The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-11
"Playa del Esta. july Il

headquarters.
''SHAFTER, Major General"
playa del Esta July IS.
General Shafter = Telegram received.
Have no desire and have carefully avoided
any appearance Of superseding you. Your
command is a part of the United States
army, which have the honor to command,
having been duly assigned thereto and di-
rected by the President to go wherever
thougnt my presence was required and give
such general directions as / thought best
concerning military matters, and especially
directed to so TO Santiago for a specific
purpose. You will also notice that the order
the matter to my discretion L should re-
eIet tnat any event would cause either
yourself or any part Of your command TO
yours, NELSON A. MILES
Major General. Commanding United
States Army
ADVISED TO MOVE TROOPS.
Then follows some kilograms instructing
General Shafter to remove his soldiers to
high ground and notifying Secretary Alger
that in his (Mies's) opinion if this move
ment into the mountains did not check the
fever then the only way to save a large
portion of the command would be to ship
them to a point on the New England coast,
to be chosen by the surgeon general.
The history of the Santiago campaign
practically ends at this point and the re-
port treats of Porto Rico. General Miles, on
July II, had cabled Secretary Alger that it
was important ts go direct to Port Fajardo,
Cape San Juan. He was anxious to pro-
coed as rapidly as possible and. after some
delay, authority was granted and he
started. The story of that successful cam
palgn Is we'll known and the report adds
llttie to the he general k9owledge except to
first expedition, which was so puzzling at
the time
General Miles writes that he had been
several before
starting for the arrival of tugs launches
and lighterStthat had been ordered, but none
arrived. lie still hoped to meet them in the
WlndWard passage, en- route to Porto Rico.
He knew that his cablegramS had passed
over foreign cables and regarded it as nee
essary to deceive the enemy as to his des-
tination. Therefore, in the absence of his
landing launches and lighters, he cOnSid-
cred the advisability of finding a safe har
Dor and capturing the necessary appliances
from the enemy. He conferred by letter
and signal with Captain Higginson, in COM
mand OF the naval convoy, and decided to
land at Guanica, as the enemy had, doubt
less, become aware of the original destina-
ton, and then to move on Ponce. Captain
Higginson accepted the change of plan a
vessel was sent off Cape San Juan to give
word of the change of base to the APP
preaching reinforcements. The little
Gloucester went ahead and forced the en-
trance into Guanica and soon the entire ex-
petition was landed in Porto Rico and be-
gan its successful. campaign.
CAPTURE OF THE ISLAND.
A detailed account is given of the various
skirmishes. battles and captures on the
island, and the proclamations are quoted
whereby General Miles appealed success
fully 10 the disaffected element among the
inhabitants to give in their allegiance to
the new order of things. OF this nineteen
day campaign General Miles says: THE
success of the enterprise was largely due
to the skill and good generalship of the Off
and brigades. Strategy accomplished what
might have occasioned serious loss to
achieve in any other way. The loss of the
enemy in killed, wounded and captured was
nearly ten times our own, which was only
three killed and forty wounded Thus the
Island of Porto Rico became part of the
United States" He mentions by name
specially the officers of his staff and the
general officers engaged and recommends a
small list Of officers for promotions and
brevets.
Generalizing upon results, the report adds:
''It is gratifying to record that during the
not prisoner, color, gun or rifle has been
captured by the enemy. In this respect the
war has been most remarkable and perhaps
unparalleled. Under all circumstances, and
in spite of many most trying difficulties, the
troops have maintained the fortitude of the
American character and the honor of their
arms"
General Miles closes his report with some
earnest recommendations for the improve
ment OF the military service. He trusts the
experience of the last few months will be
valuable to the people and to the govern
ment. The value of coast defenses he says
has been proven and the system should be
completed without delay. He favors the
adoption of a standard Of strength for the
army to meet the country's growth and sug-
gests that it be one soldier for every thou
sand population, yielding a force of 62,579.
While this force is already provided for,
unfortunately the authorizing act requires
the army to be reduced to its former in
adequate basis on the termination of the
war. General Miles. in conclusion, recon-
mends the authorization of an auxiliary
and the Philippines. to be Differed by United
States army officers and not exceeding two
soldiers for one thousand population of the
islands, and all of these increases, he urges,
should be made at once, as they are of
vital Importance.