The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-11-17
City Surrendered When 1t Gave
Out---Victory in Spite OF
Shafter.
Troops Superior Even to the Cir
cumstances in Which He
Placed Them.
IF Miles Had Been in Command
Things Would Have Been
Different.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-General
Breckenridge continued his testimony
before the war investigating commits
sion, dealing with the campaign in Cuba
and the transportation of troops to that
island. He had, he said, gone to Cuba
as inspector general, arriving at Tampa
on June 5. He had observed casually,
the preparation for the Decentralization
IF troops before the expedition left and
had concluded that they were quite in
adequate.
Il made no report, however" he said,
"as General Miles was ON the ground
and could observe the situation"
Continuing, he said there was no prep
aration for landing in the face of an
enemy other than that which the navy
might furnish. So far as he had OBJ
served, there were only two lighters and
two scows secured on behalf of the army
before the departure from Tampa. 1t
was his understanding, however, that
the army and navy were cooperating in
this expedition. Speaking Of the conflict
of authority on the transports, he said
the masters of the vessels did not re-
-->"rd &c prorrntlv &c might have heeu
T. tie ava Get IN BOARD.
True" he said, there was a little
,la7-y cadet on board of each of the YES
sels, but he had no authority. An &C
tual naval officer or an officer of the
quartermaster's department on each YES
sci would have been better. What was
needed was prompt communication be-
tween the commanding officers and the
vessels and the masters of the transports
did not respond very promptly"
He was questioned at some length
concerning the conduct of the campaign
in front of Santiago and replied that the
result was what he had expected it
would be. Everything there, he said,
was strained to get men on board and
consequently there was comparatively
little effort to secure equipment. While
he knew nothing officially of the plans
of campaign, he was sure there was
plan. He was quite certain from con-
versation he had had with General
Miles that he had plan, though he did
not say that this was the plan carried
into effect.
''Of course" suggested Governor
Beaver, Santiago was the goal OF the
campaign"
What Was to BE Expected.
''Certainly. The fact was published
so extensively in the newspapers that
many of the men on board the vessels
would not accept this information as to
the destination as correct
Asked as to his opinion of the result
Of the campaign he said he thought it
was consistent with the character of the
men who conducted it-'sWhat was to
De expected from the limitations of
General Shafter. I think it would have
Jeen different if General Miles had been
IN commando it would have been
more satisfactorily conducted. think
that he has more of the spark and
;enius of command than any man in
ne army, and I am sure that if he had
lad charge, he would have been in the
'front.' rank"
The Lord Was on Our Side.
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested
hat the battle in front of San Juan had
been fought and the victory won within
light days of landing. General Brock
nridge in reply said the victory had
oeen won t'when General Toral's nerve
gave out" This, he continued, had
been the war of all others when success
lad been won in its earliest stages He
believed that the war was the Lords
war, and that this wonderful success
was due to his supervision. The time
for the battle was, however, short
enough. Yet it must be remembered
that the distance between the battlefield
and Siboney was less than half days
march; but while he considered the re-
suit as marvelously commendable, he
did not feel that General Shafter was
above criticism in the conduct of the
campaign.
No Matter How 1t Was Tangled Up.
He could not believe the result was a
miracle, but he ascribed the outcome
to the fact that the army was one which
was capable of meeting all calls. mo
matter how it was tangled up, he said,
lit went to victory"
He had at the time quoted Lord Beres-
ford when he said to his army upon
certain occasion: ST have led you into
devil of a fix and it is now your duty
to fight like hell to get me out of it. !"
He was sure, at least, that all engaged
in the war had acted with zeal, and
c.cIy nl...l ilau ,.unc Lne ucsc u wniCn
he was capable and he had never known
a war in which there was not criticism
at tine close of it.
Troops to Be Withdrawn.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-The detach-
ments of troops of the Third infantry,
stationed at Leech Lake and at the.
Winnibegoshish dams to protect en-
moves ana properly from the rlliagurs,