Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-16
CRITICIZES SKATER.
Gen. Breckenridge Makes a
Highly Interesting Witness.
Says Victory Was Gods Work, Not
Gen. Skaters BriIIiancy.
Gov. Beaver Expresses Himself on a Act Of
Chief Quariermaster Lee.

Washington, Nov. 15.-Gen. Brecken-
ridge continued his testimony before
| the war investigating committee. to-
day. His testimony dealt with the
campaign in Cuba and the transporta-
| ton of troops to that island. He had
gone to Cuba as inspector general. He
had observed casually the preparation
for the Decentralization of troops before
| the expedition left Tampa and had con-
cluded that they were quite Inadequate.
Il made no report. however" he said,
as Gen. 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. 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 little naval cadet on board each
of the vessels, but he had no authority.
What was needed was prompt commu-
nication between the commanding off,
Ger and the vessels and the masters Of
the transports did not respond very
promptly"
I1C w DIS QucStlOIlGu DIS u Tie COluuCI
of the campaign in front Of Santiago,
and replied that the result was what
he had expected it would be. Every
thing there, he said, was strained sto
get men on board, and consequently
there was comparatively little effort 20
receive equipment.
Asked as to his opinion of the result
of the campaign. he said he thought 1t
was consistent with the character of
the men who conducted it.
Il think it would have been different
if Gen. Miles had been in command
that it would have been more satisfac-
torily conducted. / think he has more
of the spark of genius of command
than any man in the army; and am
sure that if he had had charge he
would have been in the front rank"
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested
that the battle in front of San Juan
had been fought and the. victory won
within eight days of landing. Gen.
breckenridge, in reply, said. that the
victory had been won when Gen. rs
rails nerve gave OUT He believed
that the war was the Lords war, and
that our success was due to His super
vision. He did not feel that Gen. Shat
ter was above criticism in the conduct
of the campaign. He could believe 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.
Gen. Breckenridge spoke of the in
spector generals Office as having been
emasculated by the order requiring the
reports of subordinates in that office to
be made to the adjutant general and
said that when he discovered that this
was SO he went into the field as Offering
the only arena in which he could be of
real service. He had intended to say
in effect: There is the desk in my
office. do as you please with it. Gen.
eral Sanger was there; he, too, is from
Michigan. l thought he could take
control of the office if it was desired,
but he did not remain"
Continuing his testimony bearing
upon the inspector generals duties he
said that his criticism of the change
was based on the fact that it deprived
the central authority of securing infor-
nation and as a consequence the Of
llce was practically useless. THE or
der had the effect of cutting the UNI
bilical cord" he said, land the circu-
lation was not good" AS result Of
the change when he had asked for
facts in the office to include in his re-
port he had failed to find any there
Resuming his remarks Of q general
character, Gen. Breckinridge expressed
the opinion that there had not been
enough fighting to obsure other re-
suits common to war. He thought the
evils which had been experienced were
inevitable under our American system.
He condemned this system as most
reprehensible and said the volunteer
soldier must always suffer the worst
or the consequences. He traced all
the trouble to the want Of preparation
and mobilization in time of peace and
that in turn to the failure of Congress
to appropriate the necessary money
for reforms.
Replying to a question from Mr..
Woodbury., who said that Considering
the system. he thought the govern
ment had done far better in its con-
duct of the war than anybody had ex-
pected and just about one-fourth Of
what it should have DONE"
General McCook asked General
if he had visited General
Shafter in his tent when the latter was
At Santiago and General Breckenridge
replied that he had done so.
did he then offer the command OF
he army to you, as has been reported
n the press?"
General Breckenridge replied: II very
much prefer not to answer that ques-
ion. You should ask General Shafter.
Such conversation as occurred be-
ween General Shafter and myself on
hat occasion is not of character to
De spoken of lightly. l fail to see how
| reply from me would promote the
object of your inquiry
las matter OF fact he did not turn
he command over to you? suggested
Governor Beaver, to which Gen. Breck-
nridge responded: mo, he did not,
nd do not think there is an impro-
riety in my saying that he could not
ave done So" With this the matter
vas allowed to drop.
DIR. Conner questioned Gen. Brecken-
idge about the condition Of the sinks
t Camp Thomas when the troops III
Continued on page ~
e.