The herald., 1898-12-21
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-General Shat
ter appeared rather unexpectedly before the
war investigation commission this alter
noon and toGl his story of the Santiago eX-
petition. He was supported by his AIDE,
Col. Miley, who was with him IN Cuba,
and hanked by large portmanteau OF pa
pers, to which his aide occasionally applied
for reference. General Skaters story of
the operations around Santiago was tersely
told, but was quite vivid in its recital and
interesting in detail.
A BRIEF SUMMARY
Briefly summed up, his estimate of the
Santiago expedition was that it had been
military success and cheap at the cost OF
500 men lost in the fight. He considered
the expedition to have been as well fitted
out as the time allowed would permit, and
said that in looking back he had no crit
icism Of his plans to make and would not
change them if the events had TO be gone
through again. He said he had no COM
pla nts of any sort to make and would be
| loathe to intrude them at this time if he
had.
The commission stated that General Miles
today communicated to the commission his
message was accordingly sent to the ad-
jutant general directing him to request
the appearance of General Miles before the
board. No reply had been received to this
communication when General Shafter
rather unexpectedly appeared.
A DETAILED ACCOUNT
| After brief preface, General Shafter
went into a detailed account of his prepar-
atoms for the Santiago expedition He said
his plans were changed three times by the
| department. He said the transport fleet
was not sufficiently large to accommodate
1900 men for any length of time at sea,
but all were so anxious to go that he risked
considerable crowding to take all the men
possible He admitted that he took chances
in this, but said the weather was good and
there was no mishap to regret. The men
were regulars almost entirely, fully
equipped, and he saw that they were made
as comfortable as circumstances permitted
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
As to medical supplies General Shafter
said:
"You know that medical supplies are the
one thing that commanding general or a
line officer never knows anything about
The surgeon is supposed to know what he
wants. My medical officer said he though:
he had enough medical supplies for the
temporary service to which we thought We
were destined. Events proved, however
that the surgeon was mistaken. The am
munition supply was ample"
As to supplies General Shafter said there
was nothing essential left behind
AMBULANCES
"How about ambulances?" asked Genera
Beaver.
Gas to those ambulances," said Genera
Shafter, 81 take the whole responsibility OF
myself. | ordered and supervised their laod
ing. After events proved that it would hav,
been better to have taken ten or fifteei
additional ambulances and left that man,
wagons behind. But wagons can be useC
for two purposes and ambulances can b.
used but for one. | took the wagons anC
the wounded had to be transported in then
after the first days fighting. | must sa,
that on a rocky, muddy road, such as W
had that there is little difference in com
fort between the ambulances and an escor
wagon. The men were put on straw in th
bottom of the wagons and we did the bes
we could for them. Ambulances would hav
been better, but then hindsight is Away
better than foresight.
LANDING FACILITIES
Concerning the landing facilities with tn
expedition, General Shafter said they ha
two large barges, one of which was lost e
route, and small tug, the Captain Sam
whose captain deserted during the night
| 81 of : Aao+ ~
for the landing, as events proved.
An interesting incident of the landin
was brought out by General Shafter, VIII
said he had arranged with the Cuban gen
eral, Castillo, the day prior to the landing
to have 1000 men back of Baiquiri to catc
, the Spanards when they were sIhelled ou
by the navy. Castillo was three hours late
however, and all the Spaniards got away.
"How about getting the supplies to tn
front for the men?' asked General Beaver
st was the one problem of the campaign
and it taxed us to the utmost" said he. Il
it had not been for the pack train we coul
not have done p and the expedition wou
have been a failure
A GREAT SUCCESS
General Shafter said he regarded the lane
ing of the expedition as eminently success
full. They lost only two men and thirt
animals out of total Of 10000. 1t was
remarkable record.
"The majority of the regimental surgeon
left their medicine chests on their vessels.
) said General Shafter. "When | found thi
out, put DR.. Goodfellow aboard the Man
tou and had him collect these chests A
soon as they were landed they were put Of
four wagons and distributed at once to tn
men,.
: CARE OF WOUNDED
As to the care of the wounded Genera
; Shafter said they were cared for as CAREFUL
as the circumstances would permit. 9Th
doctors worked like Trojans They dc
served and received commendation fron
every one. They worked till they wer
sick and worn out. The doctors were most
ly young men. You can't get very old ant
experienced surgeons to go on summe
lcampaign for 500 month. But they wer