Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-11-17


lions during the year have been extra
ordinary, unusual and extensive a
statement which is fully borne out by
the long recital of important events
which Gen. Miles shows have made
the military history of the year the
most remarkable since the end of the
civil war. The report deals with The
plans Of the campaign, of the war
preparations, with the Santiago CAM
paign, with Gen. Miles operations in
Porto Rico, and lastly with important
changes recommended in the existing
organization. There is an entire alb
sence of any evidence Of direct criti-
cism, though certain sentences in the
report are italicized, in an apparent 1P-
sire to justify previously expressed
plans Of details of the campaigns, and
where it deals with events the docu-
ment is largely made up of quotation
Of official dispatches.
Gen. Miles begins with the state
ment of the unpreparedness of the
country i'll the matter of equipment,
ETC.; recounts the legislation of con-
gress just prior to the war, looking
to an increase Of the army, and cites
his own recommendation along the
same line. Gen. Miles says that in the
beginning of the war the problem was
purely naval one and he was coz
vinced that should our navy prove
superior, the position of the Spanish
army in Cuba would be rendered IN
tenable with a minimum loss of life
and treasure to the United States.
He says: There were two most seri-
Gus obstacles to be avoided-one was
the placing of an army on the island
of Cuba ~efOre our navy controlled
Cuban waters; and the other was The
putting of an army on the island at
time when large number Of the men
must die from diseases that prevailed"
He pointed out in a letter to the sec
rotary of war these things, enclosing
a communication from Surgeon Gen
eral Sternberg and urged that he
Spanish be merely harassed and darn
aged during the rainy and unhealthy
season, while the navy was demon
strating its superiority, and Volunteers
were being equipped. In that letter
he says: Il also assert the belief that
I have entertained from the first, that
we could secure the surrender of the
Spanish army in the island Of Cuba
without any great sacrifice of life"
In this letter DR.. Guiteras is cited in
support of recommendations to delay
the army movement in Cuba, and it IS
said that aside from disease the Unit
ed States troops would have to cope
with $4,000 Spanish troops, the rem
nant of 214,000, which troops had e
come acclimated and were equipped.
In order that the volunteers should be
speedily made efficient on April S,
Gen. Miles wrote the secretary Of war
that they should be encamped for 60
days in their respective states md
disciplined and equipped and officers
instructed. This was all important,
he said to their health and efficiency.
This preliminary work should be done
before the troops leave their states.
Gen. Miles, in his report, adds this:
THE congregation of tens Of thou
sands Of men, many of whom were not
uniformed, scarcely any properly
equipped, in great camps away from
their states. rendered it difficult for
them to be properly supplied with food,
cooking utensils, camp equippage,
blankets, tentage, medical supplies,
transportation, etc, and was, to great
extent the cause in my judgment of the
facilitating effect upon the health and
strength of the men who were other
wise in good physical condition. The
material necessary to clOthe and equip
large armies was not even manifested
at that time and as consequence the
troops were for weeks in injurious con-
ditions.''
The report recites the orders contem-
plating the sending Of regulars to New
Orleans, Tampa and Mobile to begin
the invasion of Cuba; for the gather
ing of troops at Chickamauga and fol-
the movements of 10000 troops to Gu
/ I'd, Dul, uOIIC VI L1tSC nv OD
| Cuba materialiZed," he says. 'The
want Of proper equipment aud ammu-
milton rendered the movement imprac-
! ticable" Miles gives an account OF
/ the dispatch of Gen. Skaters eXpedi-
ton, saying: 81 desired to go with
| this command, but dispatch from
Alger indicated a desire to have me
IL
Miles speaks of the insult
ability OF the transports
which were merchant freight
steamers; and Of the accumulation OF
| troops and supplies at Tampa, crowd
| ing the facilities there and causing
great delay. Finally, the Santiago ex-
petition sailed June IA, and Gen. Miles