The record-union., 1898-06-18


men. 1t takes some time to make sol.
diers of these men. After that comes
the moving of an army across the sea,
with all the dangers and vicissitudes
of an ocean. The work, with its in
finite detail, has been carried out, am
glad to say, with a fair degree of sue
cess, and the command of $4,000 men
under General Shafter moved away
with an outburst of patriotic enthnsi-
asm which overcame the trials they had
passed through"
General Miles attention was directed
to the reports coming from Tampa of
great confusion and delay in preparing
the expedition and getting it off for
Cuba.
Yes, he said, there were causes con-
tributing to this delay. In the first
place, the Postoffice service at these
points of army concentration is very
deficient. They have the same facili-
ties, and no more, as the local towns
have when normal conditions exist.
When 10000 to $4,000 men are added to
the population of the small towns. and
all men are sending and receiving Ier-
ters from their friends and relatives at
home besides the large amount of Off
clal business carried on, the local Post
Office facilities are entirely inadeQuate
That has been one of the troubles at
Tampa, Chickamauga and other places.
and as a result the official communion
ton to and from the War. Department.
on which depends the regularity of
movement of many kinds of stores has
been seriously delayed. Then, in gath
ering the munitions of war for an army.
1t was necessary to have the service
of a great number of trains loaded with
stores, crowding the meager railroad
lines far beyond their usual CAPACITY.
However, this is being Strengthened out
now, and nearly all of it has been over
come.
The troops at Tampa are in very
good health, both those who went for
ward with General Shafter and those
sun remaining. The sick list is less
tnan per cent, which is an exception
ally good record. The spirit Of the
men, also, is of the best
General Miles was asked for tho
communications between him and
General Garcia, and, glancing over
them' ne gave their general purport.
In my communication to him
asked him to move as large a force as
possible to the vicinity of the harbor of
with our army and navy on their ar
rival. which hoped would be within q
few days. He was to drive in and
harass any Spanish troops near Sani-
ago de Cuba, threatening and attack
ing them at all points, and preventing
any reinforcements from reaching thar
point. Pending the arrival of our troons
ne was TO seize any positions east Or
west or Santiago, or both, which could
be used to advantage by our artillery.
lie replied that he would regard nv
Wishes and suggestions as orders. and
would Immediately adopt measures TO
concentrate his forces as directed.
All MS subordinateS are ordered to
assist in the disembarking of the Unit
eo states troops, and to place them
serves under orders. General Garcia
said he believed it possible for the ar
tillery positions to be taken as I had
suggested. He sent force at once to
prevent aid and reinforcements going
10 Santiago. The energy of his course
Is SHOWN by the reports of the last few
days. for l see that General Rabi and
ms men have taken a strong position
just west of Santiago
While there were unavoidable DELAYS
at Tampa, very annoying to myself and
others, l, at least, had the consolation
OF knowing that every day enabled the
Cubans to make their march across the
country and get possession of positions
which would be of the greatest value
to our troops when they landed"
General Miles does not apprehend
any longer serious delays in disem-
barking the troops on Cuban soil. The
transports have large number of
small boats to assist in their work
The engineering corps has large barges
and a pontoon train by which they
can put together a floating pier, SO
that, unless there is a very rough sea
or the men are compelled to disembark
in the surf, which is not Anticipated
the Decentralization is expected to pro-
ceed rapidly.
When General Miles was asked if he
expected an early fight, he answered
laconically: That's what they've gone
for