Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-11

son that the enemy mad surrendered. He
added that there was some delay in the
hnal capitulation. owing to disagreement
over the disposition OF the Spanish small
arms.
Returning to Siboney. which he partial
ly burned, he received this dispatch:
July fG.-General Miles:-They surren-
der. Shafter," upon which he sent re-
newed congratulations and gave further
instructions to the care of the troops.
Including some recommendations by Chief
Surgeon Greenleaf and other general Off
GERS. He also directed General Shafter to
make daily reports to headquarters of con-
ditions. The message called forth the fol-
lowing exchange CT kilograms:
Shnfter to MiIes-MIles to Shafter.
Siboney. July Il.
General Miles. on Board Yale.
Letters and orders in reference to move
ment of camp received and will be car
ried out No one is more anxious than my
| self to get away from here. Ii seems from
your orders given me, that you regard my
force as a part of your command. Moth
ing will give me greater pleasure than
serving under you, and shall comply with
all your requests and directions, but | was
told by the secretary that you We're not
10 supersede in command here ! will fur
rish the information called for as to con-
ultlon OF command to Gilmore, adjutant
general, army headquarters.
SEIAFTER, Major General.
Headquarters of the Army, Playa del
Este. July lS
General Shafter: - Telegram received.
Have no desire, and have carefully avoided
any appearance, of superseding you. Your
command is a part of the United States
army, which l have the honor to command,
having been duly assigned thereto, and di-
fected by the president to go wherever l
| thought my presence required, and give
such general directions L thought best
concerning military matters, and especially
directed to go to Santiago for specific
purpose. You will also notice that the or
der of the secretary of war of July Is left
the matter to my discretion. l should re-
Gret that any event would either
yourself or any part of your command to
| cease TO be part of mine. Very truly
| yours. NELSON A. MILES,
Major General, Commanding L. S. A.
Then follows some kilograms instructing
| General Shafter to remove his soldiers to
| high ground and notifying Secretary Alger
| That. In his CMilesJ opinion, if this move
| ment into the mountains did not check the
| fever then the only way to save a large
portion of the command would be to ship
| them to Il point on the New England coast
Porto Rico Campaign.
| The history of the Santiago campaign
practically ends at this point and the re-
port treats next of Porto Rico. General
Miles, on July IA. had cabled Secretary
Alser that it was important to go direct to
| Port FajardO, Cape San Juan. He was adj
| vised to proceed az rapidly as possible,
| and after some delay authority was grant
| ed and he started. The story of that sue
| cessful campaign is well known, and the
| report adds little to the general knowledge,
| except to clear up the change of destina-
| ton of the first expedition, which was so
| puzzling at the time.
General Miles writes that he had been
| anxiousy looking for several days before
| starting for the arrival of tugs, launches
| and lighters that had been ordered, but
none arrived. He still hoped to meet them
| in the Windward passage en- route to Porto
1 Rico. He knew that his cablegrams had
fpassed over foreign cables and regarded it
as necessary to deceive the enemy as to his
destination. Therefore, IN the absence Of
| his landing launches and lighters, he con-
sidered the advisability of finding safe
I harbor and capturing the necessary appli-
| ances from the enemy.
Plans Were Changed.
! He conferred by letter and signal with
1 Captain Higginson, in command of the na :
I yaf convoy, and decided to land at Guanica
4 as the enemy had doubtless become aware
of the original destination. and then to
move on Ponce. Captain Higginson accept
| ed the change Of plan, a vessel was sent
of Cape San Juan to give word of the
change of base TO the approaching REIN
forcements. The little Gloucester went
ahead and forced the entrance into Guam
lea and soon the entire expedition was
landed in Porto Rico and began its sue
cessfuI campaign. A detailed account is
given of the various skirmishes, battles and
captures on the island. and the proclama-
| tions are quoted whereby General Miles
l,appeaied successfully TO the disaffected ele-
ment among the inhabitants to give in their
allegiance to the new order of things or
this nineteen-day campaign, General Miles
says:
THE success of the enterprise was large
| ly due to the skill and good generalship
of the officers in command of the different
divisions and brigades. Strategy accom-
plished what might have occasioned seri-
Gus loss to achieve in any other way. The
loss of the enemy. in killed. wounded and
captured, was nearly ten times own,
which was only three killed and forty
wounded. Thus the, island of Porto Rico
became Il part of the United States"
He mentions by name specially the Off
GERS of his staff and the general officers en-
gagged. and recommends small list of off,
GERS for promotion and brevets.
Generalizing upon results, the report
adds:
1t is gratifying to record that during
the war not single defeat has been mel
and not a prisoner. color, gun or rifle has
| been captured by the enemy. In this re-
spect. the war has been most remarkable
and perhaps unparalleled.
| Under all circumstances and in spite OF
many most trying difficulties. the troops
have maintained the fortitude of he
| American character and the honor of thei.
arms
Recommendations for Future.
earnest recommendations for the improve.
ment of the military service. He trusts the
| experience of the last few months will be
valuable to the people and to the gov.
ernment The value of coast defenses he
| says. has been proved. and the system
should be completed without delay. He
favors the adoption of standard OF
| strength for the army TO meet the coun-
| trys growth and suggests that II be one
| soldier for every 1909 population. yielding 4
! force of 62. .51g. While this force Is already
! provided for. unfortunately the authoriZ
ing act requires the army TO be reduced
| to its former inadequate basis on the
! termination of the war.
| General Miles. in conclusion. recommends
the authorization of an auxiliary force of
| native toopS in Cuba. Porto Rico and the
| Philippine $ 10 be officered by Unite States
army officers and not exceeding two sol