The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-11
Shows He Was in Command
at Surrender OF Santiago.
Skaters Mild Protest---Dispatch About Re-
treating Not Quoted---Federal Camps
Condemned as Sickly--Increase
Of Army---Enlistmen of Oubans,
Porto Ricans and Fihpinos.

appointed and properly instructed.
large camps of instruction can be judi
ciously selected, ground rented and
stores collected
AT the end of so days the regiments,
batteries and troops can be brigaded
and formed into divisions and corps,
ana proper commanding generals as
signed, and this great force may ba
properly equipped. nodded and organ
lzed into an effective army with the
least possible delay
General Miles, in his report SAYS:
"Congregating tens of thousands of
men, many of whom were not uniform
ed and scarcely any properly equipped,
IN great camps away from their states,
| rendered it difficult for them to be
properly supplied with food, cooking
utensils camp equipage, blankets, tent
age, medical supplies, transportation.
! etc, and was to 8 great extent the
cause, IN my Judgment, of the debili-
tating effect uDon the health and
strength of the men, who were other
wise In good physical condition The
material necessary to clothe and equip
large armies was not even manufacture
| ed at that time, and the subsequent
condition Of the troops for weeks and
months was injurious to the commands
4 in many ways
Writing of General Merritt's expedi-
ton to the Philippine islands, General
Miles says: "'Fhe command was we'll
| ordered and as well supplied as was
possible with the means available.
The expedition sailed May 20 1898, was
| well conducted and eminently success
F., full in every way"
General Miles gives an account Of tba
! fitting out of Skaters expedition to
/ Santiago, and quotes a telegram dated
| June 3 to the secretary Of war. in which
he said: Il desire to go with this COM
mand and to Immediately organize an
other and go with it to capture posi-
ton No. q"
K June 10 the secretary of war sum-
moned General Miles from Tampa to
Washington. He submitted a plan of
campaign on June "a for operations fol-
| lowing the anticipated fall of Santiago.
| The middle provinces of Cuba were to
be invaded from Nuevitas and a. move
ment conducted toward the west utfi-
izing the forces Of Garuia and Gomez.
General Miles then gives the orders he
received to prepare the expedition that
went first to Santiago, and thence to
Porto Rico
He gives a copy of a letter he had
sent June to Garcia, in anticipation of
Skaters expedition General Miles
recommended the utmost activity of
the insurgents to harrass the Spani-
ards. Garcia's reply accepting the sug-
gestton sent by cable from Mole St.
Nicholas was received four days after
the letter had been sent The com
municationS were made through Adj
miral Sampson. General Miles then
says:
1T will be observed that General
Garcia regarded my requests as his
orders. and promptly took steps to
execute the plan of operations. He sent
S000 men to check any movement of the
1900 Spaniards stationed at Holguin.
A portion of this latter force started
to the relief of the garrison at Santiago
but was successfully checked and turn
ed back by the Cuban forces, under
General Foria. General Garcia also sent
1000 men, under Perez, to oppose the
5000 men at Manzanillo OF this garri-
son 5000 started to reinforce Santiago
and were engaged in no less than so
combats with the Cubans ON their way
before reaching Santiago, and would
have been stampeded had General Gar
cia's request of June q been granted
With an additional force of 5000 men,
Gen. Garcia had besieged the garrison
at Santiago, taxing up strong nosi-
ton on the west SIDE and in close prox-
unity to the harbor, and he afterward
received Gen. Shafter and Admiral
sampson at his camp near that place
He had troops in the rear as welt as on
both sides of the garrison at Santiago,
before the arrival OF our troops
Gen. Miles then takes up Gen. Shat
ter's expedition to Santiago. Gen.
Skaters cable messages to the adju-
tant generals office, concerning onera.-
tons before Santiago are given. July
4th Gen. Shafter wired from the camp
near San Juan river, Playa del Este.
as follows:
IF Sampson will force entrance VITA
all his fleet to the upper bay of Sam
tiago, we can take the place within
few hours Under these conditions, I
believe the town will surrender II
the army is to take the place. I want
$4,000 troops speedily. and it is not GER
tain that they can be landed. as it is
getting stormy Sure and speedy way
is through the bay. Am now in posi-
ton to do my part
"On receipt of these communications.
says Gen. Miles, ut was decided thai
I should go Immediately to Santiage
with the reinforcements already en-
route, and that were being moved az
rapidly as possible. Before leaving
Washington, 1t was my purpose to Land
SUFFICIENT forces on the west side of Ne
harbor of Santiago to either open the
entrance to our fleet or enfilade the
enemy's line and take their position in
reverse. / left washington on tha
evening of July Z, reached Charleston
in time to go on board the fast steam
er Yale, already loaded with 1900 troops,
and, with the steamer Columbia accom-
panying, arrived opposite the entrance
of Santiago harbor on the morning Of
July IL. Admiral Sampson was then
on board the flagship New York, in
close proximity to the entrance of San
uago harbor, and in full view Of Morro
Castle"