The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-21
NO CRITICISM OF HIS PLANS.
SHAFTER SATISFIED WITH THE
SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.

Nns Told He Was Assigned to the
Command at the Request of Gen.
MiIes-PIans of Attack Were Ere
.uentIy Changed-MedicnI officer
Thought the Supplies Sufficient.
would Conduct Another Santiago
CampaiEn in the Same Way-Gen.
Miles to Testify.
washington, Dec. 2O.-Gen. William X.
Shafter appeared rather unexpectedly be-
fore the war investigation commission this
afternoon, and told his story of the San
tago expedition. He was supported by his
aide. Col Muey who was with him in
Cuba. and fanked by a large portmanteau
of papers, 10, which his aide occasionally
applied for reference.
Gen. Skaters story of the operations
around Santiago was tersely told, but at
times quite vivid in its recital and inter
esting in detail. Briefly summed up, his
estimate of the Santiago expedition was
that it had been a military success, and
cheap at the cost of 500 men lost in the
fight.
He considered the expedition to have
been as well fitted out as the time al
lowed would permit, and said that in look
ing back he had no criticism of his plans
to make and would not change them II
the events had to be gone through again
He said he had no complaints of any sort
TO make, and would be loath 10 intrude
them at this time if he had. Gen. Beaver
asked
do YOU know by whose request you
were assigned. to command al Tampa?"
81 was informed it was Gen. Miles"
Gen. Shafter said his first orders were
60 organize a strong reconnaissance force
of about 5000 TO 5000 to go to Santa Cara
province and get into communication with
Gomez, but not to bring on a general en-
gagement. This plan was checked by the
appearance of Cervera's fleet in Southern
waters.
Plans Frequently Changed.
Gen. Shafter was then instructed to pre-
pare to seize the port of Mariel and make
a strong entrenched camp on high ground
where the bulk of the American army was
to be quartered preparatory to the general
campaign. This plan was again checked
by the report of Cervera being bottled up
in Santiago, and Gen. Shafter was ordered
TO prepare an expedition to besiege Santt
ago. The expedition that left Tampa, he
said, was supplied with sixty days ra-
tons and he was told to load six months
supplies if he could, but time did not per
NIT. AS to the medical supplies, Gen.
Shafter said:
you know medical supplies are the one
thing that a commanding general or a line
officer never knows anything about. The
surgeon is supposed to know what he
wants. My medical officer said he thought
he had enough medical supplies for the
temporary service for which they thought
they were destined. Events proved how
ever, that the surgeon was mistaken The
loading of the transports was under the
supervision of a board of officers, consist
ing of Gen. Lawton, Col HUMPHREYS and
some others, and all necessary measures
were taken for the care of the men, fur
nishing them with not coffee. etc.
Transports Were Crowded.
"As a matter of fact, I took some
chances which did not result dsastrously,
in loading as many men as l did on the
transports. They were crowded, but as
you know, at that time, it was personal
insult to leave any one, and I took all the
men / could. We had good weather and
no one suffered"
AS to supplies Gen. Shafter said there
was nothing left behind.
How about the ambulances?' asked
Gen. Beaver
LAS to those ambulances," said Gen.
Shafter, Il take the whole responsibility
on myself. l ordered and supervised the
loading of them After events proved that
II would have been better to take ten or
fifteen additional ambulances and left that
many wagons behind. But wagons can be
used for two purposes, and ambulances
can be used for but one. l took the Wag-
ons, and the wounded had to be trans
ported in them the first day. will say
that on a rocky, muddy road, such as we
had there is little difference between an
ambulance and an escort wagon. The
men We're put on straw in the bottom of
the wagons and we did the best We could
with them. Ambulauces would have been
better but then Eindsight is always better
than foresight"
The Landing Facilities.
Concerning the landing facilities with
the expedition, Gen. Shafter said that they
had two large barges, one of which was
lost en- route and a small tug, the Cap
tain Sam whose captain deserted during
the night. The boat capacity of the trans
port fleet was sufficient for the landing as
the events proved. Gen. Shafter said the
navy lent all reasonable assistance with
its boats and expressed surprise when a
communication from Secretary Long to
the President was read, protesting against
the navy being called upon TO assist i'll
landing the troops.
An interesting incident of the landing
was brought out by Gen. Shafter, who
said he had arranged with the Cuban gem
eral, Castillo, the day prior 10 the landing
to have 1000 men back of Baiquri to
catch the Spanards when shelied out by
the navy. Castillo was three hours late,
however, and all the Spaniards got away.
Complaints of Medical Officers.
There has been considerable criticism
from the medical officers" said Gen. Beav-
er. Were any such complaints brought
TO your"
"A majority Of the regimental surgeons
left their medical chests on their vessels.
When I found this out l put DR.. Good
fellow aboard the Mautee and had him col
leot these chests. As soon as they were
landed they were put on wagons and dis
tributed al once
As to the medical supplies being left
aboard the transports and sent back to
Tampa. Gen. Shafter said he had heard Of