The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-30
Statements Substantiated by Tele-
grams Sent General.
Proof That War Department
Regarded Miles as Supreme i'm Com
mand amd That Secretary Aaser
Sought to Wake Ht Appear Other wise
-Hbemamaa For Surrender Of City
Was Miles Own Suggestion.

Kansas City, Mo, August 29.-The Stal
today printed O three column exclusive
dispatch from j. d. Whslply, its specia
correspondent, who he's just returned
from Porto Rico, bearing upon the
Miles-Alger controversy. MIR. WhelpJ
denies the statement that his recently
published interview i'll Porto Rico with
Gen. Miles, wherein the latter was qaot
ed as casting reflections on the war de
partment, was not genuine, and in sup
port of the statement already made by it
the Star prints interesting kilograms that
passed between tho war department. and
Gen. Miles and Shafter on the points al
issue.
.Doubt is expressed by some," says
Mr.. Whsapy, 'tas to whether Sen. Miles
ever said those things I credit him with.
Others suggest he may have said them
in confidence which was betrayed. I
feel confident continued the cOrrespon
dent, "that Gen. Miles will stand by the
interview referred to.
t'My talk with him was not confden-
tial. I went to him to as newspaper
reporter, for the avowed and expressed
purpose of securing an interview. There
was no reservation from publication In
refusal to answer some questions which
he otherwise would have answered. There
was no hint of confidence.
''In this instance. however, no question
of veracity need artise. Gen. Miles him
self, even if he SO desired, could not con-
ceal the proof of all he said. 1t is writ
ten in the records of the war department
and it needs only clearing array of in
consequential matter to tell the story
clearly and in full
'tGen. Miles in his interview in the Star
made several distinct statements, one to
the effect that he was commanding gen.
eral of all the American armies, first,
last and all the time, in Washington. in
Tampa, in Cuba, in Porto Rico or any.
where else it might be.
''He charged Gen. Corbin with sending
secret dispatch to Gen. Shafter con-
trary to the orders.
'..He charged the war department. with
mutilating and even supressing parts or
the whole of certain messages in their
transmission to the public, thus putting
him and his relations to the army in a
false light to the people at home.
"He charged that his recommendations
in regard to moving the troops from
Santiago were disregarded, this disregard
cited the fact that Gen. Shafter disobeyed
orders in occupying fever infected houses
and also in allowing Cuban refugees to
mix with the American troops. Finally,
he claimed that Washington allowed the
plans of his Porto Rico campaign to
ieak out to such an extent as to render
them useless and dangerous.
These charges were the sum and sub
stances of his Interview as printed in the
Star"
The full text of the Stars article fol-
lows:
''It needs only glance at the Official
records of the war department. to show
each and every one of these charges to be
the truth and to throw much additional
light on the situation.
"That he was in command of the en-
tire army when in Washington, is of
course evident. That he did not resign
Tampa. and that it was he who was
treating with the Cubans for cooperation
in Cuba is shown by the numerous tele-
grams exchanged with Gen. Garcia.
The war deparl ment recognized Miles as
chief when he was in Tampa, for June
- a telegram was sent to him from
Washington which began: Ihs follow
ing extract of telegram from Admiral
Sampson to the Secretary of the Navy
When Gen. Shafter went to Cuba
and Gen. Miles returned to Washington.
the latter did not resign his control OF
the situation, but on the contrary, Kept
In close touch as possible Dy wire WIN
the movements of Skaters command.
On the 4th of July Gen. Shafter sent
the following dispatches to Washington,
addressed to the adjutant general:
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, in
camp, near Santiago de Cuba, July 4,
l59S;-Ihere seems to be no reasonable
doubt but that General Pando succeeded
ID entering Santiago last night with his
force. SAID to be about 5000 men.
Ibis puts different aspect on af-
fairs and, while we oan probably main
tain ourselves. it would be at tine cost of
very considerable fighting and loss
General Lawton reports that General
6arcia Who was to block the entrance of
Pando, informed him at ten O'Clock last
nighs tnat Pando had passed in on the
OGDE6 road. I,ayvfan caVS CHnnOf c0mnal