Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-11-19
PROVIDENCE WON THE WAR
EVIDENCE OF BRECKENRIDGE
s,n. Tnited states Inspector General
Testiiies Before the Investigating
commission, and Says Evils Were
inevitable Under the system.

Inevitable Under the system.
Washington, Nov. l6.-Genenl Brock
in,idpe continued his testimony before the
war investigating commission yesterday.
His testimony today dealt with the cam
,,ajcn in Cuba and the transportation OF
troops to the island
He went to Cuba as Inspector general.
Arriving at Tampa he had observed the
,reparation for the debarkation of troops
and concluded they were quite inadequate.
He said there was no preparation for
landing in the face of the enemy other
than that which the navy might furnish.
Spclk king of the conflict of authority ON
the transports, he said the masters OF the
vessels did not respond Is promptly as
might have been desired.
True" he said there was little navy
cadet on board each OF the vessels but
he had no authority. An actual navy Of
Ger OF the quartermaster'1 department ON
zach vessel would have been better.
Asked as to his opinion AS to the re-
suit OF the campaign, Breckenridge said he
thought it was Inconsistent with the char
octer of the men who conducted it, What
WAS to be expected from the limitations
OF General Shafter?
81 think it would have been different if
General Miles had been in command;
that it would have been more satislactor-
jIy conducted | think he has more of
the spark OF genius of command than any
other man in the army, and | am sure
ii he had had charge he would have been
in the front rank.
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested that
the battle in front OF San Juan had been
fought and victory won within eight days
OF the landing.
breckenridge, in reply, said the victory
had been won when Iorals nerve gave
out"
This, he continued, had been the war
of all Others when success had been won
in its earliest stages. He believed the war
was the Lords war. and the wonderful
success was due to his'supcrvision. While
he considered the result As marveIonsIy
.commendable. he did not feel that General
Shafter was above criticism IN his con
duet of the campaign. He could not be
ieyc the result was Il miracle; but he as
cribed the outcome to the fact that the
armyI was one which was capable OF meet
ing ALL calls.
mo matter how it was tangled up he
said, Nit went to victory" He had. at
tho "A ~o..q"otod Lord hnro-ford ".""'. he
said ito his army upon certain occasion,
Il hal re led you into 4 devil OF a fix and it
is noA your duty to fight like hell to get
me oht OF it
Evils Were Inevitable.
Resuming remarks OF general char
acter, breckenridge expressed the opinion
that there had been enough fighting to
obscure the other results common to war
He thought the evils which had been eX.
perienced were inevitable under our Amer
lean system Tie traced all the trouble to
want of preparation and mobilization IN
time of peace.
Replying to a question from Woodbury.,
he said, considering the system, he
thought the government had done far
tHLlEl III us cOuuuCG OL IIC W ~ 'll'iA "AlS
body had expected, and just about one
fourth as we'll as it should have been
done"
General McCook asked Breckenridge If
ne had visited General Shafter when the
latter was i'll at Santiago, and Breekin-
ridge replied that he had done so.
I'D he then offer the command OF the
army to you, as reported in the press!
Breckenridge replied; 81 very much
prefer not to answer that question. You
should ask General Shafter. Such CONVEX
sation as occurred between General
Shafter and myself is not of character
to be spoken OF lightly. fail to see how
a reply from me would promote the OBJ
-ject of your inquiry. Ii General Shatter
has not repeated the conversation, ought
not TO do So"
Captain Robert W. DowdY, who was
master OF transportation at Montauk
Point, stated at the beginning OF the
camp the transportation facilities were
inadequate, though they were afterwards
improved
Save the Birds.
Washington, Nov l6.-The American
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