The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-08-31

the ofHcera retaining their side arms.
The officers and men after parole will
be permitted to return to Spain, the
United States assisting. II not nc
cepted, then assault unless in your
judgment an assault would fail. Con-
suit with Sampson and pursue such
course MS to the assault as you joint
| ly agree upon. Matters should be
| settled promptly.
"'R. A. ALGER, Secretary of War;
| This dispatch recognized Miles as COM
| mander, and gave him authority to act.
Shafter was entirely ignored. In the face
| of this situation Secretary Alger, through
| Gen. COrbn sent a dispatch to Cen Shaf-
| ter, assuring him that Gen. Miles did not
| come to Cuba to supersede Shafter in any
| way. This dispatch Gen. Miles refers to
| as secret for he says he did not know
| it had been sent not being notified from
| Washington. and Gen. Shafter saying
| nothing about it. After the surrender Gen.
| Miles still retained control. He authorized
| Shafter to appoint peace commissioners,
| and, judging from Skaters report that all
| was over, he instructed him as to the dis
| position of the troops.
| July 10 Gen. Shafter wired Gen. Miles
| that the surrender not complete as
| was thought and said Please do not go
| away with the reinfOrcementS, as I may
! ye. need them
| Miles promptly replied by wire from
Baiquirj that the surrender lis complete
| and the Spanards must surrender
| ION July 16 Shafter wired Miles that the
| surrender was finally completes And Gen.
Miles replied through Adjt.-Gep. Gilmore
| as folloWs
MILES GRATEFUL.
| {" The commanding general is very much
| gratied to hear that the surrender is
complete. He directs that you telegraph
| anything of Importance and the condition
| of your command today
| Gen Miles then reported the condition
| OF affairs to the secretary of war. with
| whom he had been in conference. In one
Of his kilograms to Miles, Secretary Alger
| says:
"'As soon as Santiago falls the troops
must al! be put in camp as comfortable as
| can be- made and remain, 1 suppose, until
| the fever has had it's rum
| miles did not agree with Secretary AL
| ger, for July q, in letter the general
commanding urged the return of the army
| to the United States soon possible
| July II, after the surrender was complete,
( Gen. Shafter wired follows to Gen.
| Miles:
| 'Siboncy, July II, 1S0S.-S:4S p. M,
received July IS, 1S9S-Gen. Miles, on
| board Yale: Letters and orders in
reference to movement of camp re-
ccived, and will be carried out. None
| Is more anxious to get away from
here than myself. 1t seems from your
orders given me that you regard my
force part of your command.
Nothing will give me greater pleas
ure than serving under you, general,
and 1 shall comply with all your re-
! quests and directions, but 1 was told
by the secretary that you were not to
supersede me in command here.
| will furnish the Information called
| for ns to command to Gilmore, adj
| jutant A. III. ID.
.SHAFTER, Major General
"Gen. Miles very promptly replied
as follows:
"'PIaya del Este, July IS, 1S0S.
| (Guanta namO, 80 n. m.-Gen. Shaf-
! ter: Telegram received; have no de-
sire and have carefully avoided any
appcarance of supersedinS you. Your
| command is part of the United
| States army which 1 have the honor
| to command, having been duly as
| signed thereto and directed by tie
president to go whereverI thought
| my presence was required, and give
| such general directions 1 thOugdt
| best concerning military matters, and
especially directed to go to Santiago
| for n specific purpose. You will also
dor nf hn tn
! of war of July 13 left the matter to
my discretion. 1 should regret that
| any event should cause either your
! self or any part of your command to
| cease to be n part of mine.
"sVery Truly Yours,
| "sNelson A. Miles, Maj.-Gen. COM
! manding United States Army.
MILES LEAVES SANTIAGO.
Gen. Miles then gave Gen. Shafter final
! instructions and left rliedy for Porto
! Rico. In view of the situation revealed
| by the above kilograms the following state
| ment contained in the New York Herald
| of recent date. Is quoted:
"If my cablegram to MAJ. Gen. Shafter,
informing him that Maj. Gen. Miles was
not sent to supersede him in supreme COM
mand of the troops IN the field at Santiago
de Cuba, prevented the 'storming of the
| city on the day of it's surrender, this re-
suited in the saving of lives which other
! wise would have been lost in the attack,
then am repaid for sending it a thousand
| fold ,
'"This statement was made to me yester-
| day afternoon by Secretary Alger apropos
! of the publication in the Herald of yester-
day, setting forth the doiugs Of Mai. Gen.
! Miles during his brief stay in Cuba The
| secretary told me he did not porpose to
! enter into any controversy regarding the
! Santiago campaign with anybody The re-
| suits spoke for themselves and they were
! a sufficient justification for the policy which
| had been pursued by the war department
! in the conduct of the operations against
| Santiago.
my cablegram to Gen. Shafter' he con-
| tinued, was simply due to my desire to as
! sure him that l intended to be absolutely
| fair. Before his departure from Washing
ton Gen. Miles and l had talked the matter
| over and he started for Cuba knowing that
he was not in any way to interfere with
| the operations which were under the con-
| trul of Gen. Shafter. That there could be
no doubt whatever. cabled to Gen. Shafter,
| informing him that Gen. Miles had left for
Cuba with instructions not to in any man.
| ner supersede him as commander OF troops
| in the field at Santiago de Cuba, and. as
have said, if my message prevented a bat
| tie on the morning of the day the city
| surrendered then l am repaid a thousand
| fold