The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-11

bilitating effect upon the health an,
strength of the men. who were other
wise In good physical condition. Tn,
material necessary to clothe ami equiI
large armies was not even manufac.
tured at the time. and the CONSEQUENT
| condition of the troops for weeks ant
months was injurious to the command.
In many ways
The report recites orders made by
him. dated May 25, prescribing ths
proper equipment OF the different ccIn.
mands. which, General Miles says. wer,
until that date
orders are referred to for the send
ing OF troops to New Orleans, Tampa
ana Mobile to begin the invas.o, ~,
Cuba; for the gathering Of troops al
Cnickamauga and for the movements
oI V'ooo troops on Cuba. "but none of
these movements on Cuba material
i]eu. he says "the want OF prorer
equipment and ammunition rendered
the movement impracticable."
AL TINS point there is a brief dieres-
son where. in a paragraph. General
Miles refers to General Merritt's Phil
ippine expedition as organized and
equipped and conducted as being sue
cessful In every way. General Miles
tnen pays an eloquent tribute to the
oriiiiant exploits of Lieutenants Rowan
Cupa and Porto Rico and ascertaine1
the military situations. He resumes
the report with an account of the dis
patch OF General Skaters expeditinn
saying: Il desired to go with this
command" his exact request on thIs
point as telegraphed from headquar-
ters at Tampa, was as follows: This
enterprise Is so important that desire
20 go with this army corps. or to or
a. n fol
with IT to join and capture position No.
NOW that the military is about to
De used 1 believe it should be continu
gu Win every energy, making the most
Juuicious disposition of IL to accomp-
hsh the desired results"
he also stated: This expedition has
oeen delayed through no fault of any
one connected with IL. 1t contains ths
principal part of the army. which for
intelligence and efficiency. is NOT Ok.
celIed by any body of troops on earth"
Inc telegram was dated June 5 ana
tne Gay Following Secretarn Alger teie-
graphed in reply: The president wants
10 know the earliest moment Won can
nave an expeditionary force ready 10
go TO Porto Rico large enough to take
ana hoid that island without the force
Nh, enerai smarter. General
Miles response was: I'm 10 davs"
He next speaks of the unsuita bili,v
OF transports which were merchant
ireight steamers; and of the accumu-
Iation or the troops and supplies ar
Iampa, crowding the facilities there
ana causing great delay. Finally. tne
santiago expedition sailed on June IA
ana General Miles quotes an order is
sueu py MIN to General Shafter. di-
Iec.Ing the latter to make a number
or inquiries to ascertain whether every
possible provision had been made for
the transports for the supply Of ra-
tions, hospital supplies. wagons. land
ing boats. etc, winding up: II would
suggest that thorough attention be re-
quired in every detail i'm oruer 10 in
sure perfect order in the disembark-
ing of your command"
The order is dated June IL. and June
dispatch:
Washington, ID. c.. June is. Major
General Miles, Tampa, Fla: Import
ant business requires your presence
mere; report at office. Answer.
X. A. ALGER, Secretary of War"
June "a General Miles submitted 10
me secretary of war a written plan of
sampaign. Briefly stated. the points
we're: That provision be made for The
'eception OF at least 10000 Spanish pris-
'ners; that after capturing Santiago.
'ome deep water ports be taken on the
lorth coast of Cuba. That Nuevitas be
'aptured and that with $1,000 cavalry
'hd some light artillery and a small |
'ody OF infantry an advance be made /
nto Puerto Principe in the interior
With the troops and thence move to- |
wards Havana. This move would oc- /
upy the time until Sept. 80: the troops /
you'd be I'm the most healthful part OF /
'uba during the rainy season and the /
could be employed in road /
making. Should Spanish force be ad- |
anced TO Villa Clara the entire United /
'tates army could be thrown between
nat point and Havana, and the Spanisf, 4
rmy could be divided and beaten I'm
etaii Should that plan be rejected.
men, after capturing Santiago. the en-
ire force should be removed to the
Festern end OF the island and a cam
algn made against Havana General
illes next recites an order 10 himself
rom Secretary Alger to organize an
expeditions Tor operati tions against the
nemy In Cuba and Porto Rico" The
alics are his own. From the order.
ated June 26. IL appears that an expedi-
on was to be organized under the i'm
lediate command OF General Brooke
Or such movement. The command un-
er Eeneral Smarter or such part as
ould be spared from the work in hand
I
nd reads the order: You will COM
land the forces thus united I'm person."
General Miles at this point mentions
project he had conceived at that time
pr the capture Of the Isle of Pines,
hich was a smuggling base for sup
ying food for Havana. and the harbor
Nipe, on the north coast. as a coal
lg and a refuge station for the navy.
ontinuing. he says: The yellow fever
this time had broken out in Missis-
ppi and IL was feared Il might spread
'er the southern states. The safety of
le military camps was then a matter
great importance and after consult
z with the best authorities I advised
Iat the troops at Mobile be sent 20
cunt Vernon. Alabama. which has
'en a refuge for the garrisons on the
ilf fer many years. also to Miami. on
e east coast of Florida. another place
refuge. and ais 20 Fernandina. Flor
a. In order 10 Isolate the troops as
uch as possible from railroad centers.
here they would be likely to become
fected by the travelling public. / also