The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-21
NOCOMPLAINTS
sHAFTER PERFECTLY SATISFIED
WITH CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
He Takes "a Look Backward and Says
He Has No Criticism TO Make of
His Santiago Campaign.
1T WAS A MILITARY SUCCESS
AND CHEAP AT THE COST OF 500
MEN LOST IN THE FIGHT.
HIS Appearance belOre the war Am@
vestigators Surprise, Gen. Miles
Having been Expected.
HULL ARMY BILL COMPLETED
ORDERED REPORTED TO HOUSE BY
MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
Many Important Changes Made in the
Measurc-Substitutc to BE SUBJ
mitted by Democrats
His Appearance Before the War In-
vestigators a Surprise, Gen. Miles
Having Been Expected.
HULL ARMY BILL COMPLETED
ORDERED REPORTED TO HOUSE BY
MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
Many Important Changes Made i'm the
Measure to BE SUBJ
mitted by Democrats.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-General Stafter
appeared rather unexpectedly before the
war investigation committee this afternoon
and told his story of the Santiago expedi-
tion. He was supported by his aid, Colonel
Miller, who was with him in Cuba, and
flanked by large portmanteau of papers
to which his aid occasionally applied for
reference. General Skaters story of the
operations around Santiago was tersely told,
but at times quite vivid in it's recital and
interesting in detail. Briefly summed up his
estimate of the Santiago expedition was that
1t had been military success and cheap at
the cost of five hundred men lost in the
fight. He considered the expedition to have
been as well fitted out as the time allowed
would permit and said that in looking back
he had no criticism of his plans to make
and would not change them if the events
had to be gone through again. He said he
had no complaints of any sort to make and
would be loath to intrude them at this time
II he had.
The committee stated that General Miles
to-day communicated to the committee his
unwillingness TO volunteer testimony. A
message was accordingly sent to the adju-
appearance of General Miles before the
board. No reply had been received to this
communication when General Shafter rather
unexpectedly appeared. After a brief pre-
face General Shafter went into detailed
account of his preparations for the Santiago
expedition. He said his plans were changed
three times by the department and once he
actually started, but was called back by
the report of Spanish war ships off the
coast. He said the transport fleet was not
sufficiently large to accommodate seventeen
thousand men for any length of time at
sea, but all were so anxious to go that he
risked considerable crowding to take all the
Eaen possible. He admitted that he took
chances in doing this, but said the weather
was good and there was no mishap to re-
gret. The men were regulars almost en-
tirely. fully equipped and he saw that they
were made comfortable as circumstances
permitted
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
AS to medical supplies, General Shafter
said: You know medical supplies are the
one thing that a commanding general or a
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 tenn
porary service to which we thought we were
destined. Events proved, however. that the
surgeon was mistaken. The ammunition
supply was ample"
AS to supplies General Shafter said there
was nothing essential left behind.
How about the ambulances?" asked Gen.
eral Beaver.
"As to those ambulances," said General
Chatter, 81 take the whole responsibility on
myself. / ordered and supervised their load
ing. After events proved that it would
have been better to have taken ten or fif-
teen additional ambulances and left that
many wagons behind. But wagons can be
used for two purposes, and ambulances can
be used but for one. took the wagons and
the wounded had to be transported in them
after the first days fight. / must say that
on rocky. muddy road such as we had
there that there is little difference in COM
fort between an ambulance and an escort
wagon. The men We're put on straw in the
bottom of the wagons, and we did the best
we could for them. Ambulances would have
been better but then hindsight is always
better than foresight"
Concerning the landing facilities with the
expedition General Shafter said they had
two large barges, one of which was lost
EN- route and a small tug, the Captain Sam,
whose captain deserted during the night
The boat capacity Of the fleet was sufficient
for the landing as the events proved
An interesting incident of the landing was
brought out by General Shafter, who said
he had arranged with the Cuban general.
Castillo the day prior to the landing, to
have 1000 men back of Daiquiri 10 catch the
Spaniards when they were sheled out by the
navy. Castillo was three hours late how
ever, and all the Spaniards got away
How about getting the supplies to the
front for the men?" asked General Beaver.
1T was the one problem of the campaign,
and 1t taxed us to the utmost" said he. IF
II had not been for the pack train we could
not have done 1t, and the expedition would
have been failure"
General shafter said he regarded the land
ing of the expedition as eminentIy success
ful They lost only two men and thirty
animals out of total of 10000 men. 1t was
remarkable record.
There has been considerable criticism,
from the medical officer about getting their
medical supplies ashore said General
Beaver Were any such complaints brought
10 your"
LEFT THEIR CHESTS BEHIND
"A majority of the regimental surgeons
left their medical chests OH their vessels
When found this out I put DIR. Good
fellow aboard the Manteo and had him COL
lect these chests. As soon as they We're
landed they We're put on four wagons and
distributed at once 10 the men,
AS an additional explanation of the diff
fciilty In furnishing supplies ashore Cen
eral shafter said at one time. with an army
Of 1900 men, he had TO issue rations 10
nooo people. the excess being the refugees