The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-11-18
men WON THE FIGHT.
Gen. Shafter Cats Small Credit
for Santiago from General
J. c. Breckenridge.
CAMPAIGN WAS HAPPY GO LUCKY,

Seems To BE the Opinion of the Witness,
who Is Anything Except Compliment
tary to the Commander Before Santiago
Much Praise for Miles Characteristic
Story of Beresford Told to illustrate the
Situation Before the Surrender of Toral.
Washington. Nov. 16.-The feature
of General Breckinridge's testimony
before the war investigators yesterday
was It's tone in regard to General Shat
ter, which was anything but compli-
mentary. On the other hand Ii was
highly eulogistic of General Miles. He
said that the preparations for embark.
ing Skaters force at Tampa was quite
inadequate; that there were no lighters
to speak of nor any preparations to
land in the face of the enemy except
the warships at Santiago At the front
the only point was to get men forward !;
equipment was not considered. The
fight there was won when General
ToraPs nerve gave out. He did not con-
slider General Shafter. was above criti-
cism in the conduct of the campaign.
Limitations of Gen. Shafter."
that all engaged in the war had acted
with zeal. and every man had done the
best of which he was capable, and he
had never known war in which there
was not criticism at the close of it..
What was to be expected from the
limitations of General Shafter?
/ am sure that If he [Miles] had had
charge he would have been in the front
rank" He could not believe the result
was a miracle, but he ascribed the out
come to the fact that the army was
one which was capable of meeting all
calls. mo matter how 1t was tangled
up" he said, "it went to victory" He
had at the time quoted Lord Beresford
when he said to his army upon a GER
tain occasion: II have led you into a
devil of fix. and it is now your duty to
fight like hell to get me out of it,"
Leaves Room for "Spec ulation."
The most interesting perhaps of
Breckinridges testimony was when he
declined to testify. He was asked if he
had visited General Shafter in his tent
when the latter was Ill at Santiago, and
General Breckenridge replied that he
had done so. did he then offer the
command of the army to you as has
been reported in the press?''
General Breckenridge replied: IT very
much prefer not to answer that ques-
ton. You should ask General Shafter.
If General Shafter has not re-
peated the conversation I ought not to
do So"
"As matter Of fact, he did not turn
the command over to your" suggested
Governor Beaver. to which General
Breckenridge responded:
mo, he did not, and l do not think
there is any improperly in my saying
that he could not have done So"
Those Sinks AT Camp Thomas.
DR.. Conner questioned General Breck-
inridge about the condition of the sinks
at Camp Thomas when the troops left
there, saying that it had been represent
ed to the commission that some 5000
of them had been found to be uncovered
The general replied that necessarily
some Of the sinks had been left uncov-
cred; that it was difficult to clean up
after large army evacuating a camp.
He said, however that he had foreseen
this and had asked $1,000 from Wash
ington for the purpose of putting the
sinks in proper condition. This money
had not arrived before his departure.
but he supposed it had been received
later and had been used by his success
sor for the purpose for which it was in
tended.