The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-03
General Miles and the Navy.

July, both the historian and the hero OF
the Porto Rico campaign. We have looked
in vain through his narrative for any ex-
PLANTATION OF one Of the most surprising
circumstances OF that campaign, namely,
General MILEs's sudden change OF attitude
toward the navy and It's cooperation in the
invasion Of Porto Rico. What we find in
the North American Rerietc Is merely this
brief acknowledgment:
Tho navy rendered cordial and invaluable aid in
| disembarking troops and supplies"
After the rejection Of General Mu.Es's ex-
| traordinary recommendation OF July 8 that
the siege of Santiago be abandoned and the
army there sent under his personal COM
mand to subduc Porto Rico, his advice sug-
gestions and complaints fell fast and
thick upon Washington. At one time
he was demanding 10000 troops for
the expedition. At another time he
was proposing to start out with one-tcnth
OF that force, and his ardor had to be re-
| pressed. At one time he was concerning
himself unnecessarily with the diplomatic
| policy Of the Administration. Al one time
he was clamorlng for marines, and was In
| formed by the Secretary OF War that the
army was big enough to afford him all tho
men he needed Then he began to call for
ships, ships more ships, invoking the help
OF the navy as earnestly as the carter
called upon HERCULES. AT another time
he was imporlng the Administration to
hold the navy of.
Is it possible to find the key to the self
contradictions and changes and alternate
enthusiasm and petulance manifested by
the General Commanding the Army in his
amazing series Of dispatches from Playa
del Este and Ponce in July and the first
part of August OF last year?
On July 10, before he left Cuba, General
MILES had agreed with Admiral SAMPSON
that the best place to land tho army for
tho occupation OF Porto Rico was in the
neighborhood Of San Juan. near the
northeast point OF the island; and
he was then requesting that transports
be directed to rendezvous at Point Fajardo.
The next day he urged strong combined
movement on Porto Rico, to make sure OF
tho capture Of the island and the reduction
OF the forts there as speedily as possible, as
its occupation will probably be all the as
sistance required OF tho navy in the COM
plete control Of the islands in the West
indies"
This despatch to ALGER crossed one from
Secretary ALaER to General MILES, also OF
July II, promising "the fullest co6pera-
ton between the army and the navy" and
asking for definite programme Of MILEs's
| intentions.
Later in the same day, July II, MILES
replied:
Am an1ions to sail tomorrow to Point Fajardo.
| n. G.n po,ta ~,
from Admiral SAMPSON. and soon received will
cable you. Expect to leave within two days. Would
like &c. 900 troops for that island.
The department sent despatch promising
10000 troops that week, and suggesting a
rendezvous at Nipe. in Cuba. MILES the
next day replied that going to Nipe would
cause too much delay he and SAMPSON had
consulted and agreed upon Point Fajardo,
MILES particularly wanted Admiral ScHLEY
designated "to cooperate with my move
ment and support my command"
On July 1S and 10 MILES continued to
urge Point Fajardo in various dispatches
to the Secretary Of War:
| July 49, believe 1t would avoid some compli-
cation and delay II We could 60 there At once"
| July ls.-I think 1t important to go direct 10
| Point Fajardo.'
July 1s.-Hope, considering all things it will be
decided for us to go to Point Fajardo."
Meanwhile Secretary ALGER was tele-
graphing full powers to General MILES as
to the choice OF a landing place:
| JULY 1s.-Your cabiegram concerning Npe was
| evidently sent before you received my last order.
| You are the judge OF the situation"
| July 10.-Your telegram Of to-day concerning
| Nipo is not understood. l cabled you yesterday
three times practically to to Porto Rico, landing
| where TO you seems best
Having received full authority to land at
Cape Fajardo, General MILES now began to
complain that he was not getting ships
enough:
July 2o.-I have been waiting for Admiral sAMP.
SON TO furnish proper naval assistance, indicated
in your telegram"
July 2o.-I asked him SAMPSON to give us a.
strong force Of the navy as possible in the move
| ment against Porto Rico"
JULY 2o.-I think you and the President should
be spprsed of tho fact that while these ten trans.
ports. loaded with troops and munitions Of war
waiting here. great portion Of the American navy
ere within cannon shot OF this place. and some Of
them actively engaged bringing into this harbor
vessels which were captured by and surrendered to
| the navy"
July co-There are battleships enough here to
enable to land within cannon shot OF tho city OF
San Juan"
July 20.-l request that positive instructions be
given to the navy to cover the landing OF at least
10, 900 troops on the island of Porto Rico without de-
lay, rs that number will be there within a week"
Expressly In response to General MILEs's
complaint that he was not getting as large
part of the navy as he thought he needed
for support in his expedition. Admiral
SAMPSON designated for the service, in adj
dition to the Yale, the Columbia, the Gin
cinnati and the New Orleans, previously
assigned, the Gloucester. the Annapolis
the Wasp the Lcyden and three monitors.
Six days later the department was puz-
zlcd and disturbed by unofficial reports that
General MILES was disembarking not at
Point Fajardo Mt the northeast corner OF the
island, but near Ponce, in the southwestern
part After all that MILES had said about
Point Fajardo the Secretary could not be-
lieve the news. The Adlutant-General telc-
graphcd on July % to General BROOKE at