The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-11
OBSOLETE EQUIPMENT.

Treating Of the war, General Miles
begins with a statement Of the I'M
preparedness of the country showing
how the vast equipment left by the
million soldiers of the civil war has
been disSipated or had become obsolete
until the tentage, transportation and
camp equipage was insufficient for any
important military operation. He re-
counts the legislation of congress just
prior to the war. looking to the increase
of the army and cites his own recon-
mendatiOn on April 9, that 10000 men
be provided for coast defense and re-
serve; that the regular army be in
creased and 10000 immunes recruited,
making force of 1881 men, which,
with $4,000 native auXiliaries, he con-
sidered sufficient. Such a force prop
erly equipped he believed to be better
than large force partly equipped. In
the letter containing this recommends
ton he said: I also recommend that
at least p regiments of infantry, five
regiments of cavalry and the light
artillery be modified and placed in
one large camp where they can be
carefully and thoroughly inspected.
fully equipped drilled. Disciplined. and
instructed in brigadeS and divisions
and prepared for war service. He
further asks ''for 50,0 600 volunteers to
make up an army of $50, 900 soldiers for
offensive operations in Cuba, the whole
force to be fully equipped, leaving the
state troops to defend the coasts. and
for a reserve"
April Is, he wrote Secretary AIger
as follows: Il have the honor to sub
NIT the following: That in my judg-
ment the available force of the
regular army should be modified in
the best and most available healthfuI
position in the department Of the Gulf.
suggest ChIckamauasEa park, on ac-
! count of its altitude and advantages
LOT preparing command for the seri-
Gus requirements of actual warfare
lie also dwelt upon the Importance
OF the most perfect equipment in an
| branches, artillery, engineering and
medical, with supplies for six months
and equipment for $4,000 native Cuban
soldiers.
WAR PROBLEM PURELY NAVAL.
General Miles says in his report that
IN the beginning the war problem was
purely &. naval one and ne was con-
WINGED that should our navy prove su-
perlor the position of the Spanish army
in Cuba would be rendered untenable
I with minimum loss of life and a.
treasure to the United States. He saws:
There were two most serious obstacles
to be avoided-One was placing an
army on the island of Cuba before our
| navy controlled the Cuban waters, and
the other was putting an army ON the
| island at a time when a large number
of the men must die from the diseases
that have prevailed in that country, ac-
cOrding to all statistics, for the last 100
years. He pointed out in a letter to the
i secretary of war these dangers, enclos-
ing q communication from Surgeon
i General Sternberg, and urged that the
Spanish be merely harassed and dam
aged during the rainy, unhealthy sea-
son, While the navy was demonstrate
ing its superiority, and the volunteers
were being equipped In that letter
he says: Il also assert the belief I
have entertained from the first, that
we could secure the surrender of the
Spanish army in the island of Cuba
| without any great sacrifice of life
In this letter which is attached. DR..
/ GuiteTas is cited in support Of the rec
! ommendatiOn to delay the army move
ment in Cuba, and it is said that aside
from disease, the United States troops
would have to cope with $4,000 Spanish
| troops, the remnant of 2140O0. which
! troops had become acclimated, and
were equipped with 1873 guns. There was
still time ne said, to put $4,000 regu-
lar troops into healthy camps until they
could be used in Cuba with safety In
order that the volunteers should be
| speedily made efficient on April 20
/ General Miles wrote to Secretary of
War Alger that they should be en-
camped for so days in their respective
states and disciplined and equipped,
and their officers instructed, SO all-im-
portant. he said, to health and eff
cheney.
PRELIMINARY WORK ADVISED.
"This preliminary work should be
done before the troops leave their
states, wrote General Miles, who. in
his report, adds this: "Congregating