The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-03


ter, and not until the 18th Of June is
printed as coming from
Miles, when he reported that the
steamers were moving out to sea- This
telegram is signed by Miles, major
general instead of Miles, command
ing" as in the case of some of the
kilograms. There seems to
have been a lack of uniformity, how
ever, in the method of addressing and
signing this whole series of dispatches.
Dispatches of June 15 are given,
General Miles to Wash
ington after General Shafter had
sailed. A note states that the object
was to have the major general COM
manding outfit the expedition for
Puerto Rico.
MILES PLAN DISAPPROVED.
Following these are some kilograms
announcing the further movements of
the transports and the landing of the
Shafter expedition at Baiquiri. The
secretary includes in his report the plan
of campaign in written form submit
ted by General Miles on June "a, and
already published as part of the lat
ter's report. This in substance, was to
proceed after the capture of Santiago
to capture a fort on the north shore Of
Cuba, land force of $1,000 cavalry and
Illahc Il AndICu IlIOUSll lllC lAlOAlOl VI
the country upon Havana from that
base.
The secretary has this to say: THE
plan Of campaign recommended by
General Miles in his letter dated June
"A was not approved
Under date of June %, General Shat
ter reports to Adjutant General Corbin
from Playa del Este the facts at+e@7 q
ing the landing of the troops at Bal
quiri. He says the assistance OF ne
navy has been of the greatest benefit
and enthusiastically given, and with
out them he, perhaps. would not have
landed at all. He wanted nothing at
that time.
At this point a communication is0in-
serted directed to General Miles by
the secretary, ordering the formation,
under. command of General Brooke, of
the expedition against Puerto Rico.
and directing that immediate prepara-
ton be made.
A telegram from Shafter to the Sec
rotary, dated off Siboney, June 81, after
referring to precautions taken TO mark
soldiers graves, says:
General Duffield's command ashore.
I will not act hastily, though l believe
I can take the place within fortv-ei~ht
hours, but I fear considerable loss
CT life There is no necessity for haste,
as we are growing stronger and they
weaker every day. The health of the
command is reported to me by the sur
geon as remarkable, outside of the
wounded. There are today less than
$50 men sick; so far no wounded have
died, and but two men of disease since
leaving Tampa"
On the 18th, Shafter reports that he
does not intend to take the siege guns
to the front until they are needed, as
they might block the road. Several
kilograms from Shafter follow, telling
the story of each days events in the
campaign.
MILES AGAIN TURNED DOWN.
Another depression from the history
of the Santiago campaign occurs about
this point, in the shape of letter from
Miles to the secretary of war, suggest
ing that while waiting for transports
to go to Santiago, the time was OPP
perfume to take and occupy the Isle of
Pines. The reasons set out for this
suggestion are that the capture of the
island would cut the Spanish out of a
base of supplies; that it would be
easily taken while the attention of the
enemy was distracted to other points.
and that it was cliInatically suited fo1
the treatment of sick soldiers and for a
detention place for prisoners of war
The one steamer then at Tampa, with
some artillery, would suffice for the eX-
petition.
The secretary's reply was, Il have
the honor to inform you that this is
not approved by the president"
A disquieting telegram about this
time was one from the censor at Key
West, who reported that Cervera had
been ordered to shell Santiago as soon
as the Americans got possession, and
that foreign consuls had been notified
to retire. This was forwarded to Shat
ter on July for information.
THREATENED RETREAT.
On the same date there was received
by the secretary General Skaters
message, dated Sevilla, July 8, saying
that he had invested the town with but
very thin force; that it was impos-
sible to carry it by storm with the
present force, and that he was serious
ly considering withdrawing five miles
so as to get near the railroad. He de-
scribed the present condition of the
army. with Wheeler and Young sick
Hawkins wounded, and himself con
fined to the tent four days by the heat
He also speaks of urging Sampson tC
an entrance, but the text of this tele-
gram has been published in the re-
ports of General Shafter and Genera
Miles. The secretary's answer has
not been published. It, with Skaters
rejoinder, was as follows:
war Department,
Washington, July 3, 1922 p. m.
Major General Shafter, Playa de
Este:
course, you can judge the situation bet
ter than we can at this end of the line
ent position, especially San Jtai
heights. the effect upon the country
would be much better than falling
back. However, we leave ali the mat
ter to you This is only a suggestion
We shall send you reinforcements a
once. R. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War"
playa del Este (via HaytD, received
at Washington, July 4, lis a. m.
THE Hon. Secretary of War, Washing
ton. Headquarters of the Fiftl
Corps Third:
"Shall hold my present position.
''SHAFTER, Maj. Gen"
July 5, Adjutant General Corbin tele
graphed Shafter that he could hav
whatever reinforcements he wanted
and told of the starting from thi
country for Santiago of 200 troop
from Tampa, 5000 from Newport News
and 1000 from Charleston. The sec
rotary supplemented this later in tn
day with the following dispatch:
we are forwarding reinforcement
/ to you this week. How is your health
Do you think that someone shoul
I come to relieve you? Are you goin
to be able to stand through? What d
you think? Be very careful of your
sel< r. A ALGER,
u Secretary of War"
In dispatch of the same date t
Shafter, Secretary Alger directs him t
intercept all press dispatches an
make report TO him at the close of eac
| day of events of special Importance.
A dispatch dated Camp Near San
tiago, 3rd,'' from Shafter, to the secre
/ tary of war, conveys the first news O
] the attempted escape of the Snanis