The record-union., 1898-11-16
Deals With the Campaign in Cuba and the
Transportation of Troops.
Thinks the Evils Which Had Been
Experienced Were Inevitable
Under Our American System,
Which He Condemned as Repre-
hensible, Asserting That the
Volunteers Must Always Suffer
the Worst of the Consequences.

w
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-General
Breckenridge continued his testimony
before the War investigation Comm1s-
sion to-day. His testimony to-day dealt
with the campaign in Cuba and the
transportation of troops to that island.
He had, he said, gone to Cuba as In
speetor General. Arriving at Tampa on
the 9th Of June, he had observed casu-
ally the preparation for the disembark-
alton of troops before the expedition
left, and had concluded that they were
quite inadequate.
Il made no report, however" he said,
''as General Miles was on the ground,
and could observe for himself"
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. 1t was his understanding,
however, that the army and navy were
cooperating in this expedition.
Speaking of the conflict of authority
Ou the lIduSpOIlS, lie Sdlu TIE IldSlCIS
of the vessels did not respond as
promptly as might have been desired.
True" he said, there was a little
navy cadet on board each of the vessels,
but he had no authority An actual
naval officer of the Quartermaster'
Department on each vessel would have
been better. What was needed was
prompt communication between the
4
the masters of the transports did not
respond very promptly"
He was questioned at some length
concerning the conduct of the campaign
in front of Santiago, and replied that
the result was what he had expected it
would be. Everything there, he said,
was strained to get men on board. and
consequently there was comparatively
little effort to secure equipment While
ne knew nothing definitely of the plans
of the campaign, he was sure there was
some plan. He was quite sure from a
conversation he had with General
Miles that he had a plan, though he
did not say that this was the plan car
ried into effect
''Of course" suggested Governor Bea-
yer, Santiago was the goal of the
campaign"
Certainly. The fact was published
SO extensively in the newspapers that
many of the men on board the vessels
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 it-what was to
be expected from the limitations of
General Shafter. II think it would
have been different if General Miles
had been in command-that it would
have been more satisfactorily conduct
ed. [ think he has more of the spark
and genius of command than any man
in the army. and I am sure that if he
had had charge he would have been in
the front rank
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested
that the bate in front of San Juan had
been fought and the victory won with
in eight days of landing.
General Breckenridge. in reply said
the victory had been won when Cen
eral ToraPs 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 Lords war and
that this wonderful success was due to
His supervision. The time for the hat
tie was, however, short enough Yet
it must be remembered that the dis
tance between the battlefield and ST.
honey was less than half a day's
march. But while he considered the re-
suit as marvelously commendable. he
did not feel that General Shafter was
above criticism in the conduct of the
campaign. He could not believe the
result was a miracle but he ascribed
the outcome TO the fact that the army
was one which was capable of meeting
all calls. mo matter how it was tan
gled up he said, lit went to victory"
He had at the time quoted Lord
.Beresford. when he said TO his army
upon a certain occasion: II have led
You into a devil of a fix, and it is now
your duty to fight like hell to get me out
of it."
He was sure. at least. that all en-
gagged in the war had acted with zeal
and energy, and every man had done
the best of which he was capable. and
ne had never known war in which
there was not criticisms at the close
of it.
General Breckinridge spoke of the
inspector Generals office as having
peen emasculated by the order requir-
ing the reports of subordinates in that
once TO be made to the Adjutant Gen
eral ana said that when he discov
ereo TINS was so he went into the field
as onerlng the only arena in which
ne could be of service. He had in
tended to- say in effect: There is the
desk In my office: do as you please
with it. General Sanger is there; he.
too, is from Michigan 1 thought he
could take control of the office if it
was desired; but he did not remain"
Continuing his testimony bearing up
on the Inspector Generals duties. he
said that his criticism of the change
was based upon the fact that it de-
prived the central authority securing
information, and as a consequence the
: Office was practically useless. The
order has the effect of cutting the
umbilicaI cord" he said, "and the
circulation was not good" As a result
of the change, when he asked for facts