The record-union., 1898-08-27
General Shafter Consents to Talk
on the Subject.
II Was a Successful One From Every Point
Of View.
The Primary Object First to Drive
Cervera Out Of the Harbor, and
Next to Capture the City, Both
Of Which Resulted An Success.

Of Which Resulted An Success
NEW YORK, Aug. pa Herald"
dispatch from Santiago says:
Prior to embarking on the steamer
Mexico, Major General Shafter con-
sented to be interviewed. He said: II
look upon the campaign just closed as
a successful one in the highest degree,
not only in regard to military opera
tions, but more especially in regard to
the great results achieved
From a military point of view,
perhaps took steps which might not be
deemed justifable under the circum
stances, but ] knew the capabilities of
my soldiers and the moral effect of our
gradually cooping up the enemy within
| his own lines.
My engineers were very apprehen-
sive that the Spaniards might break
through on my left and cut off Siboney.
This from purely military standpoint
might have been truthfully correct, but
| personally I had not for moment any
fear on that score. The result, as I
think, proved the correctness Of my
conclusions
| "Our primary object was to drive
Cervera out and next to take the
town. We had gradually driven the
Spaniards back on his lines, circling
the city and slowly advancing day by
day. The enemy began losing spirit as
soon as our guns had been placed in a
position to cover the town. When Ger
vera left the situation was changed. The
town was at my mercy, and had I
given the order for direct assault 1t
would have been taken within four
hours believe that with the forces
then at my command, reinforced as
they had been, I was in a position to
take the city by force.
.But if l had taken a step of such
a character what would have been the
result? I estimate that our casualties
would have been 5000, and the action
I took has had more brilliant, real re-
suits without the heavy losses of lives.
From the moment General Toral made
proposition for conference, I knew
| he was determined to give up, and
acted accordingly
Personal reflections have been cast
upon me because I was not 'on the
| fighting line. That was not the place
| for General in command Of an army.
| It must be remembered that I was con-
nected by telephone with the officers
at the front, and was better able to di-
rect operations from the position I
/ had taken Save for two days when
| i'll. was in direct command of this
/ compaign, which I consider unique in
American history, for it was really the
| first time the United States had fought
with it's regular army. The civil war
was a war Of volunteers, but this cam
paign was fought by our regular
| troops.
81 did not notice the fact at first, but
there were only three volunteer regi-
ments engaged against the Spaniards.
While the highest credit is to be given,
and they fought bravely and WE'LL there
was the moral support of the regulars
| back Of it all.
Our volunteers lacked that unity,
| cohesion and individual support notice
able in our trained troops, but at the
same time no disparagement should be
made Of the volunteers in the cam
paign What they lacked otherwise
| they made up for in enthusiasm and
patriotic spirit, and I desire to COM
mand no better army than the one
composed of the class of volunteers
under me in the Santiago campaign.
"The operations Of the regulars in
the campaign have proved conclusively
their superiority over some organiza-
tions of State militia. in which the men
are partially compelled to serve by a
sense Of shame, but do not show the
enthusiasm of volunteers.
There has been some question con-
cerning the transportation facilities Of
the arr1v The facilities were all there
vided was all it should have been, but
our difficulties were enormous. There
was only one road, and to have built
another would have taken two years.
The nature of the country, the wealth
er, all these things, helped to disorgan-
ize this department The use Of wag-
ons was almost impossible
SKATER COMING BACK TO
CALIFORNIA.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Aug. 26, 9:15
p. m.-The Spanish transports San
Francisco, San Augustine and Colon
| left this afternoon with 1868 Span
iards, including fifteen officers and
their families and four priests. Eight
men died on the way to the ships.
Their corpses were checked off, as
passengers. 1t appears that there have
been many instances of this kind dur
ing the embarkation of the Spaniards.
the transportation company thus being
enabled to collect the passage money,
a thing readily managed under the
easy inspection Of the Americans
General Toral, when bidding ad;eu
to the Spanish officers and men who
were leaving, said: Conquered, we
yield with honor to ourselves and to
Spain. Whatever may be the future
of Cuba, history will preserve the
story Of your heroic and noble deeds
in this country. We regret our failure
and its cost in treasure and N sldod,
but you have nobly fought and nobly
lost"
General Shafter and his staff sailed
this afternoon on the United States
transport Mexico. His departure was
not marked by special incident. On
arriving at Montauk Point, General
Shafter will go with Major Miley to
Washington to meet President McKin
ley and Secretary Alger, afterward
proceeding to San Francisco, CAL Col
onel Greene of General Skaters staff
and Captain of the Signal Corps will
remain for another ten days, or until
he is relieved by Captain Leigh, who,
with fifty-nine OF the Signal Corps, IS
expected on the Seguranca.