The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-03
ALGER DOES NOT cRITIcISE.

built there is a necessity for a large APP
preparation TO relieve the destitute. The
question of sanitation of the cities should
also have immediate attention and por-
ton of the taxes collected in the island
should be expended for that work.
The statement of expenditures and esti-
mates presents, some formidable figures
The expenditures for the fiscal year end
ed June 80 last were $50, 5S4 ,7S4 and the
estimates for the next fiscal year begin
ming July /, 1899, are $l95, 250,S77. OF this
great estimate, the sum of $50, 430, 500 is
charged to pay off the army. The esti-
mates of extraordinary appropriations re-
quired for the six months ending June 3d.
1899 are 60,177 ,5S9, and the estimates for
that period, combined with those for the
next fiscal year, reached a total of $780,
427917. At this point the secretary in
cludes in his report the reports of Gen.
Miles and all the other generals who par
tcipated in active operations.
He then takes up the Geographic and
other correspondence relating 10 the
war, and that matter occupies more than
q fourth of the secretary's whole report.
As already stated, the dispatches are al
lowed to tell the story of the war with
out comment as far as possible, although
in Instances the secretary prefaces them
with short notes explanatory of the real
v
This part of the official story begins
with the statement that early in May a
movement upon Havana was contemplate
ed and ii was believed that the city could
be assaulted and captured before the rainy
season set in, but the plan was subse-
queniIy abandoned on account of the re-
ported movements of the enemy's fleet.
it was proposed to send a sportion of the
army of invasion from Tampa, and to
49, ,f "A Zoe
on account of the close proximity of the
latter place to Mariel, Cuba The secre-
tary quotes one Of the dispatches at this
point as follows:
headquarters of the Army, Washing
ton, D. c., May 9, 1S9S.-The major general
commanding directs that the following or
ders be sent by telegraph TO Gen. Wade
at Tampa
Direct Mai. Gen. Shafter to move his
command, under the protection of navy,
and seize and hold Mariel, or most import
ant point on north coast of Cuba, where
territory is ample to land and deploy army
Follow up his command with all the force
sent to you Troops win be sent you as
rapidly as possible from Chickamauga and
other points. ]. c. Gilmore.
assistant Adjutant General"
This order was forwarded by Adjutant
General Corbin to Gen. Wade, who was
further instructed to have troops fully
equipped with sixty days rations, TO be
followed by four months supplies A
number of kilograms are included to show
that difficulty was experienced in getting
water at Key West for the expedition.
The movement of troops being delayed I'M
til May IT, it was proposed to, carry num-
Der of them to Key West and disembark
them there so that the ships might return
TO Tampa to bring more troops until 1900
men could be assembled at Key West.
Gen. Wade however, telegraphed on the
18th of May that there was no water in
Key West, so that il became a serious
question how large body of troops could
be maintained there. On the 2lst Gen.
Shafter telegraphed Gen Miles that he
was temporarily OBTAINING part of the
volunteer regiments at Jacksonville, on
account of the difficulty of finding suita-
bic camp ground at Tampa.
At this point appears order to Gen.
Miles 10 make an inspection of the camps
before the departure of the Shafter eXpedi-
ton, though there is nothing in the corre-
spondence to show what action was taken
under it. The order reads as follows:
War Department, Washington, d. c.,
May 26, 1S9S.-Mai. Gen. Nelson A. Miles.
Commanding United States Army, Wash
ington, Sir: You will proceed to the fol-
lowing points to make thorough inspec-
ton of the troops there in camp: Chicka-
manga, Ga, Tampa, Fla. Mobile, Ala.
You will be accompanied by the other Of
ticers of your personal staff. On the COM
pletion of this duty you will return 10 the
city and make report of the inspection
herein ordered. I have the honor, etc.
R. A. Alger, Secretary of War.
The next dispatch is one from Gen.
Miles, outlining the plan of campaign. 1t
reads as follows:
Headquarters of the Army, Washing
ton, D. c., May q 1S9S.-The Honorable,
the Secretary of War: Sir-Referring to
my letter of yesterday, and TO our con-
sultation since, desire TO submit the
following:
AS we are now about to inaugurate
active military operations in conjunction
with the navy 1 think it would be ad-
Vsable 10 load the transports at Tampa
with a strong force of infantry and artil-
lery, move them to Key West, and thence
along the northern coast of Cuba, where
they would have the fun protection of
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet until they reach
Admiral Scheys fleet at Santiago de
Cuba, and then by combined effort of
the army and navy, capture the harbor,
garrison, and, possibly, the Spanish fleet
at that point
If, before reaching Admiral Schleys
fleet it should be found that he has all
ready accomplished the above object, or
thai the Spanish fleet shall have escaped,
l then urge the import ance of a COM
Dlned attack of the army and navy upon
Porto Rico. We will be able to land
superior force, and l believe that 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 LAO miles. and from Cadiz.
Spain. to Porto Rico is about 1900 miles
The possession of Porto Rico would be of
very great advantage to the military. as
II would cripple the forces of Spain, CIV
ing us several thousand prisoners. It
could be well fortified, the harbor mined,
and would be a most excellent port for
our navy, which could be speedily relieved
from any responsibility in the charge of
that port, as we could leave a sufficient
garrison to hold it against any force that
might be sent against IL.
Then We should commence, in my judg-
ment, a movement toward the west by
capturing the ports along the northern
coast of Cuba, at the eastern end, supply
ing the Insurgents with abundance