The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-21

permit and said that in looking back he
had no criticism of his plans to make and
would not change them II the events had
TO he gone through again. He said he had
no complaints of any sort to make and
would be loathe to tntrude them at this
time If he had
The commission stated that General
Miles had communicated to that body his
unwillingness to volunteer his testimony.
y message was accordingly sent TO the
adjutant general directing him to reCaast
the appearance of General Miles before
that body. No reply had been received to
this communication when General Shafter
rather Unexpectedly appeared After a
| brief preface. General Shafter went into
n detailed accouelt OF his preparations for
the Santiago expedition He said his plans
were changed three times by the depart
meat and once he actually started, put was
called back by ths report OF the Spanish
warships off the coast He said that the
transport fleet was not large enough TO
accommodate 1900 men for any length of
time at sea, but all were so anxious to go
that he qt:ked considerable crowding 10
take all the men possible. He admitted
mat he TOOK chances in doing this, but elid
the weather was good and there was no
mishap TO regret. The men were regu-
lars almost entirely, fully equipped and he
saw that they were made as comfortable
as circumstances permitted AS TO nsti-
cal supplies General Shafter said: Your
medical supplies are one thing thac a
commanding general or line officer never
knows anything about. The surgeon Is
supposed TO know what he wants. My
medical officer said he thought he had
enough medical supplies for The tempo
rary service to which we thought we were
destined. Even this proved. however, that
tie surgeon was mistaken. The ammuni-
ton supply was ample.
AS to supplies, General Shafter said
there was nothing essential left behind.
How about the ambulanees?| asked
General Beaver.
LAS TO those ambulances,' said General
Shafter, Il take the whole responsibility on
myself ! ordarei and supervised their
loading. After events proved that IL would
have been better to have taken ten or nf-
teen ambrlances and left that many wag-
ons behind. Bur wagons can be used for two
purposes and ahhalanoes can be used but
for one. l took wagons and the wounded
had TO be transported in them after tho
first days fight. must say that on a
rocky, muddy road, such as We had there |
we had lirle comfort, or differences be-
tween an ambulance or an escort wagon |
The wounded We're put on straw on The |
bottoms Of the Wagons and We did the best
we could for them, The ainbulances would |
have been better; but then hlndsight is |
always better than foresight"
Concerning the landing facilities With |
the expedition, General shaft.r said they |
had TWO large barges. one Of which was
lost en- route. aud small tug. whose ea1-
tain deserted curing the night The bost |
capacity OF the ficst was sufficient for the
handing as the events proved
An interesting incident Of The landing |
was bfoilsbi out by General shafeer. who |
said he had arranged with the Cuban gen. I
eIal, Castillo. the day prior TO the handing.
10 have 1000 men back OF Baiauila to catch
the Spsniaris when they were sheled out
by the navy. Castillo was three hours
late however and all the Spanlards got |
away.
How about getting the supplies TO the
front fer the men," asked General Beaver. |