The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-22
NILES AND MERRIrr.
The Star Witnesses Bef re the
Commission Yesterday

Washington Dec a.-Gen. Nelson A.
Miles, commanding the United States nr-
my, and Gen. Wesley Merritt. command
inder Of the American forces at the cap
ture Of Manila. were the principal figures
before the war investigation inquiry to-
day. Gen. Miles respcaeel to the sum-
mons only after several days considera-
ton. lie was accompanied by his own
stenographer
His examination was comparatively
brief and not sensational He spoke with
some bitterness as to the "embalmed
beef"and canned beef furnished the army
in the field. This he characterized as an
experiment for which Some one In WASH
ington" was resposible. He said that the
landing facilities Of the Santiago expe-
dition were inadequate and that the men
were short Of rations and medicines and
might havebeen better protected from
exposure to fever contasion.
Gen Merritt told the commission that
he regarded the Philippine expedition as
a decided success and would conduct Il
on the same lines II he had It TO do over
He spoke In high terms Of the troops
under him and saiI his army was well
supplied with medicines and food
Gen. Miles stated the first plans for
sending troops to Cuba were not his. as
he was opposed to sending troops theere
until Cerveras feet was located. The
question at the outset was a naval pro-
blem; and the dispatch OF troops, in his
Judgment, tnen hinged on which fleet
should destroy q other II the Spanish
had destroyed the United States fleet.
the United states would have been block
ed for a number of years
IF we had had a force I'm Cuba then
we would have lost It, as It would have
been impossible to get It back here"
He was opposed also tc sending large
forces to places like Havana and Matan-
zas. because Of the large percentage OF
yellow fever deaths there.
He said the destruction Of Cerveras
fleet settled that problem
Gen. Miles gave details Of the Porto
Rico expedition. Concluding with his
opinion of camps. sites, he said the first
he knew OF the selection OF camp Aiser.
the most Objectionable camp, in his mind
was when the regulars began reaching
there. As TO Chickamagua he had recon- !
memdedmoblizing the regulars eft, but
he never anticipated 75. 600 men would be
sent there. and when he found II over
he had recommended dlstribu- .
JiOn Of the forces among other localities. .
General Wesley Merritt was the first /
witness OF tho afternoon. He began his /
testimony by a description Of the opera ,
ltions around Manila prior to It's capture.
Owing to the smallness Of his force he /
iaid the army was compelled to operate /
llong the sea front in cooperation with J
he navy. Had there been 4, large Amerl- |
AN force on land the city could have been |
aiken from the high ground inland. but |
his was tactically impracticabe without |
eaving our base at the mercy Of both |
3paniards and insurgents, The city's de- |
ences were good. The spenlards had ex- |
,ellent arms and plenty OF ammunition |
All they lacked was sand"
The insurgents were very anxious to /
AXE part in the attack" said General |
Merritt. but they were not notified when |
he attack would be made. as I was sure |
he entrance OF the Filplnos into the city |
would mean unnecessary bloodshed and |
iome looting"
General Merritt said the American loss
- were not correctly stated In the press |
eports There were about 120 officers anl |
nen killed and wounded. No accurate ac-
cunt Of the Spanish loss was ever obtain
bile. The American force, however cap
ured over 1900 stands Of modern arms
md the Spanish loss was known to be
evere.
General Merritt said that tho volunteers
we're as effective and enthusiastic as he
.ould have desired. lie regarded them as
'ery excellent troops.
The supplies were satisfactory at al .
lines. except as to ice and milk for fever
,atients He explained this by saying there
we're apparently no mia producing anil
nails In that region. There were some cat .
le apparently imported from China, but
hey gave no milk 20 speak Of
As to medical supplies and hospital con-
General Merritt said they had
heard no complaints. On entering the city |
he army took possession Of all the good |
houses il needed and turned them over
o the medical department. The sick ana
were thus well provided for.
The army on the island depended upon |
ocal stock for transportation. This pro-