Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-11

should be encamped for sixty days in their
respective states. and disciplined and
equipped and their officers instructed; all
important. he said. to health and efficiency
This preliminary work should be done be-
fore the troops leave their states. = wrote
General Miles, who, in his report. adds
this: "Congregating tens of thousands of
men, many OF whom were not uniformed.
and scarcely any properly equipped. in
great camps. away from their states.
rendered il difficult for them to be properly
supplied with food. cooking utensils. camp
cquipage. blankets. tentage. medical sup
plies. transportation. etc. and was. 10 a
great extent. the cause. In my Judgment.
or the facilitating effect upon the health
and strength of the men who We're other
wise in good physical condition. The ma
lerial necessary TO clothe and equip large
armies was not even manufactured at that
lime, and the consequent condition OF the
troops. for weeks and months. was injurious
10 the commands in many WAYS"
Ihe reports recites orders made by him.
dated May %. prescribing the proper equip
ment OF the different commands. which.
General Miles says, were delayed in publi-
cation from May 1S until that date.
Invasion Plans Miscnrried.
Orders are referred 10 regarding the send
Ing of the regulars 10 New Orleans. Tampa
and Mobile 10 begin the invasion of Cuba
Tor the gathering of troops at Chicka-
mausa and for tie movements OF 10.o00
troops on Cuba, but none OF these rnove-
ments on Cuba ma;eTiaiized" he says.
The want Of proper equipment and ammu-
milton rendered the movement impractic-
able" ir,i.
At this point there, Is n brief DEPRESSION,
where. in a paragraph. General Miles re-
fers TO General Merritt's Philippine eX-
pedition. as organized and equipped and
conducted, las being successful in every
way"
General Miles then pays an eloquent trib-
Ute TO the brilliant exploits of Lieutenants
Rowan and Whitney. vino secretly explored
military situations.
Wanted to Go With Shafter.
He resumes the report with an account of
the dispatch Of General Skaters expedi-
ton. saying: Il desired to go with this COM
mand." His exact reques: on this point as
telegraphed from headquarters at Tampa
was as follows:
This enterprise Is so important that |
desire TO go with this army corps, or 20
Immediately organize another and go with
1t TO join this and capture position No. 2.
Now that the military Is about to be used
j believe 1t should be continued with every
energy, making the most judicious dispo-
sition OF 1t TO accomplish the desired re-
suits"
He also stated: This expedition has been
delayed through no fault of any one con-
nected with #. II contains the principal
part OF the army, which. for Intelligence
and efficiency, is not excelled by any body
OF troops on earth"
The telegram was dated, June 5, and the
day following Secretary Alger telegraphed
in reply:
The president wants to know the earliest
moment you can have an expeditonary
force ready TO go 20 Porto Rico, large
enough to take and hold that island with
out the force under General Shafter.''
General Miles response was: In len
days"
The Santiago Expedition.
He next speaks OF the unsuitability of
transports, which were merchant freight
steamers: and of the accumulation of
troops and supplies AZ Tampa, crowding
:, The facilities there and causing great delay.
g Finally the Santiago expedition sailed on
June II, and General Miles quotes an order
issued by him to General Shafter, directing
the latter to make a number of inquiries to
ascertain whether every possible provision
had been made for transporting the
supply of rations. hospital supplies
wagons. landing boats, etc, winding UP:
q would suggest that thorough attention
. be required to every detail. in order to IN
e sure perfect order in the disembarking OF
. your command" p
The order is dated June Ii, and June /,
General Miles received the following dis.
patch:
Washington, d. c., June Is, 1898.
Major General Miles. Tampa, Fla. %.
important business requires your pres.
ence here: report at once. Answer.
r. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.
Miles Plan of Campaign.
June q. General Miles submitted to the
secretary of war a written plan OF cam.
paign. Briefly stated. the points were
That provision be made for the reception
of at least 5000 Spanish prisoners. That
after capturing Santiago. some deep watei
ports be taken on the north coast of Cuba
That Nueyitas be captured, and that, will
1900 cavalry and some light artillery ant
small body of infantry, an advance b,
made into Puerto Principe. In the interior
with the troops, and thence move toward
Havana. This movement would occupy til.
time until September co. the troops woul,
be in the most healthy part of Cuba durin,
the rainy season and the prisoners coult
be employed In roadmaking. Should
Spanish force be advanced to Villa Clara
the entire United States army could b
thrown between that point and Havan;
and the Spanish army divided and beat
en- in detail. Should that plan be rejected
then, after capturing Santiago. the entir
force should be removed to the western
end of the island, and campaign mad
against Havana.
Miles Ordered to Porto Rico.
General Miles next recites an order T.
himself from Secretary Alger Ito organ
ize an expedition FOR operations agains
the enemy in Cuba and Porto Rico
From the order, dated June &c, it ap
pears that an expedition was TO he or
ganized under the immediate command o
General Brooke for such movement. Th
command under General Shafter, or sucl
part as could be spared from the work II
hand, was TO join the foregoing expedi
tion. and, reads the order. you will com
mand the forces thus united. in person"
General Miles at this point mentions
project he had conceived at that time 70
the capture OF the Isle of Pines. which wa
a smuggling base for supplying food I
Havana, and the narbor of Nipe on tn
north coast. as a Coaling and a rsfug
ststion for the navy. Continuing, he SAYS
THE yellow fever at this time ha
broken out in Mississippi. and # wa
feared II might spread over the Souther
states. The safety of the military camp
was then a matter Of great importance
and after consulting with the best au
tl.crities / advised that the troops at Mo
bile be sent TO MoIut Vernon. Ala. whic
has been a refuge for the Earrisons on tn
Gulf for many years: also to Miami @