New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-09
CONDITION or SHAFTERS TROOIS
rMMrNEs IN no ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
THE ROUND ROBIN"

JMMT MES IN No DANff@iN-
THE ROUND ROBIN"
Washington Aug S--Gcneral Smarter mas
to,erraphed the President regarding the publ
cation Of the round robin" signed by the gen
eral officers of hls command. as follows:
can very readily see what intense eASl'e,
rnent tie publication must have occasioned' a
great deal more than the situation Warranted.
Situation Is greatly aggravated from 'ne ~
that before any the men were taken IL they
,,,er. Thoroughly exhausted. Al least 10 per
cent Of the command had been down WIN ma
larial fever. from which they recover very s.o"
~. and are In no CONDITION To stdhu an al a. ,','
OF yellow fever or dyscntery. Placed mere no"
in The condition In which they were Wheh 'n"S
came here, do not believe they wound oe III
any particular danger The regiment Ti va"
rnunes that recently arrived IL NOT suHeFlhS ~
all and don't believe they Will They can Keep
out OF the sun. well clothed. ana wei ieu
What put my command in its present condition
was the twenty days u the campaign Wheh t:leS
had nothing but meat bread ana coffee, With
out change OF clothes, without any shelter what
ever. and during period twlce as 'tu n NY 40
II has been since surrender. Fresh troops reach.
ing here I'm the middle Of August. with Hoou
camps good water nbun lance or tentage Whlch
they Will ind mere need not apprehend serious
danger | thank you for the high regard IN
which YOU hold my command ana the value OF
the service they have rendered II pays Tor all
the suffering We have endured. have read TINS
TO Generals Wheeler. Lawton. Bates ana Kent.
who concur with me I'm the views expressed
above
Tho issuance OF this statement from Genera!
shafter was the sequence Of a conference held
az the White House this afternoon between the
President Secretary Alger and Secretary Long
1t was felt that the statements made as 10 the
condition Of troops at Santiago might create a
grave impression abroad. While the state
ment as issued was brief. IL occupied almost an
hour IN its consideration. 1t being felt that the
utmost precaution was essential at the present
stage Of the negotiations between this country
and Spain which it had been at first felt might be
at least impeaed by knowledge of the serious
conditions revealed in the appeals signed by
the officers there The issuance of the statement
was the result and it speaks for itself.
This evening General Shatter supplemented
his first dispatch with second on the same
subject as follows:
Santiago. Aug 8. 1898. I'll p.
| Adiutant- General Of the Army. Washington
In connection with my telegram or the sd
| inst and the letter Of the general oincers te
me Of same date. have the honor 10 say That
since then | have talked win the DIVISION
| comma nders and they join ME in saying that
| the frs, report made so strong because
| Of the weakened and exhausted condition OF the
| command than % per cent or which
have been Ill with a very weakening malaria
! fever lasting from four to six days. and which
| leaves every man too much broken down to
| he OF any service. and in no condition to with
stand an epidemic OF yellow fever For strong
| and healthy regiments coming here now. ana a
little later with plenty Of tentaee to cover them
and not subject to any hardships, ana win
! plenty Of nourishing food. the danger. in my
| opinion and that of the division commanders.
! would be reduced to minimum
| SKATER, Major General.