Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-08-31

1IlOl W Su4oo1 NhAS va
steamer Mexico, Major General
Shafter consented to be interviewed
During the interview he discussed
in general terms the campaign that
he had just ended. The bare pros
pect of returning to the United
States caused him to be brighter,
more cheerful and less harassed
looking than at any period since
he embarked at Tampa. General
Shafter said: II look upon the
campaign just closed as success
full one in the highest degree, not
only in regard to the highest de-
gree, not only in regard to the mil
itary operations, but more especial
ly in regard to the great results
achieved. When we decided to at
tack Santiago we looked for nothing
more as the fruit of victory
than the capture of thecity. What
has been achieved is the capitula.
ton of the eastern part of the east
ern province from a line at Jabiri to
the south coast, together with the
enemy's forces, amounting to al
most "a 900 men. Surely this was
the most notable achievement Of
the campaign, bearing in mind the
most fierce opposition we encoun-
tered and the comparative Small
ness of our own forces.
"From a military point of view I
perhaps took a step which might
not be deemed justifable under
other circumstances, but I knew
the temper and the capabilities of
my soldiers and the moral effect OF
Our gradually cooping up the
enemy within his own lines.
"My engineers were very appre-
hensive that the Spaniards might
break through on my left and cut
off Siboney. This. from a military
standpoint, might have been truth.
fully correct, but personally I had
not for a moment any fear on that
score. The result has, l think,
proved the correctness of my con-
illusions.
"Our primary object was to drive
Cervera out, and next to take the
town. We had gradually driven
the Spaniards back on his lines,
circling the city and slowly advanc-
ing day by day. The enemy began
losing spirit as soon as our guns
had been placed in a position to
cover the town.
when Cervera left, the situation
was changed. The town was at my
mercy, and had given the order
for a direct assault it would have
been taken within four hours. l
believe that with the forces then at
my command, reinforced as they
have been, I was in position to
take the city by force.
AT AWFUL COST.
"But if had taken a step of such
character what would have been the
result? I estimate that our casual
ties would have been 5000 men,
and the action took has had more
real brilliant results without heavy
loss of valuable lives.
The town itself is admirably
situated for defense, and the fight
would have been a long and bloody
one. Every house is strongly con
structed of stone and entirely differ
ent from the ordinary frame build
ing. Every house was little for
tress in itself. Had the Spaniards
forced by desperation, fought the
battle out in the streets, our loss
would have been enormous. But
from the moment General Toral
made proposition for conference
I knew he was determined to give
up, and l acted accordingly.
Personal reflections have been
cast upon me because I was not on
the fighting line. That was not the
place for a general in command of
an army. 1t must be remembered
that 1 was connected by telephone
with the officers at the front and
was better able to direct operations
from the position I had taken.
REGULARS WON THE BATTLE.
"Save for two days when i'll I was
in direct command of this cam
paign, which + consider unique in
American history, for it was really