ration
while on field service and removed
from the base of supplies.
AS it has been alleged in some quar-
tiers that there was a lack of purpose
in the battles incident to the advance
upon Santiago, it is interesting to note
that, while General Shafter admits
that for two days he was himself lying
i'll, owing to the great heat and expos
ure, he asserts that the plans laid down
in advance for the movement were car
ried out with absolute exactness.
General Henry's Story.
No such charge is recorded in his
tory as that made upon the stone fort
and the block houses crowning the hills
of Ell Caney. There have been en-
gagements between trained troops and
savage races in the jungles Of India
and on the hills of South Africa of late
years that conveyed, in a slight man
ner, the possibilities of modern Weap-
ons. But these battles fought by the
Fifth army corps have been the first
in which large bodies of troops of civil
lied nations on both sides have been
engaged with all the implements of
modern warfare, and the result is
bound to be highly instructive to the
military student and to eXtOrt admira-
ton for the splendid fighting qualities
of the United States soldiers from the
most unwilling critics. Few officers
in any army have had more experience
in hard fighting. especially in rough
country, than the old Indian fighter,
General Henry, so that some weight
must be attached to the opinion of the
merits Of our officers and troops ex-
pressed by him in the following per-
sOnal letter addressed by him to Ad-
jutant General Corbin, dated front of
Santiago, July II:
I'VE had a pleasant sail down, but,
having to row the men ashore, took
some time to get off. We left SibOney
at p. m. yesterday with the Eighth
Ohio, and came into camp here about
three miles from the front. In COM
pany with General Breckenridge, I
rode to the front to General Wheeler's
headquarters, and, flag Of truce be-
ing up, had an opportunity to see the
lines. We are almost on top of them,
in front of Wheeler, being about 500
yards to them, but the country is
IOuSL5 SO4AAS uOWL 70 q AeAAAAAi5 anu 90
cending, all covered by their fire. The
country all the way is the toughest
ever saw. We have to follow roads
or trails and come under heavy fire,
their position commanding every ap-
prOach
1.-The work done by these troops since
landing, their heroism and patience I'M
der discOmfOrts, heat and rain, calls
for the highest praise; and the work
accomplished by Shafter, his pertinac-
ity and 'gOaheadativeness' under ad-
verse circumstances and discOmfOrts is
a revelation to me- 1 doubt if there
is another officer who would have
gotten there as he did. Our loss was
most unfortunate, but from character
of country, could not have been avoid
ed if we had to get there Last night
the Eighth Ohio were almost drowned
out, and it pours today; that's the eli
mate; and to get out of it would be
cheaper to lose more by fighting, and
success, than by sickness, which is sure
to come by staying.
1--WE have about thirty cases of yell
low fever and many OF malaria, but
the men are cheerful General Duff
field and Captain Wilcox have yellow
fever; they say a mild form; gotten
from sleeping in infected buildings,
which are now to be burned. Miss
Clara Barton and Mrs. Addison POr-
ter rode to the front yesterday in an
army wagon over rough roads and
raining. They are unselhsh women.
Too much credit cannot be given the
'herOism, pertinacity, pluck, patience
and endurance of the men, who have
horne the brupt Of this work.