Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-16

Washington, November 15.--Gen.
Breckenridge continued his testimony
before the War investigation Commits
sion to-day. His testimony to-day
dealt with the campaign in Cuba ana
the transportation OF troops TO that Is
land. He had, he said, gone to CUBA
as inspector general, arriving at ram
pa on the 9th of June. He had obserV-
ed casually the preparation for the dis
embarkation of troops before the eXpe-
dition left, and had concluded that
they were quite inadequate. maze
no report, however" he said, "as Gen.
Miles was on the grounds and could
observe for himself. Continuing, ne
said that there was no preparation Tor
landing in the face of an enemy other
than that which the navy must Iurnlsh.
So far as he had observed there was
only two lighters and two scoWs Sc
cured on behalf of the army before the
departure from Tampa. 1t was his IN
Outstanding, however, that the army
and navy were cooperating in this ex-
petition.
Speaking of the conflict of authority
On the transports he said the masters
of the vessels did not respond as
promptly as might Rave been desired.
"True,'' he said, there was a llttle
navy cadet on board each OF the yes
sells, but he had no authority. An ac-
tual navy officer or an officer OF the
orartermaster's department on each
vessel would have been better. what
was needed was prompt communication
between the commanding officer ana
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 e&-
he said, was strained to get men on
board, and consequently there was
comparatively little effort
TO SECURE EQUIPMENT.
While he knew nothing definitely Of
the plans of the campaign, he was sure
there was plan. He was quite GER
tain from a conversation he had had
with Gen. Miles that he had a plan,
though he did not say it was the plan
carried into effect
"Of course" suggested Gen. Beaver,
Santiago was the goal of the cam
pcign?"
Certainly. This fact was publish
eG SO extensively in the newspapers
that many of the men on board the
vessels would not accept this informa-
ton as to the destination as correct"
Asked as to his opinion of the result
of the campaign, he said he thought it
the men who conducted what was to
be expected from the limitations of
Gen. Shafter. l think it would have
been different if Gen. Miles had been
in command-that it would have been
more satisfactorily conducted. l think
he has more of the spark and genius
of command than any man in tie
army, and l 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 Breck-
inridge in reply said the victory had
been won when Gen. Toral's nerve
gave out" This, he continued, had
been the war of all others when sue
cess had been won in its earliest
stages. He believed that the war
WAS THE LORDS WAR,
and that this wonderful success was
due to His supervision. The time for
the battle was, however, short enough.
Yet it must be remembered that the
distance between the battlefield and
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 conduct of the
He could not 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. "No matter how it was tan
gled up" he said, sit went to victory
He had at the time quoted Lord Beres-
ford when he said to his army upon
4 certain occasion: 81 have led you into
4 devil of a fix, and it is now your
luty to fight like hell to get me out
If it." He was sure at least that all
engaged in the war had acted with
zeal, and every man had done the best
If which he was capable, and he had
never known a war in which there was
lot criticism at the close of it.
Gen. Breckenridge spoke of the in i
'pector generals Office as having been
by the order requiring the
'eports of subordinates in that Office