The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-02
Why Food Was Scarce.

ond day"
Why Food Was Scarce.
"why was your food supply short
before San Juan?"
I had to act quickly and shove my
men right into the field, because 1
knew they were growing weaker and
weaker every hour. We had plenty
of rations, unloaded at the shore, but
there was only a single road, hub deep
in mud. over which they could be
brought to the front and if we had
thousand army wagons we could not
have got the provisions where they
were needed The pack trains saved US.
They were invaluable
What is the condition of Santiago to-
day?" was asked.
1T is in fair state of health re-
piled General Shafter. Under the mil
itary governorship now in existence it
will soon be cleaned and made thor
oughly healthy. 1t is a pretty town but
the surrounding country is in state
of wreck You can't imagine the desti-
tuition of the island of Cuba"
What troops are left to garrison
SantiagO?"
THE only troops of the Fifth corps
that were left were the Twenty fourth
infantry the remainder of the Ninth
Massachusetts, about 100 recruits and
the last of the sick and wounded. These
were to have left on the day after the
Mexico sailed and are to reach here to-
morrow or next day. This completes
the withdrawal of the army of invasion
The garrison duty is in other hands.
The Fifth army corps flag will float
over Camp Wikoh today"
Regarding the Miles-Alger contro-
versy General Shafter said: L knew
nothing of the D1iIes-Alger controversy
until I was shown a newspaper on my
arrival here. 1 will not discuss 1t, now
that I am unfamiliar with the phases
of the case, nor will enter the contro-
versy at any time. Secretary Alger
and General Miles can take care Of
themselves, and so can I.
The Red Cross and other nurses did
good work at Santiago, but the front
is hardly the place for women. There
was never any real scarcity of food in
Cuba. but there were no transportation
facilities to get supplies to the front,
other than pack trains.
THE army and sick in hospitals down
there Jared as we'll as possible in such a
climate"
Skaters Arrival.
General Shafter and his staff were
landed from the City of Mexico shortly
before 1 o'clock yesterday, being taken
off in the auxiliary gunbOat Aileen and
landed at the floating DOCK some
distance away from the quarantine
pier. General Young was at the pier
at the time. The coming ashore at the
float of the commander and his stan
was unexpected. General Wheeler had
the cavalry drawn up at the quarantine
pier and the guns waiting to salute
General smarter ana MS Sl1lL Icu DGCA
that General Shafter was on shore until
General halter and his staff had been
driven to the detention hospital in car
riages General Wheeler was a little
put out when he learned that General
Shafter had landed. General Shafter ap-
peared in good health when he came
ashore On the City of Mexico, beside
the general and his staff, came one
company of the First regular infantry
General Wheeler, when informed that
General Shafter was ashore, ordered
the salute of fifteen guns fired. 1t was
difficult to get near General Shafter at
the detention camp, but the commander
of the Santiago campaign sent word to
the correspondents that he was glad to
be on American soil once more, but was
sorry to learn that so many of his men
had died and were still sick at MOntauk.
He said, however, that had the troops
remained in Santiago they would have
Jared much worse.
Surgeon Meyer, who came north on
the Allegheny, had something to say
as to the condition of the transport. It
was on the vessel that fourteen Ninth
Massa chusetts men had died. Surgeon
Meyer stated that when the Allegheny
left Santiago there were but twelve SICK
men on board, but illness developed
very quickly on the vessel and when
out a few days deaths occurred at the
rate of three a day. The MaSsa-
chusetts men and the First Illinois men
were landed from the Allegheny and
the 145 sick were sent to the hospitals
The men from the City of Mexico were
al aI<an ashore.