Evening star., 1898-09-15
SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN
Gen, Skaters Report on Operations
in Southern Cuba.
WHY THE MEN WERE PUSHED FORWARD
GaIIsntry of the Troops Who
Stormed the Trenches.
IRRESISTIBLE CHAR r G. E S

An abstract of Gen. Skaters report On
the Santiago campaign was given out by
the War Department last night. Gen. Shat
ter says that the expedition against Santi-
ago was undertaken in compliance with or
ders from the headquarters of the army,
teIegraphed May 80. He recounts the diff
cultfes and delays in embarkins at Tampa.
Finally the expedition sailed june ii with
S15 officers and 1902 men.
Garcin's Offer.
He speaks of his interview with Gen.
Garcia on his arrival in Cuba. During the
Interview he says. Gen. Garcia offered
the services of his troops, comprising about
4 900 men IN the vicinity of Aser-aderos and
about 500, under Gen. Castillo, at the little
town of Cujababo a few miles east of Dali
quiri. l accepted this offer, impresstng 1t
upon him that l could exercise no military
control over him except such as he would
cnncede and as long as he served under
me l would furnish him rations and am
munition."
After comforting with Admiral Sampson
and Gen. Garcia, the plan of campaign was
outlined by Gen. Shafter. The disembarka-
ton was to commence on the 22d at Dali
quiri, with feints by the Cubans on Ca
banis, and by the navy at various shore
points, in order to mislead the enemy as to
the place of landing.
These movements" Gen. Shafter says,
"comrnitted me to approaching Santiago
in some places not better than trail, run
ming from Dal1uiri through SibOney and
Sevilla, and making attack from that quar-
ter This, in my judgment. was the only
feasible plan, and subsequent Information
and results confirmed my Judgment"
La Guasima Fight.
OF the early operations, and the skirmish
in which the Rough Riders participated. the
report says:
hrfy yaI,
Lawton on the night of the 23d-24th, thus
taking the advance, and on the morning of
the latter date became engaged with
Spanish force intrenched in a strong posi-
ton at La GuaSima, point on the Santi-
ago road about three miles from Siboney.
Gen. Youngs force consisted of one squad
ron of the 1st Cavalry, one of the 10th Cav
airy and two of the ist United States Vol
unteer Cavalry, in all, 964 officers and men,
The enemy made an obstinate resistance,
but were driven from the field with con-
siderable loss. Our own loss was one off,
Ger and fifteen men killed, six officers and
forty-six men wounded. The reported loss
es of the Spaniards were nine killed and
twenty-seven wounded. The engagement
| had an inspiring effect upon our men, and,
doubtless correspondingiy depressed the
enemy as it was now plainly demonstrated
| to them that they had a foe to meet who
| would advance upon them under d heavy
fire delivered from intreuclments. Gen.
| Wheeler, division commander, was present
during the engagement snd reports that
| our troops, officers and men, fought with
| the greatest gallantry. This engagement
gave Us a wellwatered country farther to
| the front which TO encarnp our troops -
| The report continues:
| 1T was not until nearly two weeks after
| the army landed that 1t WAS possible to
| place on shore three days supplies in eX-
| cess of those require ed for the daily con-
| sumption. On Tune 80 | reconnoiter-
ed the country abo~t Santiago and made
my plan of attack.
| From high HILL from which the city
| was in plain view, l could see the San
| Juan hill, and the country about FL
| Carey. The roads were very poor and
| indeed. little better than bride paths until
| the San Juan river and Ell Caney were
| reached.
Gen. Shafter's Plan.
| General Shafter explains his plan of bat
/ tie as follows:
| ''Lawtons division, assisted by Capron's
| Light Battery was ordered to move out
during the afternoon toward Ell Caney