The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-11-16
SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN.
General BroellnrldEo Mildly Roast

General BreoLInrIdEo Mildly ROasts
General Ehnftor on itS Conduct.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Nov. 15.-Gen.
Brecklnridge continued his testimony
before the war investigation commission
to-day His testimony to-day dealt with
the campaign In Cuba and the transpor-
tatlon of troops TO that island. He had,
he said, gone to Cuba as Inspector gem
eral, arriving at Tampa on the 9Th of
June, HE had observed casually the
preparation for the Decentralization OF
troops before the expedition left and
had concluded that they were quite In
-adaqaate. 81 made no rspprt, however,
he said. "as General Miles was on the
grotfnd and could observe for himself"
He was questioned at some length
concerning the conduct OF the campaign
In front OF Santiago, and replied that
the result was what he had expected II
would be. Everything there, he said.
was strained to get men on board and
consequently there was comparatively
little effort to secure equipment. While
ne knew nothing definitely OF the plans
OF the campaign he was sure there was
a plan. He was quite certaih from
conversation ne had had with General
Miles that ne had plan, though he did
not say that this was the plan carried
into effect
"of course" suggested Governor
Beaver, Santiago was the goal OF tne
campaign"
Certainly. the fact was published 50
extensively in the newspapers that
. FH fhn unDGnIg
would not accept this Information as 10
the destination ns correct"
Asked as TO his opinion Of the result
of the campaign he said he thought 1t
was consistent with the character OF the
men who conducted II what was to be
expected from the limitations OF Gener-
al Shafter, think It would have been
different n General Miles had been In
command-thnt II would have been
more satisfactorily conducted. think
he has more of the spark and genius OF
command than any mon IN the army,
and am sure that II he had had
charge he would have been In the front
rank"
that the battle in front OF San Juan had
been fought and the victory won with
in eight days Of landing
General Breckenridge In reply, SAID
the victory had been won when Gener-
al Torals nerve gave out. This, he
continued, had been the war OF all 9TH
ers when success had been won in its
earliest stages. He believed that the
war was the Lords war and that this
wonderful success was due to his su-
pervision. The time for the battle was,
however, short enough. Yet II must be
remembered that the distance between
the battlefield and Siboney was less
than half days march. but while he
considered the result as marVelously
commendable ne did not feel that Gen.
Shafter was above criticism In the con-
duct of the campaign. He could not be-
lieve the result was a miracle, but he
ascribed the outcome to the fact that
the army was one which was capable OF
meeting all calls. "No matter how II
was tangled up" ne said, ut went 70
victory" He had at the time quoted
Lord Beresford when he said to his
army upon n certain occasion; II have
led Vou Into q devil OF Ak and It IA
now your duty to fight like h 20 get
me out OF It." He WAS sure at least
that all enEaged IN the war had acted
with zeal and every man had done the
best of which he was capable and he
had never known q war in which there
was not criticism at the close OF IT,