Evening star., 1898-12-21

testimony.
1t was known that he was expected to re-
turn to the city from the south with the
presidential party at 11:30, but it was not
believed that he would be able TO go on the
stand until later in the week. Therefore
the commission was pleased by his prompt
ness, and he was cordially received. With
out delay Gen. Shafter was sworn by Ger.
Wilson, and then he seated himself at the
side of the witness table, resting upon it
with his arm. Behind him sat Maj. Miley,
his aid. who supplied him with memoranda
and papers from the valise.
Gen. Shafter after stating his name and
rank. told of his work at New Orleans and
Tampa.
Gen. Beaver asked do you know by
whose request you We're assigned to COM
mand at Tampa?"
Il was Informed it was Gen. Miles,
Gen. Snafter then went into a detailed
story of the Cuban expedition. He said his
first orders were to organize a strong re-
connaissance force of about 5000 to 5000
men to go to Santa Clara province, and get
into communication with Gomez but not
to bring a general engagement. This
plan was checked by the appearance of
Ceryeras fleet in southern waters.
Ordered to MarieI.
Gen Shafter was then instructed to pre-
pare to besiege the port of Mariel, and
make a strongly intrenched camp on high
ground. where the bulk of the American
army was to be quartered preparatory to
the general campaign. This plan was again
checked by the report of Cervera being
bottled up in Santiago and Gen. Shafter
was ordered to prepare an expedition to
drive out Cervera and capture Santiago. He
got started down the bay when he was re-
called by the report of Spanish ships in the
Nicholas channel. Gen Shafter said on re-
turning he landed his men and animals in
tati of hajn
But when he received his next orders to
get away. the orders were to start imme-
diateIy.' 1t took much longer to load ami
II ais than men, so he loaded them simulta-
neously till all the men were on board. He
was told to take not less than 10000 men.
The expedition. he said. was supplied with
sixty days rations, and he was told to
load six months supplies. If he could,
but time did not permit The men were
we'll supplied with clothes and tentage
Nearly all of the troops being regulars
they had what the regulations called for.
In all, about 1900 men We're in the expe-
dition.
Gen Shafter stated that he was supplied
most abundantly with conmissary, quarter
master and ordnance stores.
'Of course, all / had to do with the COM
missary stores was to tell the commisSary
to provide amply for the men and II. pos
sibe to load some of them on each ship.
The men had everything they needed IN an
active campaign
AS to medical supplies Gen. Shafter said:
You know medical supplies are the one
thing that a commanding general or n llne
officer never knows anything about.
never saw or signed requistion for medl-
cal supplies in my life. The surgeon is sup
posed to know what he wants. My medlcal
officer said he thought he had enough medl-
cal supplies for the temporary service to
which they thought they were deSuned.
Events proved, however, that the surgeon
was mistaken.
Londing the Transports.
The loading Of the transports was. he
said under the supervision of a board of
officers consisting of Gen. Lawton, Col.
Humphries and some others, and all neces-
sary measures were taken to discover their
capacity for the care of the men, furnish
ing them with hot coffee, etc.
Gen Shafter said: tAs a matter Of fact,
| took same chances. which did not result
disastrously, in loading many men asVl
did on the transports. There We're too
MANY men, and l knew it. They Were
crowded, but, as you know, at that time
it was considered personal insult to leave
any one. Every one wanted to go, and l
took all the men L could We had good
weather and one suffered. l wanted to
get many men down as possible"
AS to supplies. Gen. Shafter said there
was nothing essential left behind.
How about the ambuances?' asked Gen
Beaver.
LAS to those ambllances.'' said Gen.
Shafter, Il take the whole responsibility
on myself l ordered: and supervised the
loading of those ambulances. After events
proved that it would have been bet
ter to take ten fifteen additional am
balances and left that many wagons be-
hind. But wagons can be used for two pur-
poses and ambulanceS can be used for but
one l took the wagons and the wounded
had to be transported in them the first
day. l will say that on rocky, muddy
road such as we had there, there is
little difference between ambulance and
escort wagon. The men were put on
straw in the bottom of the wagons and
we did the best could with them. Am
balances would have been better, but then
hindsight is always better than foresight.
Still l don't think a suffered from
being carried in wagon"
The Landing.
Concerning the landing facilities with the
expedition. Gen. Shafter said they had
lighter, two steam barges, one of which
was lost en- route, and small tug, the
Captain Sam, whose captain deserted dur
ing the night The boat capacity of the
transport fleet sufficient for the land
ing, the events proved. 1t was all that
could be obtained, at any rate, said the
general
Gen. Shafter said the navy lent all rea-
Sonable assistance with its boats and eX-
pressed surprise when a communica ton
from Secretary Long to the President was
read, protesting against the navy being
called upon TO assist in landing the troops
An interesting incident of the landing
was brought out by General Shafter who
said he had arranged with the Cuban Cen
eral Castillo the day prior to the landing
to have 1000 men back of Baiquiri to catch
the Spaniards when shelled out by the
navy. Castillo was three hours late how
ever. and all the Spaniards got away
General Shafter said the fight of the
Rough Riders at Guasima was merely an
incident of the campaign. He said, how
ever, that the moral effect of the fight on
the Spaniards was Splendid" as he learned
after getting into Santiago
Problem of the Campaign.
How about getting the supplies to the
front for the men?" asked General Beaver
1T was the one problem of the cam
paign, and it taxed US to the utmost" said
he IF it had not been for the pack
trains we could not have done it and the
expedition would have been a failure"
General Shafter said he regarded the
landing of the expedition as emnently sue
cesSful. The expedition lost only two men
and thirty animals, out of total of 10000
men. 1t was a remarkable record.
There has been considerable criticism
from the medical officers as to the failure
to land their supplies" said General