Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-22

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tacitly impractible without leaving our
base at the mercy of both Spaniards
and insurgents. The city's defenses
were good. The Spaniards had excel
lent arms and plenty of ammunition.
All they lacked was sand" The en-
gagement lasted not over two hours.
The army had both Spaniards and in
surgents
TO CONTEND WITH.
"The insurgents were very anxious
to take part in the attack said Gen.
Merritt, "but they were not notified
when the attacks'would be made, as l
was sure the entrance of the Filipinos
into the city would mean unnecessary
bloodshed and some loOting."
Gen. Merritt said the American loss
eS were not correctly stated in the
press reports. There were about 120
officers and men killed and wounded.
No accurate account of the Spanish loss
was ever obtainable. The American
force, however, captured over $4,000
stand of modern arms and the Spanish
loss was known to be severe.
There was some discussion on the
commission over the relative merits of
the Springfield and the modern small
calibre rifle. This drew from Gen. Mer-
rift the statement that personally ne
should prefer the Springfield, with
smokeless powder, to the "calibre 30''
or the Mauser However, some of the
line officers would be better judges of
that than t. AS an instance of lack
OF stopping power, of the small bore
rife, he said. one of his officers was
shot through the leg in the Manila
fight, and did not know it until the
next morning.
Gen. Merritt said in reply to ques-
lions that the volunteers were as eff
fective and as enthusiastic as could be
desired. He regarded them as
VERY EXCELLENT TROOPS.
The supplies were satisfactory at all
times except as to ice and milk for
fever patients. He explained this by
saying that there was apparently no
milk producing animal in that region.
There were some small cattle appar-
emily imported from China, but they
gave no milk to speak of.
AS to medical supplies and hospital con-
veniences, Gen. Merritt said he had heard
no complaint On entering the city, the
army took possession of all the good
houses it needed, and turned them over
to the medical department. The sick and
wounded were thus well provided for.
The army on the island depended upon
local stock for transportation. This proved
quite satisfactory and he doubted the ad-
visibility of importing American horses
Or mules.
Asked if he had the cordial and effective
support of the administration, Gen Mer-
rift said: From the President | had the
most hearty sympathy and support and
this applies also to the various depart
ments. The only thing of which L might
feel | had a right to complain of was not
having some contingent of regulars to
act as a nucleus even if they had to be
taken from Tampa. I should like to have
had that Fifteenth regular regiment, but
L was told that 1 could not have it unless
I furnished something to take its place
But | made the best l could of the situa-
ton, and distributed my staff officers to
aid and train first the volunteer officers
and then the man. This worked very well
and [ was personally thanked is were
my staff officers for this service"
Gem Merritt paid quite as high trfb-
ute to the civilian staff officers as did
Cen Shafter the previous day, saying,
''They were good officers. intelligent. anX-
ious to learn and to work