New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-03


The statement Of expenditures and estimates
presents some formidable figures The expendi-
lures for the fiscal Year ended on June 80 last
were So 534 1S4 and the estimates for the next
fiscal year. beginning on July |. 1893 are Si.t''-
o5O377 OF this great estimate the gum OF 500
10000 is charged TO pay &c the Army. Tne
estimates of extraordinary appropriations re-
oured for the six months ending On June 81
1890 are $50 LII. $40 ard the estimates for that
period. combined with those for the next fiscal
year reach a total of 500 42I9l1
At this point the Secretary includes the re-
merits Of General Miles and all the other generals
who took part in active operations. He then
takes I'D the teeCraphic and other correspond
ence relating 10 the war and that matter oc-
cupies more than one fourth of the whole report.
As already stated the dispatches are allowed 10
tell the story 81 the war without comment so
far as possible although in instances the Score
tary prefaces them with short notes explanatory
Of the reasons which led to their Transmission.
PLANNING AN ATTACH ON HAVANA
This Part Of the Official story begins With the
statement that early in May movement on
Havana was contemplated. and it was believed
that the city could be assaulted and captured
before the rainy season set in. but the plan was
ments of the enemys fleets 1t was proposed to
sena mar; of the army Of invasion from Tampa
and TO rather another part Of it to Key West on
account Of the close proximity Of the latter place
70 Mariel. Cuba. The Secretary quotes one OF
the dispatches ct this point as follows:
Headquarters of the Army.
Washington i. c.. May 9. 1898.
The Naior-General Commanding directs tina. the
following orders he sent by telegraph 10 General
Nade, az I9HpS SA.,,o- 20 r,ova h,s COM
rnand under protection OF Navy. and seize and
hold Mariel, or most important point on north 5ri
and deploy Army Follow up his command with
all the force sent G you Troops VIII oe s Ssh
Assistant Adjutant General.
This order was forwarded by Adjutant-Gen'
eral Corbin 10 General Wade. who was further
instructed 10 have troops fully equipped with
sixty days rations. to be followed by four
months supplies A number Of kilograms are
included 10 show that difficulty was expert
enced in getting water at Key West for the eX-
pedi,ion The movement Of troops being de-
layed until May 16 II was proposed to carry a
number of them to Key West and dsembark
them so that the ships might return to Tampa
70 bring more troops until $1,000 men could be
assembled AT Key West. General Wade, how
ever. legraphed on May IL that there was no
question how a large body Of troops could be
maintained there.
At this point appears an order to General
Miles 70 make an inspection Of the camps be-
fore the departure of the shafter expedition.
though there is nothing in the correspondence TO
show what action was taken under II. The or
der reads as follows:
War .Departmen., Washington, May rs
Najor-General Nelson a. Miles commanding United
r11< q .0
Sir: You viii proceed 10 The following points to
make th1rougn inspecson o. 'ne and Mo
bile. Ala. You Will be accompanied by the officers
OF your personal STAFF. on the completion Of this
duty you will return to the city and make report
OF the inspection herein ordered nave me n0noi'
Secretary Of War.
On the olst General Shafter telegraphed to
General Miles that he was temporarily detain-
ing part Of the volunteer regiments a. Jackson
Vile on account of the difficulty of finding
suitable camp ground at Tampa.
GENERAL MlLEs'S IDEAS
The next dispatch was from General Miles,
outlining the plan Of campaign Il reads as
follows:
Headauartsrs Of t ,he army,
81 Sir Referring 10 ry letter Of Yesterday and TO
our consultation since l desire to submit the fol-
lowing:
AS are now about TO inaugurate active mill
tary, operations in conjunction with the Navy.
at Tampa with strong iorce of infantry and ar
tiiiery. move them to hey West. and thence along
the northern of Cuba. where they could have
the full protection of Admiral SIMPSONS Meet until
they reach Admiral Schley's fleet at Santiago de
Cuba. and then. by combined effort OF the Army
ani Navy capiure me harbor garrison and pos
spy hs sPanh s' al h' PG1 feet it shah
be found that he has already ACCOMPLISHED the
escaped, then urge the importance Of a combined
attack OF the Army and Navy upon Porto RICO.
lieve that combned effort viii result in csptur-
Ing the island. with its garrison provided II IS done
,ance from Key West 10 Porto Rico is lao miles.
AND from Cedz. Spain TO Porto Rec i is about f.
would be Of very great advantage to the military,
as II Hoa'd cripple the forces OF Spain. giving US
several thousand prisoners 1t could be well forth
Ned. tie harbor mined. and would be most ex-
2 for aSy S3S % he %
that port. we would leave sufficient garrison
10 hold it against any force that might be sent
Then We should commence. IN my judgment, a
along the northern coast OF Huba al the eastern
arms and munitions of war. and as speedily as
possible land our cavalry and sufticient lget ar;
posS % sae Along So the line OF railroad 70
puerto Principe From that base cavalry and
lieutenant Lieu. It General Garcia and General Gomez.
should move west TO neal Santa Clara. These
during the rainy season through country com;
With cattle. and have grass suiicient for our ami
mails. While this is being accomplished our volun-
teer army will be prepared 70 land in tire vicinity
Of Mariel Havana or Matanzas In sufficient force
10 ornplete the capture destruction Of the Span
ish forces upon the island OF Cuba. The advantage
Of this movemen. will be that the Army and Navy
will act in concert and close unison, that il does
no. divide Navy. and that II will utilize our
most available military force in the best way dur
ing the time of the year when military operations
ore most difficult
believe that the entrance the port OF Glen
fuegos can be obstructed or blockaded by or
two monitors TO better advantage than to send the
Army there, where it would have to meet strong
garrison. which is already there. and all Of the
forces that can be quickly sent there by rail d.
recty from Havana and Matanzas.
II the above plan is approved. troops could be
ordered TO embark on the transports Immediately
and the purpose would be the occupation OF Span
Ssh territory first. by moving our troops as speed
ilv as possible TO Santiago de Cuba and Porto Rico
and later the north coast of Cuba. especially our
cavalry This military occupation to continue until
host!lities cease Very Respectfully.