The record-union., 1899-04-21
SHAFTER'S NEPHEW SPEAKS.
HE ARRIVES IN THIS CITY
FROM SANTIAGO.
Tells Many Interesting Things, and
Says There Is Yet Much
Trouble Ahead.

captain j. H. Aldrich of Company +,
Ninth United States Infantry Qm-
munes), arrived in Sacramento yester-
Gay He is a nephew of General Shat
Ter, and only recently came from Santi-
ago, where he has seen service since
the beginning of the war with the Span
ish.
captain Aldrich was fully interview
ed by a Record Union reporter on
July 18th, at which time he was quar-
perlng his family here during his ab-
sence; and, though he has lodged re-
porters all over the country, he SUBJ
mltted to- an interview again last night,
because, he said, I've been treated
right by your paper
AT the outset the Captain fatty re-
fused to say anything about the beef
question, except that he asserted that
the reconcentrados are getting fat on
American beef. In the same breath he
remarked that the health of the soldiers
is good in spite of the fact that they
are in the yellow fever belt during the
yellow fever season. He has great faith
in American sanitary science.
Though the Philippine, question now
overshadows all Cuban matters" he
said, Il want to prophecy that our
trouble in Cuba has scarcely begun. 1t
is just dawning on the people there that
Uncle Sam has never said word about
letting go his hold of the country; and
/ agree with Uncle Bill (meaning Cen
eral ShafteD that there'll be trouble all
along the line, but Cuba will be a pay
ing investment in the long run; rich,
fine country like thatll bring us in $l00
for every dollar we spend there
Captain Aldrich was detailed to sit
on court of claims soon after the bat
ties on Cuban soil, and he has been
busy for months helping to investigate
claims against the United States. The
claims We're chiefly for damage done
by the army of invasion and they
ranged all the way from SO to 81, 500 =
O00-the latter made by the Juragua
Iron Company of Santiago. an Ameri-
can corporation, with headquarters at
Philadelphia. This claim has now gone
to Washington for final review.
Santiago will soon be a fine resi-
dence city" said the soldier, for there
will be great Improvements in its sani-
tation; sewers will be flushed by the
San Juan River, which is on a higher
been macadamized, and they are burn
ed out dor cleanliness) with crude kero-
sene twice a week.
Captain Aldrich denounced the sensa-
tional methods of Richard Harding Da--
Wis and Sylvester Scovel, correspond :
ents, who, he says, tried to write lurii
dime novel stories about the war and
pass their stories off as history. He
no
lar, while Scovel was impudent and void
of the instincts of a gentleman; that
he tried to force his way beyond the
lines at the Santiago flag raising, for
which he was roundly censured by Gen
eral Shafter, and afterward hustled be-
yond the country.
He did net slap General Shafter, y
said the Captain, for he was fully six
feet away; and I will say here that if
he had slapped the General he would
have paid for it dearly, but I won't say
just how"
How about Richard Harding Davis?'
''As to Richard Harding Davis criti-
cisms of General Shafter." was the re-
ply, they are beneath serious notice
but one point TlE mention. He says the
General erred in entering Santiago by
Siboney instead of by the railroad
Now. I've gone over every inch of the
grounds in question, and photographed d
them, and l will simply say that TO
have marched the men down there
even If there had been million of them
would have been like sending men
four abreast into a tunnel with the
enemy at the other end with rapid fire
guns. Not a man would have reached
Santiago Davis way, unless Spanish
ammunition had been exhausted"
How do you account for the CORE
spondent's animosity to General Shat
ter?" was asked.
Twas this way came the reply
When the troops started for Santiago
Davis was aboard the Segurancia with
the General: and when they were about
to land Davis said: I'm q writer of re-
nown, known all over the world as q
high grade novelist, and I represent the
leading journals of America for which
reasons 1 think I'm entitled to a great
deal of consideration, and 1 want K
stand in the bow of the first boat that
lands, and be the first man to step or
Cuban soil.
'Shafter told him he did not care
how great he was as Richard Davis
etc, etc, but that the purpose of ths
expedition was to conquer Cuba witt
soldiers, and that soldier would be ths
first man TO land. He further stated tt
Davis that the General of the army
could not accede to the request, for th'
reason that such favoritism would no
be just to other CORES spondents. Well
ever since that moment Davis has beer
furious at the General, and as he i:
a most bombastic and elf-conceited fel
low he's never quit lying and abusing
for a moment"
The soldier had nothing but prais,
for Fighting Joe Wheeler, whom he pro
nounced a brave man, hero and gen
tleman.
A somewhat remarkable statemen
made by General Skaters nephew Wa.
the following concerning the Cubans
"They are usually thought to b.
chumps," he said but, l will say tha
1000 Cubans of the better type, PLACED
alongside of 900 Americans, picked VI
hotch-potch from all over the United
States, would outrank the American