New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-08
MILES OFF FOR THE FRONT.
AND EXPECTS TO Re IN CUBA
MONDAY
rpY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE !


Washington. July 1.-General Miles left WASH
ington tonight for Santiago He expects TO
land in Cuba next Monday and 10 assume COM
mand in person cf the military operations there.
Unless In the mean time the physical condition
Of General shafter is sensiby improved the
Spaniards have voluntarily surrendered the
city.
This decision was reached ny the President to-
day after extended conference at the White
House. in which Secretaries Alger and Long.
with General Miles and the Naval War Board.
participated. When he left the White House
General Miles showed by his elated Gemeanor
that his efforts 10 secure permission 70 90 10
the front had at last been successful and within
an hour he had made all arrangements for ths
Journey.
A special train ove~ tire Southern Railway. OK
ordinary Pullman coaches. without tath-tub
attachments or other extraordinary ,Ixures
was provided for the ten members or his stan
ard other officers, ana twenty-five civilian
clerks and non-commissioned soldiers which VIII
constitute the headquarters force in the Held.
His horses and those Of his staff together with
one hundred others from camp Agcr. went
aboard the Norfolk steamer here tonight. ana
will be transferred at Newport News tomorrow
morning TO a transport ready to depart imme-
dlatey for Santiago
General Miles expects 10 IsdSil NHdtiVSNch ~
: o'clock Friday night. and unless the President
reconsiders his determination the General VIII
at once take up his quarters on the fast triple-
screw cruiser Columbia. which will FURRY soutn-
ward with all possible dispatch.
NO REFLECTION UPON sHAFTER
The departure OF General Miles for the front to
assume actual control by virtue OF his ONCE as
Commanding General OF the Army. according to
authoritative announcement. involves no refiec-
ton whatever upon General Shafter or that ofh-
GERS conduct OF the campaign. on the contrary
there is every disposition TO recognize the BRILL
fancy with which the beleaguered city has been
surrounded and the conspicuous military genius
which has been displayed in surmounting the
exasperatng obstacles met in moving the forces
to their present position over an ordinarily inn
passable country. Thes. have been complicated
by the impossibility OF transporting the heavy.
siege guns, the difficulties of distributing food
TO the troops in the trenches the trying ex-
tremes Of temperature day and night, and by
the terrific tropical storms which now at their
height. The remarkable achievements OF Gem
eral Shafter were the more astonishing as he
has suffered intensely from the abnormal Gle
matte conditions since he LANDED. and for
the last four or five days has been confined to
his tent, requiring the constant attendance OF
his staff surgeon. General Shafter. like another
famous American soldier. Is "a good man.
Weighing three hundred pounds and his flesh
has proved a serious handicap In campaign
requiring the active presence of the command
Ing General at various parts Of the field each
day. His illness has also seriously interfered
with conferences intended to secure thorough
and constant cooperation between the naval
and military forces. which. In the opinion Of
the President and his advisers. 10 imperative at
the present time. although ther, Is every rea-i
son to believe Admiral Sampson and General
Shafter have been in very thorough accord 60
far as the united movements are concerned In
which they have already participated.
Tho impression which has gained some cur
rency In the last few days that friction existed
between the naval and military commanders