The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-18
BODY Of MEN
FIRST ARMY OF INVASION
General Miles 0oyo y = ~ FINEST
CORPS IN ~ Weird without IN
1zcspNon-Thsy Are In b
Best Of Spirits.

SOAhe
Miles. accompanied by Colonel Aaus.
Major Davis and Colonel Greenleaf OF
his stan. arrived in washington to-day
after having directed the departure CT
the nrst army Of invasion to Cuba.
General Miles conferred with Secretary
Alger for half an hour before the cabi-.
net meeting and then had q long talk
with General L~uddington, Quartermas-
ter general. on the condition u sup
plies. Speaking in a general way Of his
observations. General Miles said:
Having spent some time with the
troops during q trying period OF hur-
ried preparations, ! am glad to say that
they are q splendid body of men, which
the country may well be proud Of. AS
to the regulars, they are the f:Lest
corps in h world without exceptions,
~perience, discipline. craftsmanship,
equipment and all that goes to make
up frst-class soldiers. The work or
moving the army across the sei with
its infinite detail, has been carried out,
and ! am glad to say. with . fair de-
gree Of success and the command OF
5000 men under General Shafter.
moved away with an outburst OF pat
riotic enthusiasm which Overcame the
trials they had passed through. The
spirit Of the men Is of the best, and
his was shown in a most married. man
ner when the transports stared ior
anxious to 60 n there were wild
scenes Of enthusiasm and cheering as
the men marched board the ships l.
got under way. Whenever a band
played the national air. every head was
uncovered. The men seemed to realize
the Importance Of their enterprise. as
mall a. tha natriotic reanonsibility II
involved.
There have been many very splendid
acts Of heroism ven In h brief time
the troops have been employed" said
General Miles. Lieutenant Rowan,
now lieutenant colonel, and Lieutenant
wilcox. now captain, In making their
journey to Eastern Cuba and Porto
Rico. gave splendid Illustrations of the
courage. fortitude and sources OF the
American soldier. Three expeditions
which carried arms to the Cu6ans have
developed the lei kind of courage.
Captain Connell and Lieutenant Craw-
ford, who participated IN these expedi-
tons. were with the Cubans during q
sharp engagement with the enemy. Cap
tain Dorst's several expeditions have
been of great service to the govern
ment, and his last one in particular be-
ing important in results. He started
from Key West, but Instead OF COINS
direct to Cuba. he went north and east
of Nassau, then turned south and land
ed in Cuba al a port called Banes.
1T has been held by the Cubans and
IL a good harbor, with about 20 feet Ol
water. Protected by a small gunboat
Captain Dorst landed a steamers load
OF supplies for the Cuban army. includ.
ing 1900 rifles. over a million cartridges
and q great quantity of stores. A thou
sand Cubans came to him while there.
"The special Importance of this trip
however, vas in opening direct com
munication between General Garcia and
myself. Two of Garcia's STAFF officers
had returned from Cuba with Rowan
and came to Washington to SEE me. Ont
of these l sent to Banes with the sup
plies of arms, with instructions to Gen.
eral Garcia, saying / wanted him tc
move all his forces to Santiago de Cuba
He had by that time been fully equipped
by Captain Dorst. The MESA ze to Gen
eral Garcia was sent June 2, reaching
him June 6, and I got his reply by cabl,
from Mole St. Nicholas June 9. He had
about 5000 armed Cubans before he re
ceived the munitions Of war by Captain
Dorst- The supplies sent him will enabl,
Garcia to adequately equip over 1900
Guiana"
Genera Miles was asked for h com
m~unications between him and Garcia
and, glancipg them over, he gave theiI
general purport.
IA my last communication to him
asked him to move A. large . force a
possible to In vicinity of the harbor Of
Santiago de Cuba, and 10 cooperate
with our army and nav On their ar
rival, which I had hoped would be with
in q few days. He was to drive In
ana harass any Spanish troops neai
| Santiago de Cuba, threatening n At
lacking them At all points. and nre