The record-union., 1898-12-03


If such an Improvement is not made.
the Government will, no doubt, expend
fully that much in charity"
The Secretary says that even if this
road is to be built, there is necessity
for a large appropriation to relieve the
destitute.
Some recommendations that occur in
the early portion of the report are that
provision be made for a statute of
General Grant; that Chief Clerk
Tweedale be made a Lieutenant Col
onel; that provision be made for q
Second Assistant Secretary Of War,
and that an appropriation be made for
the construction of the Lake Union
Washington Ship Canal
The statement of expenditures and
estimates present some formidable fig
ures. The expenditures for the fiscal
year ended June Both last were $62,-
534, 7S4, and the estimates for the next
fiscal year, beginning July /, 1899, are
$195, 5,25O,377. OF this great estimate
the sum Of 500. 43O, 800 is charged to
pay of the army. The estimate of ex-
traordinary appropriations required for
the six months ending June 30, 1899,
are $50, III, ,530 and the estimates for
that period, combined with those for
the next fiscal year, reach a total of
$225, ,427, ,917.
At this point the Secretary includes
reports Of General Miles and all the
other Generals who participated In
active operations. He then takes up
the telegraphic and other correspond
ence relating to the war, and that
OF ffny~ -
the Secretarys whole report.
THE CONTEMPLATED MOVEMENT
UPON HAVANA.
This part of the official story begins
with the statement that early in May
movement upon Havana was con-
templated, and it was believed that
the city could be assaulted and cap
tLred before the rainy season set in,
but the plan was subsequently aban-
doned, on account of the reported
of the eneny's fleet. 1t was
proposed to send another part of it
to Key West, on account of the close
proximity of the latter place to Mariel,
Cuba. The Secretary quotes one Of
the dispatches at this point, as fol-
lows:
Headquarters of the Army, Washington,
May 9.-The Major General commanding
declares that the following orders be sent
by telegraph to General Wade at Tampa.
Direct General Shafter to move his com
mand, under protection of the navy, and
seize and hold Mariel, or most important
tory is ample to land and deploy army.
Follow up his command with all the force
sent to you. Troops will be sent you as
other points. J. c. GILMORE,
Assistant Adjutant General"
This order was forwarded by Adju-
tant General Corbin to General Wade,
who was further instructed to have
the troops fully equipped with sixty
days rations to be followed by four
months supplies. A number of tele-
grams are included to show that diff
Guilty was experienced in getting water
at Key West for the expedition
At this point appears an order to
General Miles to make an inspection of
the camps before the departure of the
Shafter expedition. There is nothing
in the correspondence to show what
action was taken under it. The order
reads as follows:
War Department, Washington, May
26th. Major General Nelson A. Miles,
Commanding General, y. 8. A., Washing
points to make thorough inspection Of
the troops there in camp: Chickamauga,
Ga; Tampa. Fla; Mobile, Ala. You will
staff. On the completion of this
duty you will returns to the city and make
report of the inspection herein ordered.
Il have the honor, etc.,
"R. A. ALGER, Secretary of War
MILES PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
The next dispatch is one from Cen
eral Miles, outlining the plan of cam
paign. It reads as follows:
headquarters of the Army, Washing
ton, ID. c., May 9th.
The Honorable, the Secretary of War
Sir: Referring to my letter of yester-|
to submit the following: AS we are now
about to inaugurate active military opera
items ti In conjunction, with the navy, I
transports at Tampa with strong force
OF infantry and artillery, move them to
Key West, and thence along the north
the full protection of Admiral Sampson
fleet until they reach Admiral Schley's
fleet at Santiago de Cuba, and then, by
a combined effort of the army and navy
capture the harbor. garrison and possibly
the Spanish fleet at that point
IF before reaching Admiral Schley's
fleet it shall be found that he, has al
ready accomplished the above object, or
that the Spanish fleet shall have escaped
then urge the Importance of a COM
bined attack Of the army and navy upon
Porto Rico. We will be able to land a
superior force, and + believe that a com
bined effort will result in capturing the
island with its garrison, provided 1t is
done before it can be reinforced from
Spain. The distance from Key West to
Porto Rico is ], ,440 miles, and from Cadiz
Spain, to Porto Rico. it is about 1000
miles. The possession of Porto Rico would
be of very great advantage to the mill
tary, as 1t would cripple the forces of
Spain, giving us several thousand pris-
oners. 1t could be well fortified, the har-l
bor mined. and would be a. most excel
lent port for our navy, which could be
speedily relieved from any responsibility
In the protection of that port, as we could
leave a sufficient garrison to hold it
against any force that might be sent
against it.
Judgment, movement toward the west.
by capturing the ports along the northern
coast of Cuba, at the eastern end, sup
arms and munitions of war, and as speed
lily as possible land our cavalry and suf-
fcient light artillery to enable them to
vitas along the line of railroad to Puerto
From that base our cavalry and
light artillery, in conjunction with the
General Gomez, should move west to near
Santa Clara These movements I'm my
Judgment, can be accomplished during tho
[ainy season nth through country compara
with cattle and having grass sufficient
for our animals. While this is being ac-
comphshed our volunteer army win be
to land in the vicinity of Mariel.
Haikna or Matanzas in sufficient force
upon the island of Cuba The adyanfa ge
Of this movement will be that the army
and navy will act in concert and close
unison; that it does not divide our navy
and that it will utilize our most available
force in the best way during the
time Of the year when military operations
are most difficult.
t"I believe that the entrance to the port
Of Cfenfuegos can be obstructed or block
aded by one or two monitors to better ad-
vantage than to send the army there.
where it would have to meet a strong
garrison, which Is already there, and ali
Of the forces that can be quickly sent