The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-03

appropriations required for the six
months ending June 30. 1899, are $6O.-
1859. and the estimates for that pc
riod, combined with those for the next
fiscal year. reach a total of s225 49,
?i7.
At this point the secretary includes
reports Of General Miles. and all the
other generals who participated In act
i've operations. He then takes up the
telegraphic and other correspondence
relating to the war. and that matter
occupies more than a fourth OF the sec
retary's whole report.
This part Of the official story begins
with the statement that early I'm May
a movement upon Havana was con-
templated and II was believed that the
city could be assaulted and captured
before the rainy season began. but the
plan was subsequently abandoned on
account OF the reported movement OF
the enemy's fleet. Ii was proposed to
send another part OF IL to Key West on
account Of the close proximity OF the
latter place TO Mariel. Cuba. The secre-
tary quotes n OF the dispatches AT
this point as follows:
Headquarters of the Army, Wash
inCton. May s.-The major general COM
handing directs that the following or
der be sent by telegraph to General
Wade at Tampa: Direct Major Cen
eral Shafter 10 move his command, un-
1 DER DfOtfCtlon ol inc navy u 80
Mariel or the most important point on
the north coast of Cuba where the
territory is ample to land and deploy
the army. Then follow up his COM
mand with all the force sent to you:
Troops will be sent you as rapidly as
possible from Chickamauga and other
points j.. c. GILMORE,
Assistant Adjutant General
This order was forwarded by Adju-
tant General Corbin to General Wade,
who was further instructed to have the
troops equipped with 40 days rations,
20 be followed by four months supplies.
A number of kilograms are included 10
show that difficulty was experienced IN
getting water a; Key West for the ex-
pedition.
PIan Of Campaign.
The next dispatch Is one from Cen
eral Miles, outlining the plan of cam
paign. IL reads as follows:
Headquarters of the Army. Wash
ington. May 27.-The Honorable the
Secretary of War: Sir-Referring 10
my letter OF yesterday n to u con-
~sultation since. l desire TO submit the
following: As we are now about to
inaugurate active military operations
in conjunction with the navy, l think
il would be advisable TO load the trans
ports at Tampa with a strong force OF
infantry and artillery, move them 10
Key West and thence along the north
ern coast OF Cuba. where they would
have the full protection Of Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet until they reach Ad-
miral Schley's fleet at Santiago de
Cuba. and then, by a combined enor
OF the army and navy, capture the har-
Dor. garrison and possibly the spanish
fleet at that point.
IF. before reaching Admiral Schley's
fleet. Il shall be found that he has al
100 aaAEa nlfEha1 tho nhnNa nhfRHf nr
tina the Spanish fleet shall have es-
capped. 4 then urge the Importance Of a
combined attack Of the army and navy
upon Porto Rico.
I'VE will be able to land "A superior
force and l believe that a combined
effort viii result I'm capturing the island
with its garrison, providing IL Is done
before il can be reinforced from Spain.
The distance from Key West to Porto
Rico il LAO miles and from CadiZ.
Spain. To Porto Rico IL Is about 400
miles. The occupation Of Porto Rico
will be of great advantage To the mill
tary. as IL would cripple the forces OF
Spain. giving us several thousand prs
oners. IL could be well fortified, the
harbor mined and would be a most ex-
cellent port for our navy. which would
be speedily relieved from any respon-
sibility In the charge of that port. as
we could leave a sufficient garrison TO
hold IL against any force that might be
sent against IL.
Then we should commence, In my
Judgment, a movement towards the
west by capturing the ports along the
northern coast OF Cuba. at the west end,
supplying the insurgents with abund-
ance of arms and munitions OF war ana
"a speedily as possible land our cavalry
and sufficient light artillery to enable
them TO move from the harbor of Porto
H. lIaA ~
10 Puerto Principe. From that base our
cavalry and light artillery. In conjunc-
ton with the forces of Lieutenant Cen
eral Garcia and General Gomez, should
move west 60 near Santa Clara. These
movements, i'm my judgment. can be ac-
cOmpiished during the rainy season.
through "A country comparatively tree
from yellow fever. well stocked with
cattle and having grass sufficient FOR
our animals. While this is being accom-
plished our volunteer army will be pre-
pared to and in the vicinity OF Mariel,
Haikna or Matanzas, In Sufficient force
upon the island OF cuba. The adNan-
tage of this movement will be that the
army and navy will act in concert and
close union.
Il believe hat the entrance 20 the
port Of Cienfuegos can be INSTRUCTED OF
blockaded by one or two monitors IL
better advantage than TO send the
army there. where u would haNe "a
meet a strong garrison, which IL al
ready there and all or the forces that
can be quickly sent there by rail- Ill
rectly from Havana and Matanzas.
II the above plan Is approved. troops
could be ordered 10 embark on tho
transports Immediately and the pur-
pose would be the occupation OF span
ish territory first by moving u troops
as speedily as possible To Santiago d.
Cuba and Porto Rice and later to TINS
south coast OF cuba, especially our cav
airy. This military occupation to con
t!nue until hostilities cease. Very re-
spectfully. NELSON a. MILES.
Major General. Commanding.
Without indicating what disposition
was made OF the suggestions contained
In this dispatch. Secretary Alger goe.
on 20 briefly explain the condition.
which confronted the American army
az that moment. The secretary OF IN
n.xy WAS convinced that CprNeTa wa