The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-27
TALK WITH GENERAL MILES
NO DECISION REACHED AS TO AN
OTHER CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
Tenders to Be Sent to Gep. shafter at
Once-Canard Concerning "Bob"
Evans-Spanish Bulletins.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


ments to General Shafter. In an interview
this afternoon General Miles said that it
was yet undetermined whether or not more
troops would be needed. He said that the
events of the near future would govern
action in that respect. A quick and COM
plete victory at Santiago would, he thought
go to show that the war might be carried
through to a conclusion with the army
already provided. A dearly bought victory
at Santiago and the subsequent necessity of
leaving large army of occupation there
might encourage the enemy to force pro-
longation of the war and make it advisable
for the Washington government to increase
the numerical strength of the American
army Then again a large increase in the
Philippine army might become necessary.
The future was somewhat enigmatical to
the general. 1t was full of uncertainties
and there was nothing in sight to which he
could anchor decided opinion, except that
he looked for hard fighting at Santiago
and was putting his shoulder to the wheel
to expedite the sending of reinforcements
to the scene AS to the date of another
call for troops, or whether there would be
another call, he would not give positive in
formation.
Though there were the usual number of
officials for Sunday at their desks in the
War and Navy Departments to-day, an AS
ISOLATED Press dispatch says, there did not
seem to be any expectation of important
news from the seat of war. Secretary Alger
explained this readily. In his view the
army has been moved one of those stages
incident to the progress of a campaign, and
is now effecting a formation. The re-
ports show that there is only one road, and
that a poor one, from the sea where the
troops landed leading to Santiago. Along
this the army necessarily has been obliged
to move in a single column. Strong recon-
noitering forces were prudently thrown out
ahead and it was these that engaged in the
action of Friday morning. They developed
the presence Of the enemy in force directly
ahead and drove in their advance guards.
Before undertaking a set battle our army
must be formed in regular battle array, not
single column front as it advanced along
the road, but in broad, open order across
the country, the only feasible manner of
conducting a battle successfully. AS part
of this plan, the advance must halt and
wait until the rear guard comes up. In the
secretary's opinion the work was going on
yesterday. The forces left at Baiquiri were
being hurried up to the front near Sevilla,
force. The field artillery was being dragged
up the rough mountain roads and the quar-
termaster was hurrying along the stores as
fast as they could be landed from the trans
ports. All this is very necessary work, but
not such as would call for an official report
from General Shafter
SKATER CONGRATULATED
To say that the President and Secretary
loo tod ct ho hot hos
so far attended the progress of Skaters
campaign would be stating the case mildly.
The President, in quick appreciation of Gen.
Skaters energy, has sent a cablegram con-
graduating him and the men composing his
army on the excellent work they have done.
The message could not be obtained here,
the officials taking the ground that it would
be proper for General Shafter alone to make
it public, but it is known to be couched in
terms of praise.
Secretary Alger added his tribute to-day
in the course of a short talk with an Asso-
ciated Press reporter He said he felt sure
Shafter would prove himself to be a WISE
brave and prudent general. He was partic-
ularly impressed with one short statement
in Skaters dispatch received yesterday,
stating that he wanted nothing which the
secretary regarded as an evidence of the
self-reliant character of the man. Never
theless, the secretary is sending along rein
forcements with all possible promptness. It
is good deal better to have one thousand
too many soldiers than one too few in his
opinion. He believes that General Duffield's
troops, to the number of 1900, which en-
barked four days ago from Newport News
will arrive at Baiquiri tomorrow, and with
in four days 5000 more troops which leave
Fort Monroe to-day will be at the scene of
action. In addition, there will be a further
movement of troops to Santiago just as soon
as the men and transports are ready Posi-
bly, General Miles may go with these. If
the troops are not needed when they arrive
nothing will be lost, for they can be very
well employed elsewhere and will have the
advantage of seasoning. The secretary took
occasion to state again that General Shafter
is being allowed the widest liberty of ac-
tion, unrestricted by unnecessary orders
from Washington. He thinks the wisdom of
this course is amply justified by the results
so far obtained. For this reason it is not
possible to accurately foretell General Shat
ter's plan of operations against Santiago.
the matter being largely in his own hands
General Greedy, chief signal officer, re-
ceived a dispatch last night from Lieut.
Col. Allen, IN charge or the signal corps
with Skaters army. He said nothing
about the military operations, but stated
that he was about to extend his line of
telegraphic communication westward from
Playa del Este to Aquadores, which is
only half dozen miles east of Moro Cas-
tie and very much nearer the advance of
the American army. This will be done by
a shore cable, which already exists between
the two points. A field telegraphic service
has already been dispatched from Tampa.
so that in the course of few days at most
General Shafter will have a telegraph in
strument in his own tent, putting him In
direct communication with Washington
The little band of signal corps men have
been doing some of the most energetic
and exhaustive work of the campaign The
cable operators are also deserving of the
greatest praise. There are only two at the
cable terminus, which means turns of
twelve hours each of the hardest kind of
work under the most trying conditions of
weather. General Greedy already has taken
steps to have them assisted by other opera
tors.
TENDERS SENT TO SKATER.
Naval officials are gratified with General
Skaters expression of appreciation of the
acSfStau0a ha baS Il