Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-09-15
SKATERS REPORT
Details Of the Santiago Cam
paign.
FIRST TALK WITH GARCIA
Description OF che Battle OF III c,n.y
and the Charge Up San .,nan I,il,.
High Compliment to General
Wheeler and Other Oncers.
(By Telerraph)


WASHINGTON. SEPT. lj-r.n,.,o,
hna1ters report of the c.mpincn which
terminated in the fan Of Santiago h, :
Deen made public. He briefly rncounrs
.he organization OF the expedition and
IT'S embarkation and then ,,ayrt., t,,o
main body OF the renort ,o ~ ,,.t5,.e
operations about Santiago f;ana,,l
smarter says the expedition was under
taken in compliance with t-,uurn,tbic
Instructions of May 3o;E. fr.m he'd
quarters of the army. in which i, WAS
stated. = "''f'
.dmlral Schiey reports tina, tNo
cruisers and two torpedo boaie hay.
been seen in the harbor or Santiago. o.
win Your force to capture garrison ,t
santiago, and assis. in capturin. har-
Dor and fleet"
General Shafter gives in detail the
troops assembled at Tampa ana alsr
tells of the embarkati ton DELAY in ,&t
ting away and final departure. The re-
port briefly covers the trip and landing
and Skaters first meeting with Genera
Garcia, adding:
During the interview General Car
cha offered the services of his tronps.
comprising about 1000 men in tho
vicinity of Aserraderos and about 400
under General Castillo. at the little town
OF Cu1ababo. few miles cas-, of Dali
quiri. l accepted this offer. mpr.ssin,.
1t upon him that l could exercise no
military control over him eXcep, such
as ne would concede, and as long a. he
served under me l would furnish nin
rations and ammunition
After comforting with Admiral Satnp-
son and General Garcia, the plan of
campaign was outlined by General
Shafter. The Decentralization was to
commence on the END nj Daiquiri with
RENTS by the Cubans on Cabanis and
bv the navy at various points. in order
, ma n n ~
landing.
These moments" General Shar,"r
says. Committed me to approachin,,
Santiago from the east over a narrow
road, at first in some places no, better
than n trail. running from Dai,lir!
through Siboney ana Sevilla. and max :
Ing attack from that quarter. This. in
my judgment was the only feasible
plan and subsequent Information ana
results confirmed my Judgment"
The engagement in which the Rough
Riders participated is described as
having had an inspiring effect upon
our men and doubtless. cores ponding y
depressed the enemy as i, WAS nov
plainly demonstrated To them that they
had a foe To meet who would advance
upon them under II heavy fire delivered
from entertainments. General Wheeler,
division commander was present dur
ing the engagement and reports lhtt
with the greatest gallantry- TlFs on
gagement gave us Il Well water,f coun-
try. farther To the front, on F'hich to
encamp our troops"
The report continues: Ma
1t was not until nearly two weeks
after the army landed th;td it WAS pos
sible to place on shore three days sup
plies in excess Of those required Tor
: the daily consumption. - On June
80 reconnoitered the country about
Santiago and made my plan Of attack,
From high hill. from which the city
was in plain view. I could see the san
Juan hill, and the country about FL
Caney. The roads were very poor. and,
indeed, little better than bride paths
until the San Juan river and Iii Carney
were reached"
General Shafter explained, at !; mcej-
ing of generals, his plan Of battle
as follows:
..Lawton's division, assisted Ny
Capron's ligh. battery, was ordered 10
move out during the afternoon toward
13i caney, 10 begin the attack there ear
~ the next morning. After carrying:
IL Caney gLawton was to move by thu
caney road toward Santiago ana TAX"
position on the right of the line. Wheel
er's division OF dismountcd calvary. and
kent's division of infantry. Mere direct
ed to move on the Santiago road, hea 4
of the column resting near FL P"zo. To
which heights Grimes battery moved
on the afternoon of the 30th with orders
to take position thereon early the ncNt
morning and at the proper time pr"-
pare the way for the advance Of Wheel
er and Kent on San Juan hill. Tic
attack at this point was 10 bc delayed
until Lawton'S guns We're heard At ~
Caney and his infantry fir" showed he
had become we'll engaged ...
1.-The preparations we're Ear from Wh:it
desired them to be, but We We're in n
sickly climate; our supplies had to he
brought forward by "A narrow wagoi:
road. which the rains might at amy iim,'
render impossible: fear was rtpin-
ed that a storm might drive the vessels
containing our stores to sea. thus S"par :
atinE US from our base ot supplies ana
Pando, with 5000 reinforcements Tor the
enemy, was en- route from ManZanill",
and might be expected in few days.
Under these conditions ! determined u
give battle without delay.
General Shafter her. gives a drSGrlI-
ton Of the battle of ii Caney and the
charge up San Juan hill. in which he
pays high compliment to the conduct Of
the officers and men. He says;
General Wheeler the permanent
commander of the calvary division.
who had been i'll. came forward during
the morning and later returned I" duty
and rendered most gallant ana efficient
service during the remainder OF the
day.
Great credit is due to I5rigadier Ger
erai H. S. Hawkins. who, placing MN
self between his regiments. urged them
on by voice and bngle calls to the
attack so brilliantly executed.
I'm this fierce encounter words taii
to do Justice to the gallant reglmenttl
commanders and their heroic men. for
while the generals indicated The f"r'na-
1.F