The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-03


changed directly between the war de-
partment n General Smarter and rot
until the 18th of June is anything print
ed as coming from Miles, when he 'e-
ported that the steamers were moving
out to sea. This telegram is signed ry
Miles, major general. instead of Miles.
commanding, as In the case or some OF
the preceding kilograms. There seems
10 nave been a lack of uniformity. now
ever. In the method Of addressing and
signing this hole series of dispatches.
Dispatches of June Is are given. sum-
moning General Miles to Washington
after General Shafter had sailed. A
note states that the object was to have
the major general commanding outfit
the expedition for Porto Rico.
Following these are some kilograms
announcing the further movements OF
the transports and the landing of the
Shafter expedition at Baiquiri. The
secretary includes in his report the plan
OF campaign In written form submitted
by General Miles on May q and al
ready published as part Of the latter's
report. This, In substance, was to pro-
coed after the capture OF Santiago TO
capture a fort on the north shore OF
Cuba, and a force of $1,000 cavalry and
make a march through the interior Of
the country upon Havana from thai
base. The secretary has this to say:
The plan of campaign recommended
by General Miles I'm his letter dated
May "a was not approved
Landing of the Troops.
Under date of June % General Shat
ter reports to Adjutant General Corbin
from Playa del Este the facts attend
ing the landing of the troops at Bal
quiri. He says the assistance of the
nav has been Of the greatest benefit
N enthusiastically given and without
them he perhaps would not have landed
at all. He wanted nothing at that time.
At this point a communication Is In
serted. directed to General Miles by the
secretary. ordering the formation I'M
der command OF General Brooke OF the
expedition against Porto Rico and d.
recting that immediate preparation be
made.
A telegram from Shafter to the sec
rotary, dated off Siboney, June "a, after
referring 10 the precautions taken to
mark soldiers graves, says:
General Dufiield's command ashore.
1 will not act hastily, though i believe
/ can take the place within As hours,
but 1 fear at considerable loss of life.
There is no necessity for haste, as we
are growing stronger and they weaker
every day. The health of the command
is reported to me by the surgeon as re-
markable, outside Of the wounded.
There are to-day less than $50 men
sick: so far no wounded have died, ana
but two men of disease since leaving
Tampa"
on the 2Sth Shafter reports that he
does not intend to take the siege guns
to the front until they are needed. as
they might block the roads.
Several kilograms from General SHAFT
ter follow. telling the story of
on the 2sth. Shafter reports that he
1AA- .ae s.aAnl ~ snIa tho GtaOA olInS
to the front until they are needed, as
they might block the road. Severa
kilograms from Shafter follow, telling
the story OF each days events in the
campaign.
Another depression from h history
of the Santiago campaign occurs about
this point, I'm the shape Of a letter from
Miles TO the secretary Of war suggest
ing hat while waiting for transports
TO go to Santiago. the time was oppor-
tune to take and occupy the Isle of
Pines. The reasons set out for this
suggestion are that the character OF
the island will cut the Spanish out of a
base of supplies; that it would be easily
X while the attention OF the enemy
was distracted TO other points, and that
IL was climatically suited for the treat
ment of sick soldiers and for a deten-
ton place for prisoners Of war. The
one steamer then at Tampa with some
artillery would suffice for the eXpedi-
ton. The secretary's reply was:
II have the honor to inform you that
this is not approved by the presi-
dent"
a disquieting telegram about this
time was one from the censor at Key
West, who reported that CerveTa had
been ordered to shell Santiago as soon
as the Americans got possession and
that foreign Consuls had been notified
I a.. ratfra Th#E NNag farks~a pHan 10 shat
ter July 3 for information.
Wanted to Retreat,
on the same date there was received
by the secretary General Skaters mes
sage, dated SeVilla, July 5, saying that
he had invested the town with but very
thin force; that il was impossible to
carry 1t by storm with the present
force n that he was seriously con-
sidering Withdrawing five miles SO as
to get near the railroad. He describes
the present condition of the army with
Wheeler and Young sick. Hawkins
wounded and himself confined to the
tent four days by the heat. He also
spoke of urging Sampson TO an en-
trance. but the text OF this telegram
has been published in the reports OF
Generals Shafter and Miles. The sec
retary's answer has not been pub
lished. 1t. with Skaters rcjoinder, was
Us
War Department. Washington, July
3. 1:22 y. m.-Major General Shafter,
Playa del Este: Your first dispatch re-
ceived. or course. you can Judge the
situation better than we a at this end
Of the line. If. however. you could hold
our present position, especially San Juan
heights, the effect upon the country
would be much better than falling back.
However, we leave the matter to you.
This is only a suggestion. We shall
send you reinforcements at once.
"R. A. ALGER, Secretary of War"
Playa del Este, via Hayti ~(received
at Washington, July 4. 1:l6 p. M
The Honorable Secretary of War.
Washington: Headquarters Of he Fifth
Corps. July 3.-Shall hold my present
position.
"SHAFTER. Major General"
July 3 Adjutant General Corbin tele-
graphed Shafter that he could have
whatever reinforcement ne wanted. and
told OF the starting from this country
for SANTIAGO Of > -O0 tTOOnS from