Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-28
SURPRISED AT MILES
General Ludlow Contradicts His
Statement.
He Gives tho War IvcstigatinG Com.
sion the Actual Facts of hrH uuin.
mcnt For Decentralization of
Troops iu CUbn.
(By Telegraph to virginian-Pnot.)

(By Telegraph TO Nirginian- Pilot)
Washington. d. c.. Jan. 27.-Thcre
were no witnesses before the War In
vcstigating Commission to-day, but the
commission received and gave out an
affidavit from General Ludlow, now
Military Governor of Havana. which
the General had forwarded in lieu of
personally appearing in Washington.
The typewriter statement was prin-
cipally in answer to the statements OF
General Miles before the commission in
reference 10 the lack OF preparation
made by the engineer corps. of which
General Ludlow had been the chief off
Ger in the field
General Ludlow in his statement dis
claimed all intention of disrespect to-
ward General Miles before categorically
contradicting the latter's testimony as
reported IN the papers
General Ludlow explained that press
Of work in Havana had prevented his
earlier attention To the matter, and
then continued:
SURPRISED AT MILES.
Having only newspaper clippings
which were sent to me by friends | am
without authentic information as to
what General Miles really stated to the
commission. and my time in Havana
has been so engrosSed that no oppor-
tunity has offered to draft this state
ment until now.
IF these clippings Indicate correctly
the nature of General Miles statements
and OF the responsibility which is there
in made to attach Ia me for any short
comin=S that may be supposed to have
existed in connection with-tlie-e4a.
barkation and Decentralization of the
Santiago expedition. ! beg leave dis
claiming NIL intention of dsrespcct to
express surprise at the statements
made.
II had the honor AT .hc time TO bo
attached to General Miles staff as chief
engineer Of the armies in the field and
such orders ms | received were given
Inc by him.
I'm the newspaper statements 1t is
I represented that | had been ordered
by General Miles to supply myself with
| everything necessary for The d;senl-
| bavkatiOn of the troops in cuba: that
failed to comply with these instruc-
/ tons and that practically | had done
no more than furnish a number of
| small rontoOn boats that would he en-
/ tirely useless for the purpose. although
| | had been sent 10 various places fit
| the purpose Of collecting a proner'
| equipment. beg leave to make The
| following statement Of the actual facts
! OF the CAGE, and Of my responsibilities
! and duties. FOR the information of the
| commission ~ which propose 20 ap-
pend my affidavit as to their correct
/ ness rs had been with one exception
| Inc custom with statements made to
/ the commission"
! LuDLOW'S FIRST ORDERS.
General Ludlow then explained that
| his first orders were 10 Prepare an *
petition To land mt Mariel on the
north Cuban coast to operate against
Havana. Only from six thousand TO
/ seven thousand men were to be landed
j in a sheltered harbor. and he provided
the pontoon boats for use as Il landing
/ pier IN smooth water. The transport
Alamo was equipped roi. two COMPANIES
of engineers and abundantly supplied
with the necessary tools, picks. shovels.
etc. When the plan of campaign waa
suddenly changed to the South coast.
/ the Alamo had been loaded for. another
expedition, and was out of reach and
the problems 10 be faced in the unshci-
tered roadstoad at Sibcney were radi-
cally different from thcDa at Mariel.
| Concerning General Miles instruc.
tons, General Ludlow then goes on to
say:
II was merely ordered In writing to
| proceed 10 Tampa, accompany General
| Skaters expedition and render him all
the aid in my power.
This was the only formal order
had from General Miles. or from any
one else"
WHAT SHAt"TER DID.
General Ludlow explained that on ar
| irving at Tampa he had found General
Shafter. turned over the whole matter
of transportation and Decentralization
to Colonel Humphreys, of the Quarter