Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-09-01
INTERVIEW WITH sHAFTER.
The General Talks EntsrtAlnlngly OF thu
Campaign In Cuba = Criticisms AM
Gwered--NillItary Moves Defended.

New York, Aug, 27.-A dispatch to
the Herald from Santiago says: Prior
to embarking on the steamer Mexico
Maj. Gen. Shafter consented to be in
terviewed. During the interview he
discussed in general terms the cam.
paign that has just ended. The bare
prospect Of returning to the United
States caused him to be brighter, more
cheerful and less harassed-looking than
Mt any period, since he embarked at
Tampa, Critics and detractors were
alike forgotten and with improved
health and the evident consciousness
that whatever might be the eventful
verdict of the operations before Santi.
ago difficult campaign had been
brought TO successful conclusion, he
spoke with greater energy and more
vigor than at any time since the capt.
ulation. Gen. Shafter said:
I look upon the campaign Just closed MS q
successful one in the highest degree, not only
In regard TO the military operations, but more
especially in regard to the great results
achieved. When we decided to attack Santi-
ago we looked for nothing more as the imme-
diate fruit OF Victory than the capture of the
city. What has been achieved is the capitula-
tion Of the eastern pnrt OF the province from a
line at Jibarl 10 the south coast, together with
the enemy's forces, amounting TO almost "a 600
men. Surely this was the most notable
achievement OF the campaign, bearing In mind
the herce opposition we encountered and the
comparatively smallness OF our own forces
From military point OF view / perhaps
took steps which might not be deemed justiha-
BILE under other circumstances, but knew the
temper and the capabilities Of my soldiers and
the moral effect OF our gradually cooping up
the enemy within its own lines Our primary
object was to drive Cervera out and next TO
take the town. We had gradually driven the
Spaninrds back on his lines, circling the city
and slowly advancing day by day, The enemy
began losing spirit as soon MS our guns had
been placed in position TO cover the town.
When Cervera left the situation was changed
The town was at my mercy and had given the
order for direct assault, IL would have been
taken within four hours. 1 believe that with
the forces then at my command. reinforced as
they had been, / was In q position TO take the
city by force. But II / had taken o step OF such
u character what would have been the resultY
estimate that our casualties would have been
5000 men and the action l took has had more
brilliant real results without heavy loss OF
valuable lives.
The town itself is admirably situated for de-
Tense and the fight would have been long and
bloody one, Every house is strongly con-
structed Of stone and entirely different from
the ordinary frame buildings Every house
was little fortress itself Had the Spaniards,
forced by desperation, fought the battle out in
the streets our loss would have been enormous
But from the moment Gen. Toral made propo-
sition for conference l knew he was deter
mined TO give up and 1 acted accordingly.
Personal reflections have been cast upon me
because l was not on the fighting line That
was not the place for general in command Of
an army 1t must be remembered that l was
connected by telephone with the officers at the
front and was better able to direct operations
from the position had taken Save for two
days when i'll, was In direct command OF this
campaign, which consider unique in Ameri-
can history, for 1t was really the first time the
United States had fought with its regular
army The civil war was war OF volunteers,
but this campaign was fought by our regular
troops did not notice the fact at first, but
there were only three volunteer regi-
ments engaged against Spaniards While
the highest credit is to be given
them and they fought bravely and
well there was the moral support Of the
regulars back Of 1t all Our volunteers lacked
that unity cohesion and individual support
noticeable in our trained troops but at the
same time no disparagement should be made
Of the volunteer regiments in the campaign
There has been some question concerning the
transportation facilities OF the army. The ia
cilities were all there and the transportation
equipment provided was all 1t should have
been, but our difficulties we're enormous
The nature Of the country, the weather-all
these things-helped to disOrganize the depart
ment The use OF wagons was almost impossi-
BILE.