The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-11-17
HOT SHOTS AT SHAFTER.
General Breckenridge Talked Plainly TO
War Investigators Gave General
Miles High Praise.

WASHINGTON, Nov. l6.-Gen. Brock
lnr!dge continued his testimony before
the war investigating commission. He
had, he said, gone to Cuba as inspector
general, arriving at Tampa on June 3.
He had observed casually the prepara.
ton for the Decentralization of troops
before the expedition left, and had con-
cluded that they were quite inadequate.
Continuing, he said that there was no
preparation for landing in the face of
an enemy other than that which the
navy might furnish. So far as he had
observed there were only two lighters
and two scows secured on behalf of the
army before the departure from Tampa.
Speaking OF the conflict of authority
on the transports, he said the masters of
the vessels aid not respond as promptly
as might have been desired.
While he knew nothing definitely Of
the plans of the campaign, he was sure
there was plan.
"Of COURSE" suggested General
Beaver, "Santiago was the goal of the
campaign"
"Ceriainly. The fact was published
so extensively in the newspapers that
would not accept this information as to
the destination as correct"
Asked as TO his opinion of the result
of the campaign, he said he thought it
was consistent with the character of
the men who conducted "what was to
be expected from the limitations of Gen
eral Shafter. think it would have been
different if General Miles had been in
command-that it would have been
more satisfactorily conducted. think
he has more of the spark and genius of
command than any man in the army,
and | am sure thai if he had had charge
he would have been in the front
rank"
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested
that the battle in front OK San Juan had
been fought and the victory won within
eight days of landing. General Breck-
inridge in reply said the victory had
been won "when General Toral's nerve
gave out" This, he continued, had
been the war of all others when success
had been won in its earliest stages. He
believed that the war was the Lord g
war, and that this wonderful success
was due to his supervision.
He did not feel that General ShafteI
was above criticism in the conduct OF
the campaign. The army was one
which was capable of meeting all calls.
mo matter how it was tangled up" he
said, "it went to victory" He had a,
the time quoted Lord Beresford when
he said to his army upon certain occa,
sion: IL have led you into a devil of @
fix, and it Is now your duty to fight
like hell to get me out of it."
General Breckenridge spoke of the
inspector generals office as having beer
emasculated by the order requiring the
reports of subordinates in that office t.
be made to the adjutant general, anC
said that when he discovered this wal
so he went into the field as Offering tn,
only arena in which he could be of rea
service. He had intended to say in ef
feet: "There is the desk in my office
Do as you please with it. General San
ger was there. He, too, is from Michi
gan. thought he could take contro
of the Office if it was desired, but he die
not remain"
General McCook asked General Breck
inridge If it was true as reported in tn
papers that General Shafter asked hin
to take command at Santiago.
General Breckenridge suggested tina
Shafter be asked.
The question was not pressed.