The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-09
THE MIESALGER CONTEST.
More Evidence Against
the Latter.
THREE TELEGRAMS

shhhts
Wa. Not In Command OF the Santiago
Expedition up To the Time it Left
Tampa for Cuba-MfIe. h
Preliminaries with Garcia.
Kansas City, No, September 5.-The
Star this afternoon prints the follow
ing from its special war correspon-
dent, Mr.. w. ]. Whelpley, touching on
the Alger-Miles controversy:
The statement made semi-oficially
from Washington hat Major General
Miles was not in command Of the San
tiago expedition up TO the time ii left
Tampa is not borne out by the official
records of the Var Department
These records prove that Miles not
only conducted the preliminaries with
General Garcia, but was then recog-
nized by the war department as gen
eral commanding, even General Shat
ter's army.
"The details of General Skaters
actual equipment and method of move
ment were naturally left to Shafter.
but as a general plan was devised by
General Miles and directions were is
sued to General Shafter by him. which,
after leaving Tampa, the latter en-
tirely ignored. General Shafter left
Tampa with the full knowledge that he
was subject to orders from General
Miles and up to that time the war de-
partment recognized this state of
affairs which is provided for in the
federal statutes organizing the army
Of the United States"
The above is shown, according to
The Star, by three kilograms. The
first of these kilograms is from Gen
eral Miles to General Garcia and is as
follows:
Headquarters of the Army, in the
Field, Tampa, Fla, June 2, 1898.
Lieutenant General Garcia, Cuban
Army.
Dear General:-I am very glad tC
have received your officers. General En-
rique Collazo and Lieutenant Colonel
Carlos Hernandez, the latter of whom
returns tonight with our best wishes
for your success.
1T would be a very great assistance
if you could have as large a force as
possible in the vicinity of the harbor
OF Santiago de Cuba and communicate
any information, by signals, which
Colonel Hernandez will explain to
you, either to u navy or to our army
on its arrival, which we hope will be
before many days.
1t would also Gso1sU us very much
If you could drive in and harass any
Spanish troops ear or in Sanua
cuba, threatening them at all events
and preventing by every means any
possible reinforcements coming to tina
garrison. While this is being done
and before the arrival of our army, il
o can seize and hold any commanding
position to the east or west Of Santa.
go, or both, that would be advantage.
u for h use of our artillery. it viii
be exceedingly gratifying to us.
With great respect and best wishes
L remain, very respectfully,
NELSON A. MILES,
Major General, commanding United
States Army"
The second dispatch is Garcia's re
ply, showing, The Star asserts, an I'M
derstanding with General Miles as t.
a plan of campaign, and is as follows.
Mole st. Nicholas, June 9, 1898.
ITO General Miles, Headquarters O.
the Army, Tampa, Fla
"Garcia's reply On June 9Th t o your
letter June End:
Will take measures at once to car
ry out your recommendation, but con.
centratiOn of forces will require some
time. Roads bad and Cubans scatter
ed. Will (mysterious?) march with
out delay. Santiago de Cuba well for.
titled, with advanced intrenchments
but good artillery position can be Ia.
ken. Spanish forces approximate H..
900 between Santiago de Cuba and
! Guantanamo 5000 militia; will main
tain a Cuban force near Holguin
to prevent sending reinforcements to
Santiago
1.-THE above given to me by Admiral
| Sampson to forward to you
| ALLEN,
Lieutenant Colonel"
The third dispatch is from the war
| department at Washington and reads:
Washington, d. c., June u, 1893.
Major General Miles, Tampa, Fla.
THE following extract Of telegram
Admiral Sampson to Secretary of Navy
repeated for your information:
{" Mole St Nicholas, Hayti.
General Miles letter received
through Colonel Hernandez on June
9th. Garcia regards his wishes and
suggestions as orders and immediate
~ will take measures to concentrate
| forces at the point indicated. but he Is
unable to do so as early as desired on
account of his expedition to Banes
Port, Cuba, but he will march without
delay. All Of his subordinates are or
| dered to assist TO disembarh the Uni
ted States troops and to place them
/ selves under orders. Santiago de Cuba
we'll fortified, with advanced entrench.
| ments, but he believes position fol
| artillery can be taken as miles desires
| approximate 1900 regulars anC