The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-28
LUDLON'S LETTER
TO THE ALGERIANS
COntradicts the Testimony Of
General Miles.
Excuses Made for Badly Managed
Expeditions.
An Admission That He Was Charged
With Full Responsibility by
the General of the Army.

The Alger Relief Commission continued
its alleged investigation behind closed
doors yesterday. So far as could be ltarn-
written statement of General LUDLOW, mil
itary governor of Havana. In that state
ment General Ludlow attempts to dispar-
age the testimony given by General Miles
before the Algerians. General Miles when
on the witness stand was asked by Cen
eral Beaver if the Decentralization of troops
in Cuba had been provided for before the
expedition left Tampa To this General
Miles replied as follows:
General Shafer had not only his own staff Off
GERS but | instructed General Ludlow to supply
himself with everything necessary. ! supposed
at The time that he had done So but found OF
reaching Tampa that he had not. lie had a small
number OF pontoon boats, that would be utterly
useless for that purpose.
General Ludlow denies the truth of this
statement. He says that General Miles
entrusted him with preparations for the in
vasion of Cuba on the east shore of MarieI
Bay by a force of 5000 or 5000 men,
The object of this expedition was to
make surprise landing, intrench and
establish a fortified camp and depot as a
base OF operations against Havana.
The plan of campaign was suddenly
changed, and General Skaters force was
sent against Santiago. Thus the landing
had to be made in one or more open road
steads.
General Ludlow relates a conversation
which he had with General Miles at Wash
ington, as follows:
His first remark was II understand YOU did
some very good fighting down there. but that the
engineering was very bad | replied: II think,
General Miles, when you know the facts YOU will
find that considering the circumstances the engin-
al fight inc Jo said 4.
You did not build wharf NJ which transports
could land The railroad at Santiago was not
repaired or put in service The roads were not
properly repaired in advance OF the movement OF
troops, and no bridges were built over the
streams
replied in effect that these were mainly mat
tiers for General Shafter to direct and in fact no
such work was practicable. 1t would have taken
a month more to do all that and the construc-
ton Of wharf in the open roadstead was quite
mpracticabie, anyway
General Ludlow states that after loading
the Alamo that this practically concluded
his relation to the subject of disembarka-
ton, as all points were covered as fully as
the circumstances permitted.
1t was quite true, writes General Ludlow,
that the provision could have been adyantag.
eOusly increased by the employment of more
steam lighters ii the quartermaster could have
found them, but with this, il will be observed
j had nothing TO do | reported these facts per-
sonaiiy to the major general commanding, assured
him of my conviction that there would be no
difficulty, with average conditions Of weather, in
disembarking the expedition. With this statement
he seemed to be satisfied. lie then enquired what
arrangements, If any, | had made with regard to
the decentralization OF the expedition after the
conclusion Of the campaign. Ny reply to this
was: That as the Decentralization had to be made
practically in the open 7ca. the men and freights
fOated ashore in boats, and the mules and horses
mainly landed by discharging them through the
side ports and swimming them to the beach, il
hmm
OF time to return them 10 the transports by a
reversal Of this process. and that in any ease
the Theory Of the expedition that il should
succeed in It's object and capture Santiago
Harhor, and II was taken Tor granted that we
would have the enclosed waters of that bay. with
the existing wharves and other facilities for the
RECOMMENDATION when that should he necessary -
\ few days before the expedition sailed. General
Miles, who at Tampa. informed me that
was not 10 20, but to remain and arrange FOR the
fitting ont OF another and larger expedition in
tended Tor Porto Rico, OF some 5000 men. I
represented tn the General. however that all my
arrangements had been made To go with General
Shaitrr; that he wished me 90 with him, was
IN sense RELYING upon me for certain work
that might do to he useful To him, and that 4
would prefer il he would permit me TO carry out
the original instructions. This WAS held under
advisement for twenty four hours, during which
time had made q draft Of the engineer materials
necessary for the larger expedition had arranged
for one az two engineer officers to come directly
TO Tampa and he assigned specifically t. that
duty, and in other respects had made such pro-
vision ! could, leaving the other officers to
ampliiy the matter II found necessary. as they
would be entirely capable II doing. also order
ed by telegraph a large invoice OF intrenching
and other tools from the quariermaster and else
where, 10 be shipped TO Tampa without delay
arranged for the procuring of more pontoOns and
scOws, and endeav1red in the brief time al!otted
Ia me. To anticipate what might be the require
ments OF the Porto Rice expedition SO far as the
Engineer Department would be concerned. Gen
eral Miles finally jSsentcd 10 my going with Cen
eral Shattcr, but after this decision had been
made, and Just prior To the departure from
Tampa, ! was much surprised to receive formal
letter from HIM, stating that had hpen charged
with the NIL responsibility tor the cmbarkation,
Decentralization, and decentralization Of the troops,
and had been mteatri,tp, in my orders and cx-
penditurcs in connection with that object, aud,
in effect, that | would he held responsible in
case the provisions should prove To be inadequate
As had never received such Instructions and rs
General Miles was present at Tampa and person
ally knew The circumstances ii the expedition
and also knew that the transports and like lr-
engagements were ~ the hands OF the quarter
master, who, by the way. was ON his own staff
and who in charge uf the matter aud NOT /.
II seemed To me AT tho time that the letter was
one which tended To place III false posi-
tion and not in conformity with Tie facts of the
oast as known 60 exist. | made reply, disClanlne
the full mrasu" uf responsibility attributed L.
me. rccting the facts with regard to the quarter
masters responsibility and expressing my Js~ur-
anCc formally that the provision made. while II
could be improved, would be practically ade-