Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-03

ing the formation, under command OF Gen.
eral Brooke, of the expedition against
Porto Rico and directing that immediate
preparation be made.
Skaters OptImistic Report.
A telegram from Shafter to the secre-
tary. dated off Siboney. June %. after re-
ferring TO precautions taken to mark SOL
diers graves. says:
General Dufiield's command ashore.
will not act hastily. though | believe l can
take the place within forty-eight hours,
but | fear at considerable less of life.
There is no necessity for haste, are
growing stronger and they weaker every
day. The health of the command is re-
ported TO ne by the surgeon as remark
able, outside of the wounded. There are
to-day less than 80 sick men: so far no
wounded have died, and but two men of
disease since leaving Tampa
On the 2sth Shafter reports that he does
not intend 10 take the siege guns to the
front until they are needed. as they might
block the road. Several kilograms from
Shafter follow, telling the story of each
days event in the campaign, coming down
TO the battle of the 1st of July, when
Shafter first estimated his loss at 4o0 and
then reported that this was an underesti-
mate.
h
Another depression from the history of
the Santiago campaign occurs about this
point. in the shape of Il letter from Miles
TO the secretary of war suggesting that
while waiting for transports to go TO Sam
tiago, the time was opportune to take and
occupy the Isle of Pines. The reasons set
out Tor this suggestion are that the cap
ture OF the island would cut the Spanish
base q
be easily taken while the attention of the
enemy was distracted to other points, and
that Il was climatically suited for the
treatment of sick soldiers and for a de
tention place for prisoners of war. The
one steamer then at Tampa with some ar
tillery would suffice for the expedition.
The secretary's reply was: 81 have the
honor to inform you that this is not ap-
proved by the president
disquieting telegram about this time
was one from the censor at Key West,
who reported that Cervera had been or
dered TO shell Santiago as soon as the
Americans got possession, and that foreign
conSulS had been notified to retire. This
was forwarded to Shafter July 3 for in
formation.
Shafter Begins to Weaken.
On the same date there was received by
" e,
dated Sevilla, July 3, saying that he had
invested the town with but a very thin
line; that it was impossible to carry it 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. with Wheeler and Young SICK Haw-
kinS wounded and himself confined to the
tent four days by the heat. He also speaks
OF urging Sampson to an entrance. The
text of this telegram has been published
in the reports of General Shafter and Cen
eral Miles. The secretary's answer has
not published. 1t. with Skaters rejoinder,
was as follows:
War Department.. Washington,
July 3. 1910 p. m.
Major General Shafter. Playa del Este.
Your first dispatch received. OF course.
you can judge the situation better than we
can at this end of the line. IT, however,
you could hold your present position. es-
pecialiy San Juan heights, the effect upon
the country would be much better than
falling back. However, we leave all the
matter to you. This is only a suggestion.
We shall send you reinforcements at once.
r. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
Playa del Este. July 8, via Hayti.
Received Washington July 4, LIS a. m.)
The Honorable Secretary of War, WASH
ington.
Shall hold my present position.
SHAFTER. Major General.
All the Reinforcements He Wanted.
July 3, Adjutant General Corbin tele-
graphed Shafter that he could have what
ever reinforcements he wanted, and told
of the starting from this country for San
tiago of 200 troops, 500 from Newport
News and 1000 from Charleston. The sec
retary supplements this later in the day
with the following dispatch:
I'VE are forwarding reinforcements to
you this week. How is your health? Do
relieve you? Are you going to be able 20
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 Shaf-
ter. Secretary Alger directs him to in
tercept all press dispatches and make re-
port TO 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 Spanish fleet. Lieutenant Allen had
reported that Cervera had started out
about 10 o'clock that morning; Duffieid had
telephoned from Siboney that Sampson had
signaled for the chase, and the French
| consul had informed General Garcia that
Cervera was going out at about 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
| lad demanded the surrender of Santiago
under threat of bombardment. but up to