Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-22
WHY SKATER DELAYED.
Did Not Wish 60 Sacrifice Men Ia
Unnecessary Assault.

Unnecessary Assault.
A dispatch from Kalamazoo. Mich.
to the New York Herald says: Gen
eral Skater has been here since last
Thursday. and will remain severa
days. visiting old friends and scenes
OF his boyhood. Speaking to me o
the work of the war investigating
commission, General Shafter said:
General Wheeler's testimony be-
fore the investigating committee is
very forcihle and very convincing but
wait until the line officers tell theii
stories. They will not be as cautious
as General Wheeler, and will tell a
story that will not only corroborate
General Wheeler, but be much strong.
err.
General Miles and others may say
that this commission is not legal.
Perhaps not, but the testimony it is
bringing out will satisfy the public
that the stories paraded up and down
the land about the neglect and star
walton and needless suffering of the
troops at Santiago have been grossly
exaggerated for political purposes. :"
what about Colonel Roosevelt and
that famous round robinar | asked.
~ realized" General SKATER an
swered, that If the troops were COM
PEELED to remain in Cuba they would
in short time be wiped out by fever.
Orders came from the War Depart
ment to move the troops into higher
land and wipe out the fever. We all
knew this was impossible. / then
made up my mind to send reply to
Washington stating the situation and
giving my reasons why the troops
could not be held in Cuba much long
er. As it was serious matter / sent
for my field officers and asked them
all what they thought about it and to
express their opinions. Colonel
Roosevelt was there.
Finally somebody suggested that
the views thus expressed should be
put in writing. / adopted the sug-
gestion, and every officer wrote out
his views. Colonel Roosevelt tien
asked me if he could send his state
nent to the New York papers. told
him he could do as he liked. but must
be held personally responsible for his
statement.
ut was this statement OF Roose-
velt's that raised the mischief and
panied the President. Perhaps it
would have been better if the matter
had not been made public. Then some
correspondent got hold OF my origi-
nal dispatch and the whole thing was
aired.
81 knew my men must get sick.
If there had been defeat everything
would have had to be dropped, for the
artillery and supplies could not be
gotten aboard the transports again
Therefore, it was resolved to push
ahead and get through with it. II
took men Of nerve, but my men had
it.
cit took about six days to get in
the vicinity of Santiago. | reconnoi-
tered the Spanish lines and got an
excellent idea of the lay OF the land,
and knew very well what we had to
do.
II have been criticised for delay. /
knew after talking with General Tor
al that he must surrender. At any
time we could have taken Santiago in
two hours, but it would have cost two
thousand men who are now back in
the United States. whose bodies would
have lain in Santiago.
"Of course, there was great deal
of suffering and sickness. My losses
were great deal more than / would
have wished. but great deal less
than might have been the case.
"My orders were very short and
very clear, and was never interfered
with. / was to capture Santiago and
drive out Cervera's fleet. That was
all there was Of it, and / think we
succeeded.
. 49,