New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-20
MKINLEY AS COMMANDER
HIS PERSONAL ORDERS IN SPANISH
WAR SHOW HOW CLOSELY HE
WATCHED EVERY MOVEMENT.

IT, +ba forthcoming Nav number of THE National
Magazine w S. Coursey. former private secretary
to the Secretary of War. writes as follows OF 'ne
personal part taken by President Mckinley IN the
direction of affairs in the Spanish war:
Of M tue a has Pfesidsnt Mckinley Ths article deals
with Mr. Mckinley as the ideal Gonmandes III Saner
before in the history of our country was there or
the he s2 o2ees Of he
did William MeKRsy Rgrqg the r ST the come
manders in the field had almost entire authority
mands General Grant seldom asked for orders
from Washington. and he only Intregue a,s, re
Mr MCKINLEY at al set lgl lge c sFr
House every evening and often lasted until |:
and 2e secre tn 5he Of War ger
Navy Long and General coT6in the ro aq9I'hI MIL
tary orders to he submitted to him before L pens
issued and many Of them to-day bear MS corree-
Of and NOSE o5qq se White fhs 81 ou M
On the evening Of the tn the a fb Forts s
of Santiago and urging that an army Of not less
than thousand men be sent there at once =,
Tampa and General shafter instructed to sail
ceVed Stating that it would be impossible for him
to get away before daylight the next day. Until
to and coming S from General 5hafter the Presi
would GO with the first expedition: if adequate
quartermaster, commissary and medical supplies .
had been obtained the President said TO the
Tell him. (neaning General shafter) good night
Early that morning. however. a dispatch was re
ceived by the Navy Department from Admiral
Remey. at Key West. stating that:
Spanish armOr cruiser, second class. and Spanish
torpedo boat destroyer seen by Eagle, Nicholas
Channel. Cuba. Destroy convoy Details follow
from his slumbers. and after reading the message
to him urged that General Shafter be directed TO
delay the movement until further advised Again
the Secretary of War and the adjutant general
summoned to the White House. and as soon
they arrived instructions were given TO delay
the movement II was not until the 18th that the
IL at such times these. when most of the
officials were greatly excited. that Mr.; MCKINLEY
striking Not did he become excited or rutfied
and he seemed to tire On the other hand,
he bright and cheerful
All cipher CablegramS received at the state, wal
and Navy departments came over wires tnat passed
through the telegraph and cipher bureau of the
White House. and. under the direction OF Captain
3 F MONTGOMERY signal officer. U. 8. A, these
Immediately deciphered and handed
President, that he was Informed OF all that
the messages addressed Mr. Mckinley very
often would to the telegraph bureau and read
the messages sheet by sheet as they came over the
wires: and not infrequently the Secretary OF war
while reading the same telegram, would receive
q message the telephone from the President
directing him to come to the White House imme-
diateIy to confer in regard to the dispatch just
received. The Secretary Of War would prepare a
reply to message. then hand 1T to the President
colonel MilIers command sailed from Manila to
IoiIo in December 1898. Upon his arrival he met
resistance and having no warship ne was unable
to effect landing. Upon General Ots's report OF
and that the soldiers were suffering greatly
from the crowded condition of the transports. the
Secretary of War prepared an answer The mes,
was follows.
TT is of Importance that conflict be avoided