The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-22
NILES TALKS VERY PLAINLY.
<,xrs IMPORTANT TESTIMONY BE-
FORE THE WAR BOARD.
~~.,,~s.es shafteF for Permitting
soldiers 10 visit Di.ense-fnfested
snanish Houses, and Complains of
quality of the Food Furnished.

ri
s.,e the var invest. CATION committee To-
r. Gen. Mics responded 10 The summons
- he committee only after several days
..sxer4tlau he 8aE accompanied by tss
- stenograQAev Ills examine ton vas
s,-.,agatlvely brief and not sensational.
"a spohe VIVA some bitterness as 10 tAe
.erbzlrsed oees'' and TIE canned beet fur
.saesI me army IL the fed. Th.s ne char
.rse-zs6 aS ~ experiment Tor Which soTne
g. IT. Wa-hlngtor" wa responsible lie
az TIA; ;ne landing facilities at Santiago
xsrs IMAGE. g&kc. ana mat Tie men were
/ .sort % Fauoss and medicines and ralsnt
Aays ;@en better protected from exposure
be fsYsE cOuiAs On.
Gfn Merritt told the commission taa, re
rssaTdel the P1FpIdne expedition as a
cees.ed eUoce.s, and would conduct 1t on
H. same dncs T. be he'd y 70 90 over lie
F-oAs IN hlgh terms Of the troops under
hn and SD h!s army vas vel! supplied
rrtn rne-.l1iues and food
Lieut. Col MNey. Gen. Skaters calef
Of SAT-, testified before the war inyests-
fst.ng commission joday concerning the
san,lago campaign, largely following me
HES OF Gen SHatteFs testimony
Co. MAey SAID that While the expsGi-
uoLary feet Was lying AZ Tampa. prior
70 he start iha troops were gwen every
sscil.ty for bathing and other privileges
h told u The position % the lines o. the
,so armies before Santiago. and said the
eganlsh lines We're SO conspicuous there
yas no necessity FOR any reCOnno. ssance IN
scFce 90 determine then. lie said there
vas 10 doubt t1at there were Spanish
saaFp=hoOtfTs between the Spanish and
American lines but he was unable 10 find
: single instance of spanish sharps shooters
sriag on our hospitals IN the rear. ar OF
shelr fir.ns on our TANKS. He spoke OF the
tgo mile range Spanish rifles ans. describ-
Hg the American position on San Juan
hsl sad il would have been far more dam
ssrous Tor the men to have been a half
tr - - "a al -. .
en- Niles took the stand next.
Are you wiling to be sworn" he was
sske3.
I think" vas the reply. that I can
ay what / have 10 say without being
s.sFI-"
Gen Miles was fortified with a large
package " papers and had his Own stem
ogTapheT lie gave his evidence IN a clear
unhssitatiug Nay. and went in1u details
REGARDING both the Santiago and Porto
RiCo expeditions. lie opened hy describing
tie railroad confusion in getting the war
munitions TO Tampa. pointed 80 the lack
q government sfOTchouse facilities there
AL said the cars ~ one time were he'd
back AZ Ear ~ Columbia. s e. fia said
whesl the transports were loaded IL vas
found impossible t. Dut more than 100
meu dboAr! and they were t-1lliptte4 "a
se,l 90 possible under the circumstances.
II vas most Fortunate" he said that
m. transports had good weather II they
had Encountered a severe storm the loss
o. NE ~ the suffering At least must have
beer fearful As II WAS Aith fair weather
the men. below crowded in with the mules
all supplies. could ger On deck, which
would have been impossible otherwise"
The commissary stores taken. be aid
tsfs sufficient. bat tho medical supplies
ser inadequate He ha.i left the fondirg
except for general directions 20 the carf,s
0amarsdcr Gen Shafler. lie found h,st
before sailing that there were a number
apntoon boats being taken which wound
b utterly useless for the purpose ard he
hnself hal SECURED tvp barxya from the
swBers there ANA tad taken other steps
b. the supply Of such boats taken was
sery Inadequate.
The expedition" he continued. should
have been furnished with launches. napn-
pa or steam or tugs. for towing I,afssrs
ron the ships 10 the shore
We relied largely upon the engineer
oGiaeTs and the engineer Department or
tose. In the second expedition 10 porto
kfo these We're furnished. bar thcy ar
riyei too late 70 render assistance.
lie slii before the first feet saiied from
lAnPa estimates had been definitely made
o. The number of boats 70 be furnished M
transports and the mum isrr % Le furnished
" n" flAFy t. assist.
Iae most cordial assistance. h. 8tdsti. had
eer5 Promised on tGc part 90 the navy
Al santiago. he sud th, supply OF tenta.sa
ssi Tod VAS very limited
We're the medical supplies ~ shaf .Irne
sauitlent Tor tee needs Of tho cOmmAnd e'
Vas asked
tn reply he read a epAlea from Grr
shsfirf "a August 4 which referred - a
cafpr.N scarcity OF medicines and thaf
iear n'ell haa Just died from lack of nlesii-
ss.'eA There Waa az no time. said Cen
ais. sufficient med cine for the tra.,.4s
re feint uetfc4 seeing one train - .hc 8 x
n droneAlnS rain with no covering over
Gen Beaver From VIA, yon learned
AL deserved while there DO v0tl tsf.k