The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-21

W Dec. 0-tJSE-
appeared unexpectedly before the war in
vestigating committee this afternoon and
told his story of the Santiago expedition.
lie was supported By his aide, Col. Miiey.
who was with him in Cuoa. and fianked by
large portmanteau of papers. 10 which
his aide often applied for information.
Gen. Skaters story Of the operations
around Santiago was tersely told. but at
times quite vivid III its recital and interest
ing In detail. Briefly summed up, his es-
timdte Of the Santiago expedition was that
ii had been a military success and cheap
at the cost OF 80 men lost in the fight He
considered the expedition to have been as
well fitted out as the time allowed would
permit and said that In looking back he
had no criticism of his plans to make and
would not change them If the events had to
be gone through again. He said he had no
complaints Of any sort 10 make and would
be 10th To intrude them at this time if ne
had.
The commission stated that Gen. Miles
today communicated to the commission his
nnwillingness 10 volunteer testimony. A
message was accordingly sent TO the adju-
tant general directing him 10 request the
appearance OF Gen. Miles before the board.
No reply had been received to this commu-
nication. when Gen. Shafter rather unex-
peetedly appeared.
capt. y. +. Hardy. of the Fifth Illinois,
whose regiment was the first 10 arrive at
Camp Thomas. was the first to testify be-
fore the commission today. Sickness be-
gan In the regiment, he said. some zen days
To two weeks after the arrival IN camp
The sanitary arrangements OF his regimen
IA. camp Were good, and the regulations
promptly enforced. lie visited his men in
the division hospital and found the ar
rangements decidedly bad. The hospital
was unciean, nurses Indifferent. the food
bad, with total lack OF milk at first The
men complained 10 him frequently OF their
treatment. The hospital arrangements were
,ha only things of which he had cause 10
complain.
After brief preface Gen. Shafter went
into a detailed account of his preparations
for the Santiago expedition. He said his
plans were changed three times by the de-
partment. He said the transport feet as
not sufficiently large 20 accommodate l1.0o0
men FOR amy length of time at sea. bur all
were 30 anxious 10 go that he risked cons,d-
erabie crowding To take all the men pos
sible. He admitte,! that he took chances
In doing this, BUT said the weather was
good and there WAS no mishap to regret
The men were regulars almost entirely
and he saw that they were made as COM
Portable As circumstances permitted
As 10 medical supplies, Gen. Shafter said:
You know medical supplies are the one
thing that a commanding general or line
/ officer never knows anything about Th.
/ surgeon is supposed 10 know what he
! wants My medical Officer said he thought
/ he had enough medical supplies for the
temporary service to which ne thought
We were destined. Events proved how
/ ever. that the surgeon was mistaken. The
/ ammunition supply was ample
! As TO supplies Gen. Shafter said there
WAS nothing essential left behind.
/ How about the ambulances?" asked
! Gen. Beaver
1 As to those ambulance>." said Gen.
/ Sh8fter. Il take the wa0ie responsibility
/ o. myself / ordered and supervised their
/ loading. After events proved that Il would
/ have been better L. have taken ten or fF-
! teen additional ambulances and left that
many wagons behind But wagons can be
| he used s0r TWO purposes and amtuianccs
/ can be used bat for one I took thu wag-
ons and the wounded had SO b+ transport
- IN them after the first days fightng
must Say that on a rocky. muddy road,
*.l,h as we had ther+ is little difference
iu comfort between the ambulances an4
AZ escort wagon. The men were put on
straw in the bo-t0m Of the wagons and We
did t1e best cod'1 for them Anlbu-
lances would have l-een better but then
| h,nd-sight Is always better than foresight O"
Concerning The landing facilities wiki
TIE expedition. Gen Shaf.er said they ha8
;wo large barSeS. one = which was los,
sn route. and small tug. the CAPTAIN
sam" whose captain deserted during the
night The boat capacity of tae fleet
was sufficient for The landing as the
events proved,
An interesting incident ~ ,ha landing
was brought ogt ny Gen. Saaster. Rho
said Pee ha3 arranged with The -'absn
general Castillo TIE day prior ~ the
lan5iux % aave I 80 men back ~ Baialiri
% watch the Spaniaftls when they were
sh~lIsd by tire navy. Castillo vas three
hog~s ;ate, however. ami al the Spanish
So away
How about getting supplies 10 the
front for the msng' asked tien Beaver.
1T gas one % the greates; problems
of tAe campaign and II taxe<: us to The
utmost" said he, IL X had not been
for he pack train we could no, have done
1t ard the expedition wouii have been
fal3ere-'
tssa. Saagte~ sasd sse regarded the laad-
IFS ~ the expedition IL unusually sue