Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-30

officers and men. the officers retaining
their side arms. The officers and men
after parole will be permitted to re
turn to Spain, the United States as
sisting. II not accepted then assault
unless III your Judgment an assault
would fail. Consult with Sampson and
pursue such course as to the assault as
you jointly agree upon. Matters
should be settled promptly
tSigned.) =" II. a. ALGER.
.... O.. r." Secretary of War
This dispatch recognized Miles as
commander and gave him authority to
act. Shafter WAS entirely ignored. In
the face of this situation. Secretary AL
ger. through General Corbin. sent a dis
PATCH to General Shafter assuring him
that General Miles did not come to Gu
ha to supercede Shafter in any way.
This dispatch General Miles refers to
as secret for he says he did not know
it had been sent. not being notified
from Washington and General Shaft.r
saying nothing about it. After the sur
render General Miles still retained con-
troll He authorized Shafter to appoint
peace commissioners. and. Judging from
Skaters report that all was over, he
instructed him as to the disposition of
the troops. ..
July 18th General Shafter wired
General Miles that the surrender was
not as complete as WAS thought. ana
said:
Please do not so away With the re-
Inducements. as may yet need them.
Miles promptly replied by wire from
Eaiuuiri that the surrender is conn
l.lete.' and that the Spaniards mus;
surrender
"On July 10th Shafter wired Miles
that the surrender was finally complete
and General Miles replied through Adj
jutant Gilmore us follows: $:
The commanding general is very
much gratiticd to hear that the sur
rIs is Lot Ia tS 1,nt
telegraph anything of Importance and
the condition OF your command daily
General Miles then reported the con-
diti"n of affairs to the Secretary Of
War. with whom he had been in con
ference. In one of his kilograms to
Miles. Secretary 4Alger says:
AS soon as Santiago falls the troops
must all be put in camp as comfortable.
as they can be made and remain. sup
pose. until the fever has had its rum
Miles did not agree With Secretary
AiEer. for July u, in a letter the gene
raj commanding urged the return of
The army to the United States as soon
as possible. July 18th, after the sur
render WAS complete, General Shafter
wired as follows tn General Miles:
'siboney, July II. 1S9S.-s:4S P. M
Received July Is. ls9S.-General Miles,
on board Yale: Letters and orders in
reference to movement of camp re-
ceiveu and will be carried out. None is
tti'le itlSl1llS 10 get away from mere
than myself. 1t seems from your or
ders given me that you regard my
forces as part of your command. Moth
ing Will give me greater pleasure than
serving YOU, general, and shall com
| ply with all your requests and direc-
| tons but ] was told by the secretary
| that you We're not supposed to be in
command here. I will furnish the in
! formation called for as to condition %!
| con1n.and to Gilmore, adjutant general
army heada&a.ters.
tSisned) sii517's IS HAT 1T Err IN
Major General
| General Miles very promptly replied
as follows:
Playa del Este. July is. 1SaS-(Giu.
| antanamo)-l1:3 A. NJ.
| General Shafter: Telegram receiv.
ed; have no desire and have carefully
avoided any appearance of superccdine
YOU. Your command is a part OF the
| United States army which I have the
homer to command. having been duly
| assigned thereto and directed by III,
| President to go wherever l thought my
presence required and give such gene.
raj directions as l thought best con
4 corning military matters, and was eS
| pec!ally directed to go To Santiago fol
a specific purpose. You will also motto,
that the orders of the Secretary of Wa,
| of July 18th left the matter to my dis
| erection. I should regret that ;,ny- even,
should cause either yourself or any part
4