Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-07-08
amAETEn.


Richard Harding Davis, the CORES
pondent Of ihg New York Herald in Gu.
ba, severely condemns Gen. shafter. and
says that tho land expedition against
Santiago has been a series Of blunders
from the start lie says, under date Of
July 3:
The situation at present Is this. san.
tiagO rises In the barber 10 the crest Of a
long hill. Three quarters OF a mile back
are the hills OF San Juan, occupied by
our entire army. Our troops took the
hills before the artillery had arrived.
We cleared them OF the enemy's troops
and lost many men. Now that we have
them, we cannot advance until our aftil-
lery has opened the way.
Another such a victory as that Of July
/ aud our troops must retreat. The stu
alton is exceedingly grave.
Judging from the quality and the
quantity Uf the ratiOns left behind them
IN tina trenches the Spaniards are bOunti-
fully supplied with food. There Is con-
slant and heavy firing, showing no lack
/ Of ammunition.
The city is protected by six-iuch guns,
We have only 10 3 inch guns, for the
| siege runs have not even been taken
from the ships.
have been writing about this cam
paign since II opened, and certainly /
nave not been an alaTmist. The situa-
tiOn here Is now Observation-Disclosures
II would be false TO make II out other.
wise.
The troops should never have been sent
here without the entire force Of artillery
at Tampa, and until It arrives they can
neither advance nor retreat.
They can only lie on their faces, or be
shot at n they rise.
They have been In a most cruel heat
and wet with frequent showers for three
days.
They are unable 10 move about.
They are under an %unceasing fire.
Some had been without food for forty
eight hours. when food did come 1t was
nard tack and coffee. Those who smoke,
and they are In the majority, were sui
fering agony from the lack Of tobacco.
Their nerves were 30 unstrung i'm cOnse.
duence that ~ a substitute they were
smoking grass. tea leaves and herbs.
Overhead the Ore was incessant. Ten
men az a time manned the ride pits and
we're relieved every hour. The rest OF
the company or troops lay lower down
the crest, trying 10 sleep. Shrapnel burst
over them, killing and wOunding several,
They we're under an uninterrupted fire
from s"harpshOOters.
We are In the face Of a possible disas'
, ter. Nothing has been done by these ex
: petitions beyond proving the heroic cour
$ age Of American soldiers.
T~ruthtully, the expedition was pre-
A pared In Ignorance aud conducted IN 1
series OF plumbers. Its commanding
general has not been within two miles o
the scene Of operations.
. That officer rode TO a hill two mile
from San Juan the day before the battle
3 Tie was overcome by heat, and has beel
A lying on his back the greater part OF Tn
=. time since.
I Gen. Wheeler, who refused 10 renal.
In bed with his fever, IL here beside m
asleep on his pOnchO, with bullets lyin
over him.
II There are Gems. Sumner, Kent, LawtO
and Chaifee and Col. NOOd-never befOr
= have 80 many commanding officers live
20 constantly on the firing line, yet On
man who Is supposed TO direct the entir
expedition IL In q tent at the rear.
II he Is IN he should be relieved; II mo-
"a the presence OF some man with absOlut
. authority IL necessary Rt the front, | al
; quoting what brigade commanders say
The commanding generals orders ar
lisObeyed without a moments hesitation
o / have heard them cOuntermanded In m
presence by colonies.
This IN written with the sole purpos
that the entire press Of the country wi.
force instant action at Washington
"A relieve the strained situation.
n Here ia what IL needed: First, artiller
l. but as that cannot arrive soon, the ma
must be urged until Il acts,
h Admiral Sampson could do much !
landing stores, guns and quick hrif
guns and blue jackets, and coming
the relief OF the men on the hills.
can lombard the city or lose a few tOrp
40 boats and force his way into the ha
III Dor.