The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-11

ments on Cuba materialized," no says
"The want Of proper equipment ana an''
nunition rendered the movement I'LL
practicable"
MERRITT PRAISED.
At this point there is brief digressiohs
where In a paragraph General Miles re-
fers 10 General Merritt's Philippine ISL
and expedition las well organized ana
equipped as possible and as well con-
Quoted and eminently successful In every
way"
General Miles also pays an eloquent
tribute TO the brilliant exploit of Lieu
tenants Rowan and Whitney In secretly
exploring Cuba and Porto Rico and ascer-
tanning the military situations
He resumes the report with an account
of the dispatch OF General Skaters ex-
pedtion. saying that on account or the
importance of the enterprise he desired
TO go with the command or TO immediate
ly organize another.
He also stated: This expedition has
been delayed through no fault or any one
connected with tt. Ii contains the prlnci-
pal part of the army which for intelligent
and efficiency is not excelled by any body
of troops on earth
ALGER'S REPLY.
The telegram was dated June 5th, the
day following Secretary Alger telegraph
ed IN reply: THE President wants TO
know the earliest moment you can have
an expediatory force ready TO go to Porto
Rico, large enough to take and hold the
island without the force under General
Shafter"
General Miles in response says: I'm ten
days"
He next speaks OF the unsuitabiIlty Of
the transports and OF the accumulation
OF troops and supplies at Tampa, crowd
ing the facilities there and causing great
delay Finally the Santiago expedition
sailed on June 18th and General Miles
quotes an order issued by him to General
Shafter, directing the latter to make a
number of inquiries TO ascertain whether
every possible provision had been made
aboard the transports for the supply of
rations. hospital supplies. wagons, land
ing boats, etc.
June 18th, General Miles received the
following dispatch:
Washington. June Is. 1898.
Major-General Miles. Tampa. Fia.l:
Important business requires your pres
ence here; report at once. Answer.
(Signed) X. A. ALGER,
Secretary Of War.
June 24th General Miles submitted to
the Secretary OF War a written plan OF
DiAtlfJ llc EciltS
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
That provision be made for the reception
of at least 10000 Spanish prisoners That
after capturing Santiago some deep water
ports be taken on the north coast of Cuba.
That Neuvitas be captured and that with
1900 cavalry and some light artillery
and a small body OF infantry an advance
be made into Puerto Principe In the in
terror and the troops be thence moved
toward Havana.
This movement would occupy the time
until September 30th; the troops would be
In the most healthy part OF Cuba during
the rainy season and the prisoners could
be used In road making. Should a Span
lsh force be advanced 10 villa Clara the
entire Unfted States army could be
thrown between that point and Havana.
The Spanish army could be divided and be
beaten IN detail. Should that plan be re-
iected, then after capturing Santiago the
entire force should be removed 20 the
Western end OF the island and a campaign
made against Havana
ALGER'S ORDER.
General Miles next recites an order 10
limself from Secretary Alger:
ITO ORGANIZE AN EXPEDITION
FOR OPERATIONS AGAINST THE
ENEMY IN CUBA AND PORTO RICO"
The italics are his own from the order
lated June 26th, it appears that an expe-
lition was to be organized under the
of General Brooke for such
movement.
The command under General Shalte- or
such part as could be spared from the
work In hand was TO join the foregoing
expedition and reads: The order:
You will command the forces thus
United. in person"
General Miles at this point mentions a
'roject he had conceived at that time for
he capture OF the Isle OF Pines, which
vas smuggling base for supplying food ,
o Havana, and the harbor OF Nipe on the +!
orth coast as a coalng amt refuge sta |
ION for the navy.
General Miles at this point refers to |
lis recommendation to move troops 20 \
'iaces OF rendezvous I'm the Shena ndoah |
Ialley and elsewhere TO escape yellow |
ever which had broken out in Missls- \
ippi and TO avoid overcrowding the |
arger camps at Chickamauga. Coming |
o the Santiago campaign, General Miles |
uotes n telegram from General Shafter. |
lated July Sd. stating that the town Of |
'laya Del Este was so strongly defend /
d IL would be impossible TO carry il by |