The herald., 1898-08-27
NO COMPLAINTS MADE
~ SOLDIERS WHO FAILED TO GET
SUPPLIES
BOTH SKATER AND c0RBIN
Make Statements Concerning Conduct
Of the Campaign Ending in the
Capture Of Santiago


Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-Gen. Corbin,
adjutant general Of the army, says no COM
plant has reached the war department
from a major general, brigadier general,
colonel or men of the army regarding want
or restitution or lack of supplies for the
care of the troops. No demand has been
made for supplies other than the regular
acquisitions for troops, which come in the
ordinary routine way. Gen. Corbin declines
20 be interviewed on the subject of the
many stories af1oat regarding destitution
and mismanagement Of the war, saying
that the facts will come out in due time
and the people will see for themselves what
was done.
The whole department Is greatly stirred
up over the many newspaper accounts Of
what has been going on. and 1t was the sub
ject Of discussion everywhere about the
war department, but apparently each head
Of a bureau believes that an investigation
OF the subject will vindicate him and his
department. The officers in Washington
say that the accounts Of suffering have
been exaggerated, but II there has been SUI
fering further than the incidents Of war
would naturally bring about. the fault has
not been with the officers in the department
here.
Each officer processes to be ready and
willing that there should be an investiga-
ton. Some officers say It will be necessary.
and they will welcome complete congress
sionai inquiry which will bring out all facts.
No official statement is expected in the alb
sence Of Secretary Alger, who will return
tomorrow.
Skaters Statement
NEW YORK. Aug. GA Herald dis
patch from Santiago says:
Prior to embarking on the steamer Mexi-
CO. Major-General Shafter consented to be
interviewed. He said: II look upon the
campaign just closed as a successful one
in the highest degree. not only In regard to
the military operations, but more especi-
ally in regard to the great results achieved.
From military point of view. per-
haps took steps which might not be deemed
justifiable under other circumstances. but
knew the temper and the capabilities Of
my soldiers. and the moral effect of our
gradually coping UP tho enemy within
his own lines.
my engineers were very apprehensive
that the Spaniards might break through
on my left and cut of Siboney. This. from
purely a military standpoint, might have
been truthfully correct, but personally /
had not for a moment any fear on that
score. The result. as think, proved the
correctness Of my conclusions.
"Our primary object was to drive Cervera
out and next to take the town. We had
gradually driven the Spaniards back on his
lines, circling the city and slowly advanc-
Ing day by day. The enemy began losing
spirit as soon as our guns had been placed
In a position to cover the town. When
Cervera left the situation was changed
The town was at my mercy. and had
given order for direct assault It would
have been taken within four hours. be-
lieve that with the forces then at my Com
mand, reinforced as they had been, was
in position to take the city by force.
But If I had taken a step Of such a
character what would have been the re-
suit? estimate that our casualties would
have been three thousand, and the action
I took has had more brilliant results with
out the heavy loss of lives.
From the moment General Toral made
a proposition for conferences. knew he
was determined to give up. and acted ac-
oorddngly.
personal reflections have been cast upon
me because I was not on the fighting line
That was not the place for a General IN
command of an army. It must be remenn-
bered that I was connected by telephone
with the officers at the front, and was
better able to direct operations from the
position had taken. Save Cor two days
when ill, I was In direct command Of this
campaign, which consider unique in Am
erican history; for It was really the first
time the United States had fought with It's
regular army. The Civil War was a war
OF volunteers, but this campaign was
fought by our regular troops.
II did not notice the fact at first, but
there were only three volunteer regiments
engaged against the Spaniards. While the
highest credit is to be given, and they
fought bravely and well, there was the
moral support Of the regulars back of 1t
all.
"Our volunteers lacked that unity, CO.
hesion and individual support noticeable
In our trained troops, but at the same time
no disparagement should be made Of the
volunteers Ill lHS Cdutlpdl8u w nat Lney
lacked otherwise, they made up for in en-
thusiasm and patriotic spirit, and 1 desire
to command no better army than the one
composed of the class of volunteers under
me in the Santiago campaign.
1.-THE operations of the regulars in the
campaign have proved conclusively their
superiority over some organizations OF
State militia in which the men are par
TALLY compelled to serve by sense OF
shame but do not show the enthusiasm OF
volunteers.
There has been some question concern
ing the transportation facilities of the
army. The facilities were all there and the
transportation equipment provided was all
1t should have been, but our difficulties
were enormous. There was only one road
and to have built another would have taken
two years. The nature of the country, the
weather, all these things helped to disor-
ganize this department. The use OF wagons
was almost impossible"
SANTIAGO AFFAIRS
1