Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-21
SHAFTER TESTIFlES.
HIS STORY OF THE OPERATIONS
AROUND SANTIAGO.
He HAS NO COMPLAINT TO MAKE.
Would Re 10th TO Intrudc Them mt
This Time, II He Hnd-Tamp"-Ihe
santiago Landing-Ihose ANU"
lanccs,
ianccs,

This afternoon. and told his story Of the
Santiago expedition. He was supported
nv his aide. Colonel Miley, who was with
him in Cuba. and hanked by a large
portmanteau Of papers, to which his aide
occasionally applied Cor reference.
General Skaters story Of the opera
tons around Santiago was tersely told'
but was at times quite vivid in its re-
cital. and interesting in detail. Briefly
summed up. his estimate Of the Santiago
expedition was that il had been a mill
tary success, and cheap at the cost oil
the 500 men lost in the fight. Ee consid-
cred the expedition TO have beep as well
fitted out as the time allowed would per-
nit. and said that in looking back he
had no criticism OF his plans to make
and would not change them II the events
had 10 be gone through again. He saio
he had no complaints Of II sort to
make, and would be 10th to intrude
them at this time, if he had.
General Beaver asked: do you know
By whose request you were assigned 10
command at Tampa?'
81 was Informed it was General Miles's.'
CHANGE OF PLANS.
General Shafter said his first orders
were to organize a strong reconnaissance
force Of about 5000 10 5000 men, TO go 70
Santa Clara province. and get into com
municatlon with Gomez, but not to bring
on a general engagement. This plan was
checked by the appearance of Cerveras
feet in southern waters.
General Shafter was then instructed 10
prepare TO besiege the port OF Mariel' ana
make a strong entrenched camp. on high
ground, where the bulk Of the American
army was TO be quartered. preparatory
10 the general campaign. This plan was
again checked by the report OF 'Cerverds
being bottled up in Santiago, and Gene
raj Shafter was ordered TO prepare an eX-
petition TO besiege Santiago.
The expedition that left Tampa, he
said. was supplied with sixty days ra-
tons. and he was told 10 load six
months supplies, If he could" but time
did not permit.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
As to medical supplies, General Shafter
said: You know medical supplies are the
one thing that a commanding general oil
a line officer never knows anything about
The surgeon is supposed to know what
he wants. My medical officer said ht
thought he had enough medical supplies
for the temporary service to which he
thought they were destined. Events
proved. however, that the surgeon wa
mistaken. The loading of the transports
was under the supervision of a board OF
officers, consisting of General Lawton
Colonel HUMPHREYS, and some others, anC
all necessary measures were taken fol
the care OF the men. furnishing then
with hot coffee, etc.
General Shafter said: GAS a matter o.
fact. l took some chances, which die
not result disastrously, in loading a:
many men as l did on the transports
They were crowded, but, as you know
at that time it was a personal insult L
leave any one, and l took all the men
could. We had good weather. and M
one suffered"
AS to supplies, General Shafter sait
there was nothing essential left behind
THE AMBULANCEs.
How about the ambulances?" aske,
General Beaver.
LAS to those a~mbulances," said Genera
Shafter. Il take the whole ~responsibilit!
on myself. l ordered and supervised tn
loading of them. After events prove
that it would have been better to TAX
ten or fifteen additional ambuianCcs an,
leave that many wagons behind, Blu
wagons can be used for two purposes
and ambulances can be used for but one
/ took the wagons, and the wounde ha'
TO be transported in them the first day
1 will say that on a rocky, muddy road
such as we had there, there Is little diff
ference between an ambulance and a.
escort wagon. The men Were put o.
straw In the bottom of the wagons. an
we did the best we could with then
Ambulances would have been better, bu
then. hindsight is always better tina
foresight"
LANDING FACILITIES.
Concerning the landing facilities wit
the expedition, General Shafter said tina
they had two large barges, one Of whic
was lost en- route and a small tug, tn
Captain Sam" whose captain deserte
during the night. The boat capacity {
the transport fleet was sufficient for III
landing, as events proved. General Sha,
ter said the navy lent all reasonable a!
sistance with its boats, and expresse
surprise when a communication frol
Secretary Long TO the President wa
read, protesting against the navy's bein
called upon to assist in landing the troop
Incidents during the landing wei
brought out by General Shafter. who sal
he had arranged with the Cuban genera
Castillo, TO have 1000 men back c
Bairqulri, TO catch the Spaniards whe
shelled out by the navy. Castillo "a
three hours late. however. and all II
Soaniards got away.
SURGEONS DID GOOD WORK.
'There has been considerable CRITICS
of the medical officers said Gener
Beaver. Were any such complain
brought to you?"
"a majority of the regimental surgeon
left their medical chests on their vessel
When / found this out l put DR.. Goo
fellow aboard the Manteo, and had hi
collect these chests. AS soon as the
were landed they were put on wagons al
distributed al once to the men" AS
medical supplies being left aboard Il
!. transports and sent back TO Tampa, Gen
raj Shafter said he had heard OF no SUI
case. and in view of the shortage of NEE
cine ashore. he doubted If this had be
allowed 10 happen.
General Skater said the wounded we
as well cared for as circumstances won
hermit. The doctors worked like n
jams.
MILES WON'T VOLUNTEER TEST
MONY.
The members OF the commission II
afternoon stated that General Miles
dov communicated to the commission
unwillingness 20 volunteer testimony.
message was accordingly sent 10 the A
iutant-General. directing him to rogue
the ap~pearance Of General Miles befo
the board.