The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-08
OPENS FIRE.
Expected Battle Between Miles
and Alger
Anaugurated by the General In
an Interview
ALREADY PREPARED.
Was Ready For Reporters When
He Arrived.
Stands by Previously Reported
Interviews.
ALREADY PREPARED.

New York, Sept s-The following
statement, eminating from General
Miles, was given to the reporters on
board of the OLDHAM. 1t is in the form
of letter in which General Miles is
mentioned in the third person:
while at Porto Rico and during the
voyage returning on the OLDHAM, on
which steamer were General Miles and
staff, and two battalions of the Second
regiment of Wisconsin volunteers, I
learned the following facts concerning
the Cuban and Porto Rican expeditions.
In the first place let me say that the
war has closed, after being conducted
largely as General Miles stated publicly
at the beginning of the war that it
would be. The statement was publicly
made and a general order was issued
by him as commander of the American
army in which the plan he has striven
to pursue was foreshadoWed, namely,
seeking to accomplish results with the
least possible loss of life. In an inter
view in the latter part Of May, he
said:
4" The United States government is
too strong, too great and too power
full to commit any foolish act in con-
neetion with the proposed invasion of
Cuba
Referring to the proposed rush to
the feVer-stricken city of Havana, he
said:
g No officer is fit to command troops
who, from any motive whatever, would
der, either from disease or the bullets
of the enemy. I have never sacrificed
the lives of men under my command
and do not propose to subject them to
any unnecessary risks in the present
campaign
In the order issued to the army at
an early date, he directed that: Every
officer telegraphed that his losses had
been greatly underestimate; that he
met with stronger resistance than he
had anticipated, and that he was ser
fously considering the advisa bflity of
falling back to a position five miles to
the rear and that he had been unable to
be up during the heat fof four days
Under such circumstances General
Miles telegraphed General Shafter that
he would be with him within a week
with strong reinforcements, of course,
taking the troops prepared for the sec
ond expedition, which had been order
ed by the president to operate against
the enemy in Cuba as well as in Porto
Rico. These reinfOrcements were push
ed rapidly forward and some of them
arrived in advance of the commanding
general and were put in position in the
trenches around Santiago.
Under verbal instructions of the
president, General Miles was directed
to go wherever he deemed his presence
was required and that he should give
such directions as in his opinion were
best for the army and the government.
These were the circumstances under
which General Miles left Washington.
Hide arrived at Santiago July IL, not
a a private individual nor as visitor.
Any pretenSe that he went there DIS
robed of his authority of official capac-
ity is too childish to be considered by
sensible men. From the moment he ar
rived at Santiago he was responsible
for what might occur. He arrived there
with the Yale, Columbia and Rita,1oad-
ed with infantry and three ships loaded
with artillery besides those already
disem parked. He designed to disem- !
bark the troops and artillery named on
the west side of Santiago, as was I'M
derstood before leaving Washington
and before he went ashore he made the |
necessary arrangements accordingly.
He then proceeded to the front and
after consulting with General Shafter, |
a note was sent to the Spanish com
nander by General Smarter saying that |
the commanding general of the United |
States army had arrived In his camp |
with strong reinforcements and would |
meet him between the lines at any hour |
agreea BILE to him. The reply of the |
Spanish commander was that he would !
meet him at II o'clock next morning.
The meeting was held and after some |
conversation between General Shafter |
and General ToraI, General Miles frank |
ly admitted to the Spanish general that |
he had left Washington six days before |
and that it was then the determination
of the government that this portion of |
the Spanish army must be captured or |
destroyed. He also informed the Span
ish general that his reinforcementS had /
arrived with him, that some of these |
forces had already disemb arked and the |
remainder would be disembarked. on |
the west side of the harbor and that 1t |
was useless for him to contend against |
the inevitable. These transports could |
also be plainly seen by the Spanish |
from MORO castle and other points.
General Toral replied that so long |
as he had rations and ammunition he |
had to fight in order to maintain the |
honor of the Spanish army.
In response to that he was informed |
that he had already maintained the |
honor and that further efforts would be |
useless and would result in Wanton |
sacrifice of human life.
HE then said that he was waiting to |
hear from his government and was in |
formed by General Miles that he had |
already taken much time for that pur- |
pose and would be given until daylight |
of the following morning, it being then |
8 O'Clock, to submit his final answer. |
He begged for longer time and earnest
w requested until o'clock the next |
day. This was finally agreed to by |
General Miles, the meeting dissolved |
and the officers separated.
ION returning from this conference |
dispatch was received by General Miles |
from Washington as follows;
g washington, D. c., July 13.-Major |
General: You may accept surrender by |
granting parole to officers and men, the |
officers retaining their side arms, the |
officers and men after parole to be per- /
mitted to return to Spain, the United |
States assisting. If not accepted, then |
assault, unless in your judgment an |
assault would IAN consult Win 5anP-
son and pursue such course as to the |
assault as you jointly agree upon. Mat |
ter should be settled promptly. (Signed), |
OR. A. ALGER,
d" Secretary of War
''This,'' the statement says, docs not |
look as if General Miles was there as |
a visitor. He was charged with the re- /
sponsibility of ordering an assault upon |
the entertainments and Notifications of |
an army which if successful would have |
cost at least :, 900 Hvess or of withhold |
ing the assault If in his judgment such |
assault would fail.