New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-20
ET1DENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSION

tbIDLNtE BEFDRE The COUulSSlON.
II was a rather unkind and unjust thing that
one witness said before the Army Investigat
Ing Commission. that Santiago was won when
General Toral lost his nerve. Before Toral had
command his predecessor had officially ap
pealed 10 the Captain-General il q thorough
~ hopeless and pathetic letter. which has since
been printed showing that he had no chance
Of holding Santiago if vigorously attacked with
all the forces Of the American Army and Navy,
his troops being all the time reduced by pes
thence and want Of food Great skill had been
shown in terrifying the place, but Toral's heart
YVES broken when the San Juan charge showed
that nothing could stop the American troops
From that moment he that il was only
question of time. and for saving the lives Of
his men the General deserves honor rather
than contrmely. When General Shafter was
50 sick that he could not exercise his own
faculties he thought of retiring for a time in
order 10 save lives which an assault would
cost. but even then he did not doubt that the
place could he taken
he santiago light the key OF the war
and the san Juan charge the key Of the
Santiago fight. as men now know. because the
certainty that the city could not be defended
then went home 70 the minds of Spanish com
8.
10 Cervera 10 get out Of the harbor with his
feet II the place could be held he was safe
The certainty that the American troops would
walk over every other difficulty. they had
over tie obstacles ar San Juan hill drove Ger
vera ont of thc haybor keenly calculating that
If several ships were lost one or two Of the
swifteSt might escape 10 reach Havana and
threaten American commerce The magnificent
of la al iipD osoih hot
small measure of success and with its last
feet destroyed spain had nothing to do but
10 ask for peace.
The testimony before the Army Commission
brings out in strong light the emincntly Anglo
Saxon trait which sacrifices everything else 10
secure tie main result. There never was any
need Of landing and attacking on the eastern
side Of Santiago Bay except for the saving Of
time: the bluff on he west side could have
been seized far more easily and held. with bet
tor roads and higher ground and less danger Of
disease but operations on that side would have
cost time General Shafter might have landed
at the outset all the equipment needed for 4
long siege but he reckoned that a swift and
daring rush would end the business. and while
It cost many lives and much disease it did end
the war All BOW know that the speedy ter
lninatlon Of the war saved many lives in Porto
Rico. and while il is not 10 the credit Of a
general If he left on shipb0ard equipments and
,npplies that were needed, il shows how swift
concentration at the vital point sometimes wins
oardon for errors OF judgment In other mat
ters
Reorganiza ton Of the Army Is strongly urged
by all competent witnesses and IL has not cost
this Nation 10 learn that lesson hundredth
part what it cost the British in the Crlmea.
Nobody can guess what a Democratic or Popu'
list Congress might be willing 10 expend In
preparing for the National defence: the per-
sons who learn nothing from experience are
numerous. But Republican Congress is as
sured. aud it may be expected that in future
the divided and inextrlcably entangled respon'
sbiliy Of different departments will not sub
jcct the country and lis brave defenders TO