The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-16
Testimony OF
Breckenridge.
SHAT TER AFFAIR.
Refuses to Answer Cues
ton About Conversation.

Washington, Nov. 15.-General Brock
inridge continued his testimony before
the war investigation committee today.
His testimony dealt with the campaign
in Cuba, and the transportation of
troops to that island. He had gone to
Cuba as inspector general. arriving at
Tampa June 5. He had observed casu-
ally the preparation for the disembark-
alton of troops before the expedition
left. and had concluded that they were
quite inadequate Il made no report,
however, he said. "as General Miles
was on the ground. and could observe
for himself
Continuing. he said that there was
no preparation for landing in the face
of an enemy. other than that which the
navy might furnish. So far as he had
observed, there were only two lighters
and two scows secured on behalf of the
army before the departure from Tam
pa. Il was his understanding, how
ever thar the army and the navy were
cooperating in this expedition.
Speaking of the conflict of authority
on the transports, he said the masters
of the vessels did not respond as
promptly as might have been desired
True he said, there was a little
navy cadet on board each of the yes
sells, but he bad no authority. An ac-
tual naval officer or an officer of the
quartermaster's department on each
vessel would have been better What
was needed was prompt comm llnication
| between the commanding u Ger and
the vessels, and the masters of the
! transports did not respond very
promptly
He was questioned at some length
concerning the conduct of the cam
paign IN front of Santiago and replied
| that the result was what he had ex-
| pecte1 it would be. Everything he
| said, was strained to get men on board
and consequently there was compare
| lively little effort to receive equipment.
| While he knew nothing definitely of
| the plans of the campaign, he was sure
there was a plan. He was quite certain
eral Miles that he had plan, although
| he Gid not say that this was the plan
carried into effect.
"Of course suggested Governor Bea-
yer, Santiago was the goal of the
campaign"
Certainly. The fact was published
so extensively in the newspapers that
many of the men on board the vessels
would not accept this information as to
the des .ination as correct
Asked as to his opinion of the result
| Of the campaign, he said he thought ii
was consistent with the character of
the men who conducted it, What was
to be expected from the limitations OF
Gen. Shafter? I think it would have
been different II Gen. Miles had been in
conmand-that it would have been
more satisfactorily conducted. I think
he has more of the genius of command
than any man in the army; and I am
sure that if he had had charge he
would have been in the front rank"
Ex-Gov. Woodbury. suggested that
the battle in front Of San Juan had
been fought and the victory won with
in eight days Of landing.
Gen. Breckenridge, in reply, said that
the victory had been won when Gen.
Torals nerve gave out" This, he con-
tinued, had been the war OF all others
when success had been won in its ear
| Hest stages. He believed that the war
was the Lords war and that this won
| derful success was due to His supervi-
| sion The time for the battle was,
however, short enough. Yet, 1t must be
remembered that the distance between
the battlefield Of Siboney was less
| than half a days march, but while he
considered the result as marvelously
| commendable, he did not feel that Gen
Shafter was above criticism In the con-
| duct of the campaign. He could be-
! lieve the result was a miracle, but he
| ascribed the outcome to the fact that
the army was one which was capable
of meeting all calls. mo matter how
it was tangled up he said, 1T went
to victory"
Gen. Breckenridge expressed the
| opinion that there had not been enough
/ fighting to obscure other results com
mon to war. He thought the evils
which had been experienced We're in
eYitable under our American system
He condemned this system as most re-
prehensible and said the volunteer sol
der must always suffer the worst OF
the consequences. IF the regular
stands up under it better than the vol
unteer it is only because he has had
| time to adjust himself to the unfavor-
able conditions.
He traced all the trouble to the want
of preparation and mobilization in time
| Of peace, and that, in turn, to the fail
ure of congress to appropriate the nee
essary money for reforms.
Replying to a question from MT
Woodbury., he said that. considerins
l t-aN - nv hb NlAS 5ON
had done far better in it's conduct OF
| the war than anybody had expected
and just about one-fourth what ii
should have done.
| Gen. McCook asked Gen Breckenridge
if he had visited Gen. Shafter in his
tent, when the latter was i'll at Santi-
ago. and Gen. Breckenridge replied
that he had done so.
! did he then offer the command OF
the army to you, as has been reported
| in the oress?"
Gen. Breckenridge replied: II very
much prefer not to answer that cues
ton. You should ask Gen. Shafter.
! Such a conversation as occurred be-
! tween Gen. Shafter and myself on that
/ occasion is not of q character to be
| spoken of lightly I fail to see how a
reply from me would promote the OBJ
| ject Of your inquiry. You want to
know what Gen. Snafter did. not what
he may have thought of doing. If Gen.
Shafter has not repeated the conversa-
ton, ! ought not TO do So
AS a matter of fact, he did not turn
| the command over to you?" suggested
! Gov. Beaver, to which Gen. Breckin-
! ridge responded: No, he did not. and
| do not think there is any impropriety
in my saying that he could not have
done so"
With this the matter was allowed to
drop. and Gen. Breckenridge was ex-
| cused.