The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-19
General Shafter Ar
rived Last Night.
WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR
PUBLIC RECEPTION AT THE PAL
ACE TOMORROW EVENING.
General Shafter Tells Why He Was
Attacked by the Yellow Press
Reporters-Simply Did
His Duty.

After an absence of nearly nine
months Major General w. r. Shafter
returned to San Francisco at o'clock
last night from Washington. D. C. He
was accompanied by his aid-de-camp.
Major Robert II. Noble Captain E. III.
Plummer and Captain w. H. McKit
trick and wife. J. n. Shafter of San
Antonio, brother of the general, with
his wife and son, were also in the
party In addition to these there was
Mrs. Captain McKittrick's maid and
Mariana Uterro, a 16-year-old Cuban
boy, who returned to this country from
Santiago with General Shafter as his
valet The distinguished party was
met at the Oakland mole by General
r. H. Wartield, Colonel w. r. Smed-
berg, Colonel J. c. Currier, George w.
Spencer.
General Shafter received a warm well
come and he returned the same with
equal warmth, at the same time eX-
pressing himself as being more than
glad to be back in San Francisco. The
general wore his full uniform as a
major general, with the exception that
in place Of his army cape he wore light
top coat Captains Noble and McKit-
trick were in uniform. AS soon as the
general and party had shaken hands
with the members of the Loyal Legion,
the entire party went aboard the
Berkeley. General Shafter looked to
be in excellent health and is quite as
robust as when he left here last
April He seems to have en-
tirely recovered from the effects of the
malaria which he contracted in the
Cuban campaign. He talked very
pleasantly and freely.
He said: Il am glad to get back in
California. There are many reasons
why l wanted to return. My home is
here and besides have many ties that
bind me to the West, to say nothing of
my business interests here. At pres
ent l am in excellent health and 1 be-
lieve that [ have entirely recovered
from the malarial fever that I con-
tracted in Cuba. OF course, I am aware
that the public desires to know what 1
have to say now that 1 have returned.
There has been much written and more
said about my campaign, but the fact
remains that was sent to do a certain
thing and l did it. This war was
very different one from the civil war.
We had not only the Spaniards to fight,
but We had sickness as well. The
climatic conditions were such that sick
ness could not be prevented. The only
wonder to me is that it did not break
out before it did. AS for myself 1 lost
sixty pounds in thirty days. but de-
spite this fact I was in my saddle every
day with the exception of one.
AS for the attacks that were made
on me by the representatives of the
Journal and Richard H. Davis, they
can be accounted for when the animus
is known. Davis was angered at me
because l would not permit him to be
landed before the army or any of the
other war correspondents. I had my
reasons for not allowing any one to
land before the army did, and I was
forced to tell Davis that no matter
how many papers he represented he
would have to obey my orders. The
trouble with the Journal arose because
when Santiago surrendered had to ar
rest three Of its correspondent and send
them back to New York They went
into the city after it surrendered, when
1t was filled with Cubans and armed
Spaniards (for there had not been
time for all of the Spaniards to Law
down their arms) and began to put up
1aring posters. on which was 'Remem-
Der the Maine To the Spaniards this
was ike red flag to bull, and if
had not had them taken down at once
there would have been trouble.
Again it has been charged that I
was a friend of the administration.
This is too absurd to be discussed 1
simply did my duty and accomplished
the work that was given me to do. It
is well enough for those who desire to
attack the administration to use me as
their target Regarding the work of
our men in Cuba too much cannot be
said of them. They deserve all the
praise that can be bestowed on them
There is no questioning the bravery of
the Spaniards either, but they could
not fight our men. There can be made
no comparison in craftsmanship
There was no suggestion of boast in
General Skaters remarks. He cour-
teously answered all questions asked
him. When asked what were his plans
for assuming command of this depart
ment he stated that he would relieve
General Merriam of command at noon
to-day.
AS soon as the Berkeley had made
her slip on this side Mayor Phelan at
the head Of a delegation of prominent
citizens came aboard to welcome the
general. AS the party came down tC
enter their carriages an eager crowd
surged about General Shafter, but the
police were on hand and they pre-
vented it from impeding his progress.
Id heIIldLl UdQ InOuRnIIulIY pro-
vided his carriage, and into this Gen
eral Shafter, Captain McKittrick and
wife and Major Noble entered and were
rapidly driven TO the Palace The rest
Of the party with Mayor Phelan fol-
lowed. The generals arrival at the
Palace created much excitement among
the guests, who were assembled in the
lobby expecting him. AS he 'alighted
he was received by Major General Mer-
Ram. The two veterans exchanged
warm greetings. Captain McKittrick
registered for the party and as soon as
they We're assigned rooms they retired
to them to prepare for dinner.
General Shafter will take up his resi-
dence at Fort Mason this morning. and
at noon to-day he will formally relieve
General Merriam of command of this
department. The public reception to be
rendered General Shafter will be held
at the Palace at o'clock tomorrow
evening. The committee of arrange
ments met yesterday and completed the
final preparations. The reception is to
be one of the largest Of its kind ever
held in this city. In addition to the
committee Of arrangements, which con-
sists Of Mayor Phelan, Colonel A. S.
Hubbard, Colonel ]. c. Currier, General
r. II. Warfield, Colonel c. Mason Kline
Colonel w. R. Smedberg, Colonel E. A.
Denicke w. NJ. Bunker, Sol Cahen, T.
c. Masteller and Colonel A. G. Halves
4hara ic RI he a pOro01ittQa nf ono ht1r1