The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-03
LGER DOES NOT cRITIcIsE.
CONTINUED from Fifth Page.)

NV was distracted 10 other points and
,tst If was china tically suited for the treat
,,sr+ of sick soldiers and for a detention
+lC,4 for prisoners OF war. The one steam
- rnen at Tampa with some artillery
1roilo suffice for the expenditure. The sec.
ra,rv's reply was II have the honor to
MORN YOU that this is not approved by the
President
disouieting telegram about this time
mas one from the censor at Key West
Who reported that CerVera had been or
5erad TO shell Santiago as soon as the
Americans got possession and that foreign
copsuls had been nouhed to retire. This
wa forwarded to Shafter July for infor-
pa ion.
On the same date then was received by
tbe Secretary, Gen. Skaters message
dad Seviila, July 3, saying that he had
invested the town with but a very thin
line. that il was Impossible to carry il by
Storm with the present force and he was
seriously considering Withdrawing five
miles so as TO get near the railroad. He
describes the present condition of the army
win Wheeler and Young sick Hawkins
wounded, and himself confined TO the tent
four days by the heat. He also speaks of
urgiug Sampson to an entrance, but the
text of this telegram has been published
no in the report of Gen. Shafter and
Gen Miles. The secretary's answer has
mol been II, with Skaters rejoinder, was
as follows:
War Department. Washington, July g.
1895 12:lO p. m.-Maj Gen. Shafter, Playa
de Este, Cuba: Your first dispatch re-
ceyed OF course, you can judge the stu
alton better than we can a this end of the
line If however, you could hold your
present position especially San Juan
Nights, the effect upon the country would
be much better than failing back How
ever we leave all that matter to you. This
in only a suggestion. We shall send you
re-enforcements at once.
R. A. Alger, Secretary of War"
Playa del Este, via Haiti. Received
Washington July 4, 1898, 1:16 a. m.)-The
Hon Secretary of War, Washington
Headquarters Fifth Corps, 81 shall hold
my present position.
Shafter, Major-General
July 8. Adjt. Gen. Corbin telegraphed
Shafter that he could have whatever rein
f0rcements he wanted, and told Of the
starting from this country for Santiago of
200 troops from Tampa, 5000 from New
port and 1900 from Charleston. The Secre-
tary supplemented this later in the day
with the following dispatch:
I'VE are forwarding re-enforcements to
you this week How is your health? Do
you think that some one should come to
relieve you? Are you going to be able to
stand through? What do you think? Be
very careful OF yourself
'R. A Alger, Secretary of War"
In a dispatch of the same date, to Shat
ter. Secretary Alger directs him to inter-
cept all press dispatches and make report
10 him at the close of each day of events
Of special Importance. A dispatch dated
camp near Santiago, 3rd., from Shafter to
the Secretary of War conveys the first
news of the attempted escape of the Span
ish heet. Lieut.. Allen had reported that
Cervera had started out about 10 O'Clock
thai morning; Duffield had telephonedD
from Siboney, that Sampson had signaled
for the chase and the French consul had
informed Gen. Garcia, that CerVera was
going out at 10 o'clock, having told the
consul that it was better to die fighting
than to blow up his ships in the harbor.
On the same day Shafter reports that he
had demanded the surrender of Santiago
under threat of bombardment, but, up to
4:30 had received no answer. He says "Sit-
uation has been precarious on account of
difficulties of supplying command with
food and tremendous fighting capability
shown by the enemy from his almost i'm
pregnable position. The next day he says
that he is physically exhausted still, but
had eaten a little for the first time in four
days. Shafter transmits copies of has de-
mand for the surrender of Santiago and
the reply, a refusal, of date of July 8, and
then shows that he postponed the bonn
bardment until noon on the 9TH in order to
allow the foreign consuls to remove their
people to FL Caney. He explains to the
secretary that great suffering will result
and he submits the matter to the Presi-
dent The consuls had. told Dorst that
there were not to exceed 5000 troops at
Santiago and that he, Shafter, could starve
them out, letting the non-combatants come
out leisurely s
The Secretary replied that for humani-
" sake he approved the postponement
OF The Commandment as proposed, though
Shafter would be justified in carrying out
the original threat. Later in the same day
Gen. Corbn directed Shafter to use his
own judgment about how to take the city
oniy, for manifest reasons it should be ac-
eomplished as speedily as possible. The
Secretary also added a short telegram say
ing that he had not intended to direct
Skaters movements as he was the best
Judge Of the situation and the country had
every faith in his wisdom. Later still, on
july 4, the following telegram was dis
PATCHED:
Mai Gen. shafter, Playa del Este,
cuba: After conference with the Presi-
Gent and the Secretary of War, l am di-
Tected to say your continued illness brings
sorrow and anxiety In case you are dis
aoled Gen. Wheeler would, of course, sue
coed to command. His illness, which we
"NN iSSiSl, Is feared 10 De SO serious as
To prevent his assuming command. You
must determine whether your condition
Is such as TO require you to relinquish
Command. If so, and Gen. Wheeler is
disabled, you will order the next general
officer in rank for duty to succeed you and
take up the work in hand. 1t is not ex-
pecled that our forces will make assault
until they are ready, H. c. Corbin, Ad-
Jutant General.
The response was as follows
camp Near Santiago, Cuba, 5.-Adjutant
General, Washington l am not at pres
emit so much i'll as exhausted from the
intense strain that has been on me for
last two months am also suffering from
an attack of govt, which prevents me
from moving about l have however, the
whole business in my hand, and am
managing it through able stan officers
when 1 do have 10 give up / will of
course, follow your order, but hope TO