Washington sentinel., 1898-08-06
The Peril nt Santiago.

treat from the pOSlLlOnS IN IIlG Su-
virons OF Santiago which had been
won at the cost Of hundreds of
American lives. Our coutempo-
rarY is very exact and circumstan-
tial in its story OF this project to
throw away the fruit Of hard fight
ing. 1t describes a council ot war
in which Gen erals Wheeler, Law
ton and Bates bitterly opposed
retreat, but were overruled by
Gen. Shafter. who, from his ham,
mock in which he lay in great
agony. with men rubbing him on
either side," declared his deter
mination to retreat, and only asked
suggestions as to who should lead
the flight, His own physical con-
ditiOn precluded the possibility Of
his contemplating an advance or
conducting a retreat. 1t was at
this moment that Cervera steamed
out Of the harbor to certain des-
truction, and Shaiter, totally
ignorant of what was going on,
cabled the President that he would
be compelled to retire. The three
generals who fortunately did not
suffer physical disability as Shafter
did protested, but to no avail.
The publication in the Herald
referred to was the following:
Gen, ShafteT suffered much in body
and mind just before the fall of Santiago.
Ii was during this suffering that, on the
night Of July 2, he called a council Of
war to decide upon the advisabiIty of
withdrawing the army from in front OF
the Spaniards. The accuracy OF these
details is vouched for by one who was
in position to know, and who stated
to me what happened.
When Gen, Wheeler was called in he
remarked that he proposed TO stay
where he was, and did not favor retreat.
He was practically alone IN this, Gener-
ais Kent and Sumner voting for falling
bach. II was not until Generals Lawton
and Bates returned from in front of FL
Caney that Gen. Wheeler had any back
ing. Both Of them voted against retreat.
Nevertheless the retreat was determined
upon.
am informed on the same authority
that on the night of July Gen. Shaiter
determined TO demand the surrender of
Santiago, hoping to be able to retire
under cover of the negotiations which
uOuln narpGGar i1v f,lIou,
The next morning, two miles and
hall in the rear of the camp-h was lying
IN the tent left him by Gen, Lawton.
lie was on his back and in great agony.
He had men rubbing him on either side,
and had come to the conclusion that he
would be physically incapacitated to
skiliully conduct the retreat.
He was canvassing names. Wheeler
was too Ill, and for some reason Gen,
Shafter would not think of Kent or
Sumner, who had voted to retreat. This
was troubling him as he tossed on his
cot at the same time on the morning of
July that Cervero was leaving the har-
Dor of Santiago with his fleet. He was
trying then to select a man to conduct
the retreat
Then it was Gen. Shaiter sent a dis
patch to the President, saying he con-
templated a retreat of FIVE miles.
Another strange feature of the situa-
ton was that it so vexed Gen. Shafter
that he refused to recommend in his
report Generals Kent AMI Sumner,
largely because their votes and counsel
had helped to bring about his confusion,
though both Kent and Sumner did
valiant service.
On good authority / am informed that
tha President was anxious to know why
Gen. Kent was not included in the
favorable mention, and this explanation
was gwen,
A widespread depression settled over
the army after the first failure to take
Santiago and the knowledge of General
Skaters determination to retreat.
General Shafter did not learn of Ger
vera's going out before afternoon, but
his despatch was gone, and it was too
late to recall It.
This is a chapter OF military
history well worth publication.
In the clearer light of present
knowledge everybody can see how
disastrous it would have been had
the weakness OF Gen. Shafter pre-
vailed.s The commanding general,
broken in health, bound to litter
by burden OF too solid flesh, in.
capable Of viewing for himself the
field which had been won, though
he thought it lost, cannot be
harshly criticised for his error.
costly though it might have BEEN
Good fortune, not good general
ship, saved for the United States
the ground won by good fighting,
Spain may never learn how easily
her forces might have driven the
sick and timorous Shaiter back
had the attack been made with
courage and dash.