The Portland daily press., 1898-09-08
He Organized Expedition Against
Santiago de Cuba.
ASKED TO ACCOMPANY IT BUT
WAS REFUSED.

Then He Organized Second Expedition and
Accompanied 1t To Cuba-Pretense
That He Was Derobed of His Authority
Is Chi,dish--He Remained in Porto
Rico As Long AS Deemed Necessary
Reduction of War Expenses Most Inn
portant Work at Hand.
New York, September THE follow
ing statement written in the third person
by General Miles was given to the re-
porters on the arrival of the OLDHAM to-
day:
"While at Porto Rico and during the
voyage returning on the Obdam, on
which steamer were General Miles and
staff, two battalions of the I'd regiment
of Wisconsin volunteers, learned the fol-
lowing facts concerning the Cuban and
Porto Rican expeditions:
"In the first place let me say that the
war has closed after being conducted
largely as Gen. Miles stated publicly at
the beginning of the war that 1t would
be. The statement WAS publicly made
and general order was issued by him as
commander Of the American army, In
which the plan that he has striven to pur-
sue was foreshadowed, namely, seek ing
to accomplish results with the least pos
sible loss OF life
"Owing to the fact that the seaso n
suited for campaigning in Cuba had been
exhausted in debates and delay in Con-
gress and in necessary preparations, Gen.
Miles was opposed to rushing an ill-pre-
pared, undisciplined and unequipped
army in movement against the capital
of Cuba, defended by 100000 trained
Spanish troops, and in this position he
stood alone for several weeks. Havana,
Matanzas, Santiago and few other
places were down on his military map as
hot beds of disease, destructive to an
army and places to be avoided, especially
during the sickly season. When finally
called upon to submit plan of campaign
he did SO and put 1t in writing. In sub
stance he took the stand, first that every
effort should be made to equip the Cubans
and thereby enable them to harrass the
Spanish troops. The cry of ION to
Havana" should be encouraged, but when
the transports loaded with troops were
out of sight OF land they should sail as
straight as could be to the gate of the An
titles and the key of the whole position,
Porto Rico, then, having seized and occu-
pied that island, a movement to CUBA
WIS to follow by means OF strong
cavalry force, which was to be organized
and equipped by August or September.
He contemplated that with 20, GOO cavalry
thrown to the centre of Cuba cutting the
Spanish forces in two and moving west to
Havana by the time the rainy season was
over and 1t would be possible to
manoeuvre an army, we could move
against the city well organized, well
equipped and we'll disciplined army and
complete the capture of the Spanish
forces.
The enclosure of Cervera's feet in the
harbor of Santiago changed the conditions
and made it necessary to move a military
force to that point Gen. Miles while at
Tampa organizing the expedition felt the
Importance of the enterprise SO greatly
that he requested permission to accom-
pany that expedition or to organize an
other to join it, This permission was not
granted so far as accompanying that ex-
petition was concerned, but authority
vas granted to equip q second ''for
movement and operation against the
enemy in Cuba and Porto Rico"
However, before this expedition was
equipped calls were made for additional
forces to go to Santiago and they were
Immediately forwarded On the third
day of July Gen. Shefter telegraphed that
his losses had been greatly underesti-
mated, that he met with stronger resist
anoe than he antioi pated and that he was
seriously considering the advisability Of
falling back to position five miles to the
rear, and that he had been unable to be-
up during the heat for four days.
"Under such circumstances Gen. Miles
telegraphed Gen. Shafter that he would
be with him in a week, with a strong re-
enforcement, of course, taking the troops
expected for the second expedition, which
| had been ordered by the President to
operate against the enemy in Cuba as