Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-03

practically the whole length Of the ISL
and of Cuba, with branch roads to the
leading cities on the coast? Such a
road would of course, cost large sum,
perhaps $4,000, 900, but it would give
employment to the people of Cuba"
Some recommendations that occur
in the early portion of the report are
that provision be made for statue
of General Grant; that Chief Clerk
Tweedale be made lieutenant col
onel; that provision be made for a
second assistant secretary of war and
that an appropriation be made for the
construction of the Lake Union Wash
ington ship canal
The statement of expenditures and
estimates presents some formidable fig
ures. The expenditures for the fiscal
year ended June 80, lost, were $50, 534,-
1874, and the estimates for the next
fiscal year beginning July l, 1899, are
$195,250,377. OF this great estimate,
the sum of $50, 43O,90 is charged to
pay of the army. The estimate of ex
traordinary appropriations required
for the six months ending June 80.
1899, are SCOTT, 500, and the estimates
for that period, combined with those
for the next fiscal year reach total
Of $3.50 ,427, 917.
AS already stated, the dispatches
are allowed to tell the story of the war
without comment as far as possible,
although in instances the Secretary
prefaces them with short notes, ex
planatory of the reasons which led to
their transmission.
This part of the official story begins
with the statement that early in May
a movement upon Havana was contem-
plated, and 1t was believed that the
city could be. assaulted and captured
before the rainy season set in, but the
plan was subsequently abandoned on
account of TIE reported movement of
the enemy's fleet
number of kilograms are included
to show that difficulty was experienced
in getting water at Key West for the
expedition. The movement of troops
being delayed until May 16, it was pro-
posed to carry a number of them to
Key West and disembark them there
so that the ships might return to Tam
pa to bring more troops until 10000
men could be assembled at Key West.
Gen. Wade, however, telegraphed on
the 18th of May. that there was no
water in Key West, so that it became a
serious question how large body of
troops could be maintained there. On
the 21st, Gen. Shafter telegraphed Gen.
Miles that he was temporarily detain-
ing part of the volunteer regiments at
Jacksonville on account of the diff
Guilty of finding suitable camp grounds
at Tampa. The next Gfspatch is one
from Gen. Miles, outlining the plan Of
campaign, already published.
Without indicating what disposition
was made of the suggestions contained
in this dispatch, Secretary Alger goes
on to briefly explain the conditions
which confronted the American army
at that moment. The Secretary of the
Navy was convinced that Cervera was
in Santiago harbor, and every energy
was bent to concentrate a military
force near Santiago, to aid in the des-
truction of the Spanish feet and the
capture of the city.
The great difficulty was the want of
transports; the loading facilities at
Port Tampa were imperfect, and there
was great confusion caused by the
large concentration of supplies there.
The railroad facilities were made
quate; there was failure to label the
cars and the postofice was congested
so that bills of lading were delayed
Few of the thirty-six transports finally
gathered there were fit for such ser
vice. but they were the best that could
be had, and while they were rated at
$4,000 passengers in capacity, even the
16, 900 persons transported was larger
number than should have been carried
Fortunately they arrived without SER
ious accident, however.
The first duty for which Gen. Shafter
was selected. viz: to mafo a recon
Nuisance in force about 5000 strong on
the south side of Cuba, Secretary Alger
says was abandoned on account of the
movements of the enemy's feet.
Says the Secretary: Major General
Shafter was selected to command the
expedition to Santiago by the major
general Of the army, who made the
recommendation to the President, and
with this recommendation the Secre-
tary of War was in full accord. Re-
suits proved the wisdom of the as
signment.
Next in order the Secretary quotes
his dispatch of May 81. sent at $50