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

vents me from moving about. I have.
however, the whole business in my hand.
and am managing it through able staff
| officers. When I do have to give up I
will. of course follow your order. but
| hope to be better soon. SKATER. ,
Major General Commanding"
"CouIdn't. but He Did,
On the 3rd General Shafter reported
that Pando could not get into Santiago,
| but, on the 4th. he reports Pando's entry
| with 500 troops from HoiSuin and asks
| about his own reinforcements.
On the 9Th Shafter reported that he
| was returning the Spanish wounded, he
| being satisfied that such course would
| sow the seeds of dissatisfaction IN the
| Spanish ranks.
| In telegram dated San Juan. July 4.
| Shafter says:
| L regard il as necessary that the navy
| force an entrance into the harbor of San
| tiago not later than the 9th inst. and
| assist in the capture of that place. II
| they DO. 1 believe the place will surrender
| without further sacrifice of life.
| supplementary telegram declared that,
| If the army was to take the place alone
| 15,0o0 troops were wanted speedily, and
| then it was not certain, on account of the
| stormy weather and surer way was
| through the bay.
| In reply. he was told on July by Gen.
| eral Corbin to confer with Sampson at
once for cooperation in taking Santiago.
| and. after the fullest exchange of views,
| you will agree upon the time and place of
| attack"
Ordered to Confer With Sampson.
| In the afternoon of the same day Cen
eral Corbin telegraphed that the secre-
| tary of war found it evident from the
| several reports that you do not consider
| your force strong enough to make sue
! cessful assault upon the Spanish army in
| trenched in Santiago. This being the
| case, it is the point of wisdom to await
reinforcements, of the embarkation Of
which you have already been advised. You
must be the judge of the time and manner
| of assault. The president has directed
| that you and Admiral Sampson have a
| conference and determine upon course
| of cooperation best calculated to secure
desired results with least sacrifice"
| The next day Shafter was teleSraphed:
| THE secretary of war is anxious to know
what prospect there is of breaking through
the mines. He will be very glad. even
with delay to have cooperation Of the
navy, thus saving many lives"
July 9Th Shafter telegraphed that, after
! consultation with Sampson, the navy was
| disinclined to force entrance except as last
resort, would lombard city for twenty-four
| hours, and then try to force the entrance
| with small ships. He had made another
| demand for Toral's surrender, which he
hoped would succeed. He says:
| Not Strong Enough to Assault.
| "As a last resort will try running in
| transports. I don't consider my force sufii-
cient to warrant an assault on the city,
| though believe it would be successful, but
at fearful loss. OF course it would be
criminal to hope for the end to be gained.
which is merely the capture of few
| thousand men, and when We are seeing We
| are getting them by siege"
| Shafter was telegraphed that it is report
| ed here that his men were without food.
| He replied on the 9th that on the day of
| the battle the men had piled up and left
! their blankets and haversacks, and were
| not able to get them until the next night.
| Some of them may have been hungry. but
on the night of the battle pack trains deliv-
| cred food along the line. They were with-
out tobacco for several days, as it was only
| by great eXerton that coffee, sugar. meat
| and bread could be gotten. OF these the
men had full rations though coffee was
| lacking for twenty-four hours.
| The next communication is note from
| General Miles at army headquarters at
| Washington, announcing his intention of
leaving Washington on the following night.
| Two days later, July s, the following dis
| patch was sent:
Miles Not to Super.ede Shafter.
| Adjutant Generals Office,
Washington, July s.
Major General Shafter. Playa del Este.
| Secretary of war directs me to inform YOU
! that General Miles left here at 1870 last
night for Santiago, but with instructions
not to in any manner supersede you as
| commander of the forces in the field near
| Santiago so long as You are able for duty.
| II. c. CORBIN. Adjutant General
| The following dispatches announce the
sailing of Miles on the Yale, his arrival
at Siboney and the extension of the line of
| investment. On the Sth, General Corbin
| asked Shafter if he recommended the arm
| ing OF his volunteers with Krag-Jorgen-
| sens. and the reply was Immediately as
follows:
"Adjutant General United States Army,
| Washington.
headquarters Fifth Corps.-Bv all
means arm in field Henry's division and
the volunteer regiments now here with
the hrag-Jorsensen rifle. The use of black
powder Instantly brought volleys against
| regiments using Springtields, and was very
demoralizing on those regiments.
''SHAFTER,
| Major General COMMANDING"
Waiting for Navy to Act.
Half dozen short dispatches following
treat of details of movements of lighters
| and the completion of the lines of invest
| ment. On the 9th, Shafter reports that
| being better, he has visited these lines and
regards them as impregnable. Says he:
| No assault will be made in advance of
our present lines until the navy comes
into the bay. l hope to be able by fire
| from our intrenchments to drive the
| enemy inside of the CITY,
| The same day he reports propositions
from Toral to march out of the city to
Holguin, but SAYS: This will give me an
other day TO get UP troops from Siboney,
the first transports with reinforcements
| having arrived. III my opinion they will
| have to surrender Internationally very
soon after / open fire upon them
Through General Corbin, the presiden,
replied: You Will accept nothing but an
| unconditional surrender, and should take
| extra precautions to prevent the enemy s
| escape
| Late that night, July 9. these importan,
| kilograms We're exchanged:
Shafter Wanted to Accept.
(Received Washington, July .. D. m)
Hon. Secretary of War, Washington
ITn.,S .@.t.