The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-18
INTERESTING TALK

With General Miles on tIo Situation.
General Garcia's sco.opcrnilo,i. s
WASHINGTON. June 17.-Maior Cen
eral Miles, general in chief of the army,
accompanied by Colonel Maus. Major
Davis and Colonel Greenlee, of his stafc,
arrived In Washington to-day q after hav-
Ing directed the departure OF the first
army OF invasion to Cuba; 1t had bean
his intention to remain IN the field, d.
recting. the succeeding expeditions which
will follow rapidly from this time for
ward, all OF them, It can be stated, a
part of well matured offensive cam
palgn- General Miles conferred With
Secretary Alger for half an hour before
the cabinet meeting and then had a long
talk with General Luddington, quarter
master general, on tho condition Of
quartermasters supplies He came In
response TO telegraph!c summons from
the secretary of war. who desired to 20
over certain phases OF the campaign with
him. Speaking in n general way o; his
observations, General Miles said:
Having spent some time with the
troops during q trying period OF hurried
preparations, am glad to say that they,
ore a splendid body OF men. which the
country may well be proud Of AS to rho
regulars, they are the finest corps In the
world, without any exception. In prys'-
cal development, efficiency, experience.
discipline. craftsmanship, equipment
and all that goes to make up first class
soldiers. OF course the volunteer army
Is no, as well equipped" il
THE troops at Tampa are In very
good health. both those who went for
ward with General Shafter and those
still remaining. The sick lis. Is less
than per cent. which Is an excep:Ional-
~ good record. The spirit OF the men
also is OF the best and this was shown
In most marked manner when tho
transports started for Cuba last Tues.
day. They were all anxious 20 go, and
there were wild scenes OF enthusiasm
and cheering as the men marched aboard
and the ships got under way. When-t
ever q band played the national air,
every head was uncovered. The men
seemed to realize the Importance OF their
enterprise as well as the patriotic re-
sponsibilitv It involved. 3, N; "A.
Captain Dorst's revival expeditions
have been Of great service to the govern,
mcnt, his last one in particular, bring
ing important results. He start ed from
Key West, but instead of going direc. to
Cuba, he went north and east OF Mas
eau, then turned south and landed On
the Cuban coast at q port called Banes,
It has been held by the Cubans and Is a
good harbor with about twenty lone feet
Of water. 5 Si
Protected by q small gunooat, Captain
Dorst landed steamers load OF eup-
plies for the Cuban army, Including
1900 rifles, over q million cartridges and
q great quantity OF stores. A thousand
Cubans, came to him while there.
Garcia had about 5000 armed cubaHs
before he received the munitions OF war
by Captain sDosst, The supplies cent
him will enable Garcia to adequately
equip over 1000 C,lbans." /" N 4, I.l
General Miles was asked for the CON-
munications between him and Garcia
and glanclng them over he gave their
general purport. ". q. Is5S}f Il ~
In my Communication to himI asked
him to move US lnrSe q force as possible
to the vicinity OF the harbor OF Santiago
dc Cuba, and TO cooperate with our
army and navy on their arrival, which, T
hoped would be within n few days. He
was to drive In and harass any Spanish
troops near, Santiago de Cuba, threaten-
Ing and attacking them at all POINTS,
and preventing any yrelnforecments from
reaching that point. Pending the arr;-'
val of our troops. he was to seize any
positions easti or west OF Santiago do
Cuba, or both. which could be used to
advantage by our artillery. i. s
..He replied that ne would rcGari my;
wishes and suggestions as orders and
would Immediately adopt measures to
concentrate his forces Us indicated"
55 Generall Miles docs not z appreherd
any eerious delay in disembarklng tka
troops on Cuban soil. fi, 81
When General Miles was asked it no
expected an carly Aght no answered
.laconically: .j5i e 4 8,
80 / '"'Tha,'s what they've gone tor.'