The times., 1898-12-03

too much confidence in any persons out
side of your own troops" He is told in
the same order: Communicate your in
structions to Admiral Sampson and Com
modore Schley." 7Se
on June ), Gen. Miles sent a telegram
to the Secretary OF War in which he stat
ed: II request ample protection at all
times for this command from the navy.
Between 80 and 10 per cent of
our troops are undrllled and in one regi-
ment over 900 men had never fired gun.
On June 6 Acting Secretary Of the Navy
Allen notified the Secretary of War that
the naval convoy was ready and urged
that the military expedition should get off
from Tampa soon as ppssfbf- On the
following day he notified 'Secretary Alger
that the navy had bombarded the Spanish
forts at Santiago and that Sampson in
dispatch had stated: IF 1900 men were
here (at Santiago, city and fleet would
be ours within forty-eight hours.
The Navy Department then lost Its pa
uence at the delay in embarking troops
from Tampa and this dispatch was the
result:
Washington, June = 1898.
Major General Shafter, Port Tampa, Fla:
Since telegraphing you, hour since, the
President directs you TO sail at once with what
force you have already. II. \. AL0ER
Secretary of War.
Shafter replied that he would sail on
the following morning. On the same day
Gen. Miles telegraphed from Tampa TO
| the President that from the command
! ing general down to the drummer boys.
/ everyone is impatient to go and annoyed
| at the delay"
This was followed in the tumble of tele-
! grams by one from Secretary AlSer to
Gen. Shafter:
wait until you get further orders be-
| fore you sail. Answer quick"
Miles Practically Relieved.
The dispatch TO Gen. Miles from Sec
retary Alger which followed the one to
shafter indicated that he Niles had
practically been relieved of the command
of the expedition to Santiago. 1t read:
have sent the following telegram to Gen.
Shafter: ''Wait until you get further orders be-
fore you sail. Answer quick
r. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.
These answer quick dispatches result
ed from the report that the phantom
Spanish squadron had been seen in Mich
olas Channel.
Gen. Miles also apparently lost his pa
tience and sent this sharp dispatch to
| Washington:
Tampa, Fla, June ., 1sos-2i5 p. m.
Secretary of War, Washington, D. G.;
II seems that it is a naval problem yet un
solved, and it might be advisable for the com
mand now ON board transports TO have the pro
lection OF the entire navy to convoy 1t to mum
ber ], number 2, Nuevitas, or, ii this Is con
sidered too hazardous, then keep the troops il
healthful camps, as they are now, and assist
the navy TO destroy the Spanish fleet. There
are twenty-five good steamers that could be used
to carry water, coal and supplies, guns, revolv
ing cannon and mortars etc, and they could b'
added to the force of the navy. 1t seems strang,
to be suggesting that the amy assist the navy IL
this way but | am sure we would receive most
loyal support when the waters are safe I cross
Major General Commanding Army.
Gen. Miles's plan of campaign, submit
ten to the Secretary of War on June "a
and which is indorsed by Alger, This
plan of campaign was NOT approved" is
given. 1t gives the expectation that
with the fall of Santiago and the capture
of the second objective position there
would be taken in the aggregate at least
$4,000 prisoners. After the fall Santa
go Gen. Miles advises the capture of some
deep water harbors on the northern coast
of Cuba, which would be available fol
both the army and navy and as safe ports
for supply ships and transports. He
pointed out the harbor of Nuevitas, with
2S 1-2 feet of water as the most available
point From there the command coult
move to Puerto Principe, he added.
Not Approved by President.
Gen. Miles's recommendation of July 1
that the Isle of Pines be taken, as ii
would stop the accumulation. of supplies
on that island for the Spaniards and could
be used for hospital and prison purposes
met with this curt reply:
War Department, Washington, July l, 1s9s.
Major General Nelson A. Miles,
United States Army, Washington. ID. O.
\ Sir: In reply to your communication OF TIM
date that battery OF artillery and a regimen
| of infantry be sent to take the Isle OF Pines,
have the horror to inform you that this is not ap
proved by the President. Very respectfully,
r. A. ALGER, Secretary OF War.
Gen. Shafter sent a dispatch to the
Secretary of War on July 8 which indi
Gated that he was about to retreat. HI
stated that the American forces on thu
north and east of Santiago presented Il
very thin line," and the defenses of thu
city were 80 strong 1t would be impos
sible to carry 1t by storm with my pres
ent force, and am seriously considering
withdrawing about five miles and taking
up new position on the high groun'
between the San Juan River and 81
boney.''
This woeful dispatch also stated tina
! Gems. Wheeler and Young were seriousl
81 i'll and would probably have to go to tn