The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-08-26

NILES AND sHAFTER.

NILES AND sHAFTER.
The PhiIadeIphia Times Of August -,
published a sensational article on the
Santiago campaign which implicated
some one in an intrigue to smirch Gen.
Miles and prevent his taking command
in that campaign. The article makes
it look bad for Shafter and is as follows:
First, says the Times correspond
ent, sthe effort was made to sidetrack
Gen. Miles by defamation 1t was said
that Gen. Miles was going to war in a
bathtub; that be was proud and self
cOnceited; that his vanity was disgust
ing; that be was dOmineering, dictator
ial. disagreeable and unpopular with
the president; that he would rather
have his picture taken and placed on
exhibition than to serve his country.
However, the president sent Gen.
Miles to Tampa, where things were in
bad shape, and he Strengthened them
out.
president Mckinley teIegraphed to
Gen Miles giving him permission to
command the army in the Santiago
campaign. The telegram from the
president Of the United States was
either lost or suppressed, for it never
reached Gen. Miles. On the contrary,
Gen Miles received orders directing
him to return to Washington for con
sultatiOn-
"The writer has been informed by
reliable authority, that after his return
to Washington, Gen. Miles secured
copy Of that telegram at the White
house, and that he now has it IN his
possession.
sThe soldiers fought their way at
Santiago, and on the third day Of July
Gen. Shafter sent a telegram to the
war department indicating that be was
beaten and must retreat TO await rein
fOrcements- In this emergency Gen
Miles was again called TO the White
house, and then aud there the Presi-
dent directed him TO issue the ueces-
sary orders to save Cen Skaters
army with the understanding that be
should remain IN command of the army
until the close of the war.
Gen Miles went 10 the war depart
meut and sent peremptOry orders to
Gen. ShaTter, which resulted IN a dis
position Of the troops which made the
army safe from assault He issued
orders, showing TO Gen. Shafter that
the enemy must be badly crippled.
He issued orders which resulted in
Skaters demand for the surrender Of
Santiago with the threat Of lombard
ment. Here, in Washington. Gen.
Miles played the game of bluff which
won at Santiago.
"Ou the following day Gen. Miles
started for Santiago. He had been as
sured by the president that he should
be in command of the army without
interference from any source. When
he reached Santiago, Gen. Shafter con
fTonted him with a telegram from
Adjt. Gen. COrbiu announcing that
Gen. Miles should not take command.
1t is current belief that an investi-
CATION will disclose that many lives of
our hero soldiers were ueedIessly sac
rificed at Santiago, both during the
fighting aud afterwards, because the
orders aud directions Of Gen. Miles
were either disObeyed or disregarded.
Before Gen. Skaters army landed
IN Cuba Gen. Miles gave positive orders
that they should not 20 into any of
the ha6itatiOns in Cuba aud should
not under any circumstances aIIOxany
Cubaus IN their camp. This most i'm
pOrtant order WAS entirely disregard
ed Many took houses for their quar-
ters and Cubaus were allowed to freely
enter our camps aud common soldiers
Slckened and died. For this awful
condition Of affairs the responsibility
must be fixed.
"His best friends hope that Presi-
dent Mckinley will have time and Cd
pOrtunity to attend to the matter with
out leaving 1t to congressional com
mittee"
The Kansas City Star. of August -
also has an article from its correspon-
dent, on Shafter and the Santiago cam
paigu, in which he alleges. in substance.
as follows:
That Shafter and the medical depart
ment did not hitch, because it had rec
commended his retirement for dissbiI-
ity, and consequently he ignored them
completely.
That he was responsible for the am
balances being left at Tampa. and that
he had positive orders before leaving
that port to destroy all buildings al
Sl0Ouey and BaiQuiri from which there
Was any possibility Of cOntagion, as the
Juragua Mining company had given
warning Of the danger.
That not only were these buildings
not destroyed, but also that the hos
pital was established IN a very sink
hole Of malaria and typhoid. and that
the doctors begged Shafter in vain for
detail to clean up the place.
That when Miles arrived he had the
buildings burned aud the premises
cleaned up.
That the typhoid fever, which is
as bad II not worse than yellow fever,
was brought from Tampa.
That the filthy horse and mule trans
ports, without having been cleaned,
were loaded with sick and wounded
soldiers, and that the captains Of those
vessels challenge Investigation deeIsr-