The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-16


He was quite certain from CONVERSE
ton he had with General Miles that ne
had plan, though he did not say that
this was the plan carried into effect.
HE GETS SARCASTIC.
"Of course" suggested General Beaver,
Santiago was the goal of the campaign
Certainly the fact was published so
extensively In the newspapers that many
of the men on board the vessels would
not accept this Information as TO their
destination as correct
Asked as 70 his opinion Of the result
of the campaign. he said that he thought
Il was consistent with the character OF
the men who conducted-what was TO
be expected from the limitations OF
General Shafter. I think IT would have
been different II General Miles had been
in command-that II would have been
more satisfactorily conducted. think
he has more of the spark and genius OF
command than any man in the army,
and ] am sure II he had had charge
he would have been In the front rank
WHEN THE WAR WAS WON.
Ex-Governor Woodbury. suggested that
the battle In front Of Santiago had been
fought and the victory won within eight
days Of landing General Breckenridge,
IN reply, said the victory had been won
when General Toral's nerve gave out"
IIe believed that the war was the
Lords war and that this wonderful sue
cess was due to His supervision. The
time for the battle was short enough. 1t
mus. be remembered that the distance
between the battlefield and Siboney was
less than half days march but while
he considered the result as marvellously
commendable, he did not feel that Cen
Laf crit toll IN tho
conduct Of the campaign. He could not
believe the result was a miracle, but he
ascribed the outcome TO the fact that
the army was one which was capable of
meeting all calls.
mo matter how II was tangled up"
he said. lit went to victory" He had
at the time quoted Lord Beresford when
he said to his army upon a certain oc-
casion II have led YOU into devil or
fix. and it is now your duty to fight
like hell to get out of it," He was sure
jat least that all engaged I'm the war
lhad acted with zeal and every man
had done the best he was capable of.
and he had never known war I'm (which
there was not criticism at the close OF
IT,
NOT FIGHTING ENOUGH.
Resuming his remarks Of a general
character. General Breckenridge express
ed the opinion that there had not been
enough fighting to obscure other results
common 10 war. He thought the evils
which had been experienced were inevi-
table under our American system. He
condemned this system az most repre-
hensible and said the volunteer soldier
must always suffer the worst of the con-
sequences. "1f the regular stands up
under it better than the volunteer it is
only because he has had time TO adjust
himself to the unfavorable conditions"
He traces all the trouble to the want Of
preparation and mobilization i'm time OF
peace and that. In turn. 10 the failure OF
Congress TO appropriate the necessary
moneys for reforms.
BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
Replying to question from Mr. Wood
bury he said. that considering the sys-
TEN he thought the government had done
far better in its conduct of the war than
anybody had expected and just about
one-fourth as well as IL should have
done"
General McCook asked General Breck-
enridge II he had visited General Shafter
in his tent when the latter was i'll at
Santiago and General Breckenridge re-
piled that he had done so.
did he then offer the command of
the army 20 you as has been reported
In the press?'
General Breckenridge replied: 81 very
much prefer not TO answer that question.
You should ask General Shafter. Such
a conversation as occurred between Cen
eral Shafter and myself on that occasion
is not of a character to be spoken of
lightly. fail TO see how a reply from
me would promote the object of your en-
quiry. You want TO know what General
eShafter did. not what he may have
thought of doing. II General Shafter
has not repeated the conversation I ought
not to do so% AS matter of fact he
did not turn the command over 10 your
suggested Governor Beaver. to which
General Breckenridge responded: mo he
did not do NOT think there is any
improperly In saying that he could not
have done so"