New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-21
ZEN SHAFTER TESTIFIES.
TELLS THE INVESTIGATING COMMISSION
ABOUT THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN

Washington, Dec. 2O-The war department
Investigating Commission this afternoon an
nounced that General Miles to-day communi-
Gated to the Commission his unwilngness 10
volunteer testimony. message was accord
ingIy sent to the adjutant- general directing him
to request the appearance OF General Miles NO
reply had been received to this communication
up to o'clock when General Smarter rather
Unexpectedly appeared accompanied by an aid
with n large portmanteau, as though ne hau
Just come from the train.
After brief preface, General Shafter gave
detailed account of his preparations for the San
tiago expedition He said his plans were
changed three times by the War Department
and once he actually started but was called
back by the report Of Spanish warshps off the
coast He said the transport feet was not SUM-
ciently large to accommodate 1000 men for any
length Of time at sea, but all were so anxious 10
20 that he risked considerable crowdIng to take
all the men possible. He admitted that ne look
chances in doing this, but said the weather was
good and there was no mishap to regret. Inc
men were Regulars almost entirely. and fully
equipped and he saw that they were made as
comfortable as circumstances permitted.
LACK OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
As TO medical supplies, General Shafter said:
you know medical supplies are the one thing
that n commanding officer or line officer never
Knows ANYTHING about The surgeon Is sup
posed to know what he wants My medical OIL
Ger said he thought he had enough medical sup
plies for the temporary service TO which we
thought we were destined. Events proved, how
ever that the surgeon was mistaken. The am
muntion supply was ample
Az 10 supplies. General Shafter said there was
nothing essential left behind.
How about the ambulances?" asked ex-Gov-
ernor Beaver
LAS TO the ambulances," said General Shafter,
ct take the whole responsibility myself / or
dered and supervised their loading. After
events proved that It would have been better to
have taken ten or fifteen additional ambuances,
and left that many wagons behind. But wagons
can he used for two purposes. and ambulances
can be used for but one. I too: the wagons,
and the wounded had to be transported In them
after the first days fighting. l must say thal
on rocky, muddy road. such as We had there.
There Is little difference In comfort between an
ambulance and an escort wagon. The men were
nut on straw in the bottom OF the wagons ana
we did the best we could for them. Ambulances
would have been better. but hindsight is always
better than foresight
Concerning the landing facilities with the ex-
pedition General Shafter said they had TWO
large barges. one Of which was lost on the way
and a small tug, the Captain Sam. whose cap
tain deserted in the night. The boat capacity
Of the transport feet was sufficient for landing.
as the events proved.
An interesting incident Of the landing was
brought out by General Shafter, who said he
had arranged with the Cuban General Castillo
the day before the landing to have one thousand
men back Of Baiquiri 10 catch the Spaniarns
when they were shelled out by the Navy. Cas-
tillo was three hours late. however and all the
Spaniards got away.
GETTING SUPPLIES TO THE FRONT
How about getting the supplies TO the front
for the mem" asked Ex-Governor Beaver
"It was the one problem of the campaign and
(, taxed us TO the utmost" said the General III
It had not been for the pack train we could not
have done it, and the expedition would have
been failure
General shafter said ne regarded the landing
Of the expedition as emnenty successful. Ihey
lost only two men and thirty animals out or a
total Of twenty thousand men, 1t was a remark
able record.
There has been considerable criticism from
the medical officials about getting their medical
supplies ashore" said eX-Goyernor Beaver
Were such Complaints Drought ~ Eou
"A majority of the regimental surgeons left
their medical chests their vessels. When l
found this out. put Dr. Goodfellow aboard the
Mantee and had him collect these chests AS
soon as they were landed they were put on four
wagons and distributed at once to the men
AS an additional explanation or the dihicuty
I'm furnishing supplies ashore, General smarter
said at one time with an army OF twenty-one
thousand men he had to issue rations 10 tQTty
thousand people the excess being the refugees
from Santiago. women and children Tor the most
,yh he could
ALL POSSIBLE DONE FOR WOUNDED.
AS TO the care of the wounded. General Shafter
said that they were cared for as carefully as
the circumstances would permit. THE doctors
worked like Trojans. They deserved and received
commentator from every one. They worked
tiu they were sick and worn out. The doctors
were mostly young men. You can't get very old
and experienced surgeons TO go on summer
campaign for 500 month. But they were
splendid fellows. Compared with the Civil War.
the wounded were better cared for in Cuba than
they were then.
In regard to the Signal Corps. General Smarter
said he served admirably.
Asked II he thought his own sickness had any
effect on the success of the Cuban campaign,
General Shafter said: mo. most decidedly The
campaign was carried out planned from the
start and my health or sickness did not alter a
plan. | knew was going TO have a sick army
on my hands in the country pretty soon. and
simply rushed matters to an issue as soon as
possible. For myself, was not seriously sick.
1t is true had the govt so | had TO wrap my
foot up in a Funny sack and could not get II
in a stirrup. and so | had to build platform
from which to get my horse But certainly
had not expected to be subjected to personal
criticism for this. II was a military uncer-
tainty."
Ex-Governor Woodbury. asked how the staff
officers appointed from civil life turned out Cen
eral Shafter said
They men. as rule. who had pre-
vious military experience. and might not have
been much use in executing military ma
nPuvre But | had three Of them on my staff
and for carrying orders, distributing rations to
the refugees and thousand necessary things.
they were Invaluable Beginning with Colonel
John Jacob Aston, who was perhaps the MOST
inexperienced, they were splendid fellows and
did what they had TO do. Astor fell in with the
work ate his beans. and dill his duty cheer
fully and expeditiously as though he had not