The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-03
ALG ER'S
REPORT.
A Complete History OF Span
ish-American War.
secretary's Story of Conflict is volumi-
nous Document Without Any DISPOSE
ton to Criticise---Dispatches Quot
ed Freely---Praise for All and
Blame for None.

D. c., May g. '9S.-The major general com.
manding directs that the following orders
be sent by telegraph to Gen Wade, at
Tampa: Direct Mai, Gen shafter TO
move his command under protection OF
navy, and seize and hold Mariel, or most
important point on north coast of Cuba
where territory IS ample to land and de-
ploy army. Follow up his command with
all the force sent to you. Troops will be
sent. you as rapidly as possible from
Chtckamauga and other points
Assistant Adjutant General.
This order was forwarded by Adjt.
Gen. Corbin to Cen Wade, who was
further instructed to have troops fully
equipped with so days rations to be
followed by four months supplies.
The movement of troops being de-
layed until May 10, it was proposed to
carry a number of them to Key West
and diSeulbark them so that the ships
might return to Tampa to bring more
troops until 1900 men could be as
sembled at Key West. Cen Wade, how
ever, telegraphed on the 18th of May
that there was no water in Key West,
so that 1t became a serious question
how large body OF troops could be
maintained there. On the 21st, Gen.
Shafter telegraphed Gen. Miles that he
was temporarily OBTAINING part of the
volunteer regiments at Jacksonville on
accouna of the difficulty of finding suit
able camp grounds at Tampa.
The next dispatch was from Gen.
Miles outlining the plan of campaign.
1t reads as follows:
D. G, May q, 'Ss : The honorable the
Secretary OF Wars Sir-Referring to my
letter of yesterday, and to our consulta-
ton since. l desire to submit the follow
AS we are now about to iuaugurate
active military operations In conjunction
with the navy, ! think It would be adj
Vtsable to load the transports at Tampa
with strong force Of infantry and srtll-
lery, move them to Key West, and thence
along the northern coast of Cuba, where
miral SIMPSONS feet until they reach
Admiral Schley's fleet at Santiago de
Cuba, and then BY combined effort of
the army and navy, capture the harhor,
garrison, and possibly the Spanish feet at
IT, before reaching Admiral schley's
fleet It shall be found that he has al
ready accomplished the above object or
that the Spanish feet shall have escaped.
then urge the Importance Of a com
bined attack Of the army and navy upon
superior force and believe that a com
bined effort will result in capturing the
done before it can be reinforced from
Spain. The distance from Key West to
Porto Rico is 1a40 miles and from Cadfx
Spain, to Porto Rico it is about 1000 miles
The possession Of Porto Rico would be OF
very great advantage to the military as
II would cripple the forces of SPAIN Civ
ing us several thousand prisoners. 1t
could be well fortified, the harbor mined
and would be a most excellent port for
our navy, which could be speedily re-
Ieved from any responsibility in the
charge Of that port, as we would leave a
sufficient garrison to hold il against any
force that might be sent against it.
Then we should commence, in my judg-
ment, a movement toward the west BY
capturing the ports along the northern
coast of Cuba, at the eastern end supply
ing the insurgents with abundance OF
lily as possible land our cavalry and sut1i-
Client light artillery to enable them to
move from the harbor Of Porto dc Neu-
vitas along the line OF railroad to Puerto
Principe.
From that base our cavalry and light
artillery, IN conjunction with the forces
should move west to near Santa Clara.
These movements, in my Judgment, can
be accomplished during the rainy season.
through a country comparatively free
from yellow fever, well stocked with cat
tie, and have grass sufficient for our ami
mails. While this is being accomplished
land in the vicinity of Mariel, Havana or
Matangas, in sufficient force to complete
the capture or destruction of the Spanish
forces upon the island of Cuba. The ad-
vantage Of this movement viii be that
the army and navy will act in concert
and close unison; that It does not divide
available military force in the best way
during the time Of the year when mill
tary operations are most difficult,
If the above plan is approved, troops
could be ordered 10 embark on the trans
ports Immediately, and the purpose would
be the occupation of Spanish territory
possible to Santiago de Cuba and Porto
Rico, and later to the north coast of
Cuba, especially our cavalry. This mill
tary occupation to continue until hostili-
ties cease. Very respectfully,
Nelson A. Miles,
Major General COMMANDING
The first duty for which Gen. Shafter
was selected namely, to make recon
Nuisance in force about 5000 strong on
the south side of Cuba, Secretary Alger
says, was abandoned, on account of the
movements Of the enemys feet. Says
the secretary:
Maj. Gen. Shafter was selected to
command the expedition to Santiago
Next in order the secretary quotes his
dispatch Of May 81. sent at $50 O'Clock
at night, to Gen. Shafter at Tampa, Ci-
recting him to start for Santiago. TO
land east or west Of that point in his
own judgment and move on to the high
grounds in such position as to destroy
the garrison there and cover the navy
as it sends it's men in small boats to
remove torpedoes, or, with the aid OF
the navy, capture or destroy the Span
ish fleet reported TO be in the harbor.
The report states that May 80, Gen.
Miles left for Tampa to assist in the
embarkation of troops. June the Sec
rotary telegraphed Shafter at Tampa
that Sampson reported Cervera safely
bottled in Santiago harbor and urged
immediate aid from his troops. Samp-
son reported 1880 Spanish troops as
the garrison Of the vicinity. The follow
ing day a dispatch was received from
Shafter at TanpsSAeNplaining the de-
lays ia the embarNstion of the troops
as not preventable.
I'll L. -