The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-03
ALGER'S REPORT.
Continued from nn, pAxs1

AIDED by one or two monitors to better ad.
vantage than TO send tho army thero,
whcre u would have 10 meet q strong
garrison, which II already thcrc, and all
OF tho forccs that can 10 quickly sont
therp by rail directly from Havana aud
MatanRaaa
III the above plan n approved. troops
could b. ordered TO embark ON tho trans.
ports Immediately and tho purpose would
be the Occupa,lon OF Spanish territory
nrst by moving our troopa az speedily
as possible TO Santiago do Cuba. and
Porto Rico ana later he tho south of
cuba especially our cavalry, This milI.
tary occupation TO continue until hostlll.
Ties cease Very respectfully,
NELSON A. MGI4Es,
'Maior General Commanding"
Without Indicating what disposition was
made ot tho suggestions contained In
this dispatch. Secretary Algcr goes on
to briefly explain tho conditions which
confronted the Amorlcan army at that
moment. Tue secretary OF the navy
was convinced that Ccrvera was IN San
tiago harbor, and every energy was bent
to concen,re,o military eorco near san.
tiago TO aid IN the destruction OF the
Spanish iSO, and tho capture OF tho
city.
Tho great dlfticully was tho want OF
transports; the loading facilities at Port
Tampa were Imperfect and thcro was
Ercat confusion caused by tho larEc
concentration OF supplies there. The
facilities were inadequate. there was a
failure 30 label the cars, and the poat
once was congcsted 80 that bills OF lad.
ing were delayed. Few OF the thlrIy-ax
transports nnally gathered thcrp wore q,
Tor much service but they were the
best that could Do had. aud while they
wcro rated az $500 passengcrs In capac.
lty even the i6eo persons transported
was larger number than should have
been carried. Fortunately they arrived
without serious accident, however.
g'he nrs, duty gor which General shaf.
ter was selected. via: To make
a reeSnuissance In force abou,
500 strong on tho sotuh side OF Cuba.
SECRETARY Algcr says. was abandoned on
account u the movements OF the enemy's
feet,
Says the secretary:
Major General Sh0ftcr was selected 10
command the expedition 20 Santiago by
the major general OF tho army who made
the Recommendation to tho president. and
with this recommendation tho secretary
% war was In Clll accord Results prove
the wisdom of tho assignment"
Next In orlcr tho secretary quotes his
dispatch o. May 81. sent az $50 o'clock az
night. % General Shafter az Tampa a.
rccting him 10 start Tor Santiago TO land
east or west ot that poln, In his own
judgment. and move on 70 tho high
grounds IN such position as 20 destroy
the garrison thera and cover the navy
as Il sends rs men IN small boats 20 re-
move torpedoes. or with aid ot the navy.
capture or destroy tho Spanish flcct re-
ported 20 Do IN tho harbor General Shaf.
ter was 20 accomplish this with the least
possible delay making uso OF the In
surgents. but being careful not 10 put
too much confidence In any persons out
side os his own troops
Following these are some telcgrams
announcing the further movements Of tho
transports and tho landing of tho Shafter
expedition az RalqulH The secretary IN
cludes In hIs report tho plan of cam
paign IN written form. submitted by Cen
ernl Miles on June q. and already pub
llshed as par, Of Tho latter's report. This.
in substance. was to proceed. after tho
capture % Santiago. to capture a fort on
tho north shore OF Cuba, land force OF
1900 cavalry. and make march through
| the Interior ot the country upon Havana
/ from that base.
TIE secretary has this 20 say:
The plans Of campaign recommended
by General Miles In his letter dated June
/ a. We're not approved"
Under date Of June .. General shaftcr
reports to Adiunnt General Corbin from
Playa del Este the facts attending the
| landing OF the troops at BalQuir!. He says
/ the assistance Of the navy has been OF the
greatest benefit and enthusiastically
Riyen, and without them he perhaps
would not have landed NJ ALL HO wanted
/ nothing al that time. At this point a
communication Is inserted directed TO
General Miles by the secretary. ordering
the formation, under command OF General
Brooke. OF the expedition against Porto
Rico, and directing that immediate pre-
paration DO made.
Next the correspondence shows the his
tory OF the Porto Rlcan campaign.
July IS tho secretary telegraphed Miles
at Siboney what he had determined upon.
as he wished TO direct transports. Miles
replied that after comforting with Samp-
son. Cape San Juan was considered the
best place to land He suggested com.
blned naval movement on Porto Rico and
asked 10 take with him 900 marines He
was then at Palaya. This last request wa,
refused by the secretary. He said:
II do not think well Of your suggestion
about marines We have enough army
for our work. DO not take Colonel Hum
phries away from Santiago"
Miles succeeded In getting Sampson tc
increase his naval convoy and then tele.
graphed under date OF 81. Thomas. july
%, that circumstances were such that ht
had changed his plans and taken the har
Dor OF Guanlca. Secretary Alger. how
ever, asked on July 20. why the plans hac
been changed. Miles replied under date
OF the Goth, from Ponce. that at first Il
J had been intended to select only a rem.
devious at Port FaJardo. but that IN
tention had become known and the Spani
ards had been able to concentrate In the
vicinity Then Port Fajardo was not Q
safe harbor and he was without the light
ers which he had expected 10 meet. Au.
gust 2. In a telegram relative 10 supplies
General Miles recommended that the
manufacture Of Springfield rifles, 45 cali.
Der. ammunition, all white canvas tent.
age, and black leather equipments OF
every description be discontinued, as they
are obsolete and should not be a part oi
army equipment.
The secretary's reply was as follows:
War department, August 3.--General
Miles. Ponce, Porto Rico. As you ought
to know, the last callbre IS Springfield
rifle was manufactured In 1893. smokelesi
powder cartridges are now being manu-.
: factured and viii be forwarded. / suggest
that you get along with what the govern
ment has on hand. The question Of cur
rency and duties will be taken up today
Your action requiring all duties to b,
paid in United States currency Is ap
. proved and will be adhered to.
"R. A. ALGER, Secretary OF War"