Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-11

Cuba. ''But none of these movements on
Cuba materialized." be says. THE want
OF proper equipment aud ammunition
rendered the movement impracticabie.
At this point there is BRIEF disres-
sion. where in a paragraph. General
Miles refers TO General Merritts Philip
pine Island expedition as 'as well orga-
nized and equipped as possible and as
wen conducted and eminently successfpi
In every way"
General Miles also pays an eloquent
tribute to the brilliant exploit OF Lieuten-
ants Rowan and Whitney in secretly ex-
ploring Cuba and Porto Rico, and ascer-
tanning the military situations
sHAFTER EXPEDITION.
He resumes the report with an account
of the dispatch Of General Skaters ex-
pedition. saying that on account or tne
Importance OF the enterprise he desired
to go with the command or TO imme-
diately organize another.
He also stated at the time: This eX-
petition has been delayed through no
fault of any one connected with II. IL
contains the principal part of the army,
which. for intelligence and efficiency, is
not excelled by any body Of troops on
EARTH
The telegram was dated June 9th. and
the day following Secretary Alger tele-
graphed in reply: "The President wants
to know the earliest moment you can
have an eXpeditonary force ready 10 go
to Porto Rico. large enough TO take ana
hold the island, without the force under
General Shafter."
General Miles, in response, said: IN
ten days"
He next speaks of the unsutability OF
the transports and of the accumulation
ing the facilities there and causing great
delay. Finally, the Santiago expedition
sailed on June 18th, and General Miles
quotes an order issued by him to Gene
raj Shafter. directing the latter TO make
a number of inquiries to ascertain
whether every possible provision had been
made aboard the transports for the sup
ply Of rations, hospital supplies, wagons
landing-boats. etc.
June 18th. General Miles received the
following dispatch:
washington, June Is, iS9S.-Major-Gen-
eral Miles, Tampa, Fla: Important Dusl-
ness requires your presence here. Report
at once. Answer. (SigneO X. a. Alger'
Secretary of War"
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
June oath General Miles submitted TO
the Secretary OF War written plan or
IL.
Tha. provision be made for the recep-
tion of at least 10000 Spanish prisoners.
That after capturing Santiago some deep
water ports be taken on the north coast
of Cuba. That Nuevitas be captured
and that, with 15,000 cavalry, some hghl
artillery and a small body OF infantry
an advance be made into Puerto principe
i'm the interior. and the troops be thence
moved toward Habana.
This movement would occupy the time
until September S0th, the troops would be
i'm the most healthy part of Cuba during
the rainy season. and the prisoners couid
be used in road-making. Should a span
ish force be advanced TO Villa Clara the
entire United States army could be thrown
between that point and Habana. and the
Spanish army could be divided ana De
beaten in detail. Should that plan be re-
iected. then, after capturing Santiago, the
entire force should be removed to the
western end of the island, and cam
paign made against Habana.
General Miles next recites an order 10
himself from Secretary Alger, TO or
ganize an expedition for operations
against the enemy in Cuba and Porto
Rico"
The italics are his own. From the or
der. dated June 26th, 1t appears that an
expedition was TO be organized under the
command of General Brooke Tor such
movement
NILES TO SUPERSEDE SHAFTER.
The command under General Shafter' or
such part az could be spared from the
work in hand, was to join the foregoing
expedition, and the order reads; you VIII
command the forces thus united In per-
SON."
General Miles, at this point. mentions
n project he had conceived at that time
for the capture OF the Isle Of Pines. which
was a smuggling base for supplying food
to Habana, and the harbor OF Nipe, on
the north coast, as a coaling and refuge
station for the navy.
General Miles at this point refers TO his
recommendations 10 move troops TO places
of rendezvous I'm the Shenandoah Valley
and elsewhere, to escape yellow-feyer.
which had broken out in Mississippi, ana
To avoid overcrowding the larger camps
at Chickamauga.
SHAFTER'S WEAKENING"
Coming to the Santiago campaign. Gene
raj Miles quotes telegram from Gen 3ral
Shafter. dated July 3D., stating that the
town OF PLAYA del Este was so strongly
defended that It would be impossible TO
carry il by storm, with his present force,
and that he seriously considered with
drawing, and taking up a new position
on the high ground between San Juan
river and SbOny.
A number OF other dispatches are
quoted. which have already been published
referring to General Miles's trip 10 San
tiago and Skaters request for aid fror'
Sampson.
General Miles next treats of his visit TO
Cuba at the head of reinforcements. and
of the preliminaries TO the surrender.
A telegram from Secretary Alger Is
quoted. dated 18th, 10 General Miles. au-
thorizing him to accept the surrender Of
the Spanish forces, and giving terms on
which this could be accomplished. IL
these were rejected General Miles was 10
use his discretion and order an assault
MILES LET SHAFTER ACT
The details Of the surrender, which are
now so well known, are gone into, and
General Miles Says that he Informed
General Shafter that he (Shafter) could
appoint the commissioners TO draw up
the condition, and make arrangements for
carrying out the terms of surrender.
General Miles's report on the Santiago
campaign contains a number OF teegrams
that passed between Secretary Alger, Cen
eral Shafter, and himself, which fave
| heretofore been published.
PORTO RICO EXPEDITION.
The report then treats Of the expedition
TO Porto Rico. General Miles, on July
1ith. had cabled Secretary Alger that Ii
was important 10 go 10 Port FaJardo.
Cape San Juan, direct He was anxious
TO proceed as rapidly as possible. and ar
ter some delay authority was granted
and he started
- IL. .e..I .,.tf,r