Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-27
HELD THE LINES IN WAR TINE
Personal Orders Of President Mckinley
Daring the Spanish War,
CLOSE WATCH ON EVERY MOVEMENT
interesting sIdeIight on Men and
Measures on the Field Of
Action for the Liberia
tion OF Cuba
CLOSE WATCH ON EVERY MOVEMENT

In the forthcoming May number OF The
National Magazine w. S. Coursey, former
private secretary to the secretary Of war,
writes as follows OF the personal part taken
by President Mckinley in the direction of
Affairs in the Spanish war:
Much has been written regarding the per-
s~onality OF the late President Mckinley.
This article deals with Mr.. Mckinley as the
ideal commander in chief Of the army and
navy Of the United States. Never before In
the history Of our country was there a
president who so absolutely and devotedly
commanded the lighting forces Of the
United States as did William Mckinley.
During the civil war the conditions were
widely different. Ther the commanders in
the field had almost entire authority to do
as they pleased with the forces OF their
commands. General Grant seldom asked
for orders from Washington, and he only
infrequently received any. Not so during
the Scandinavian war. Mr.. Mckinley
was, at all times. fully cognizant Of even
the minutest details affecting the army and
navy. Conferences we're held at the White
House every evening, and often lasted until
l, 2 and 3 O'Clock in the morning. There
were present, usually. Secretary OF War
Alger, Secretary Of the Navy Long and
General Corbin, the adjutant general Of the
army. The president required all military
orders to be submitted to him before being
Issued, and many of them today bear his
corrections In pencil.
Preparing for Invasion.
The night OF June I and morning OF the
9Th will long be remembered by those at
the White House. On the evening Of the
18th, upon the advice OF Admiral Sampson
that he had bombarded the forts OF Santiago
and urging that an army of not less than
10000 men be sent there at once, a direct
wire was secured from the White House to
Tampa and General Shafter was instructed
TO sail Immediately. Within FIVE minutes a
reply was received stating that It would be
impossible for him to get away before day
light the next day. Until about 2 o'clock in
the morning kilograms we're going to and
coming Dom General Shafter. The presi-
dent wanted to know how many troops and
horses would go with the first expedition;
II adequate quartermaster, commissary and
medical supplies were on board the ships.
After all this had been OBJ
tanned the president said to the operator:
Tell him (meaning General shafter)
good night and godspeed."
Early that morning, however, a dispatch
was received 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"
The secretary Of the navy aroused the
president 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
were to the White House, and
as soon as they arrived instructions were
given to delay the movement. II was not
until the 14th that the first troops left
Tampa for Cuban waters.
1t was at such times as these, when
most Of the ~oficisls we're greatly excited,
that Mr.. McKinley's noble character and
presence of mind we're most striking. Not
once did he become excited or ruined, and
he seemed never to tire. On the other
hand, he was bright and cheerful.
Information at First Hand.
All cipher cablegrams received at the
State, War and Navy departments came
over wires that passed through the tele-
graph and cipher bureau OF the White
House, and. under the direction of Captain
b. F. Montgomery. signal officer. U. s. A.,
these messages we're Immediately de-
ciphered and handed the president, so that
he was informed OF all that was transpiring
as soon as the officials to whom the mes
sages were addressed. Mr.. Mckinley very
often would come to the telegraph bureau
and read the messages sheet by sheet, as
they came over the wires, and not infre.
quently the secretary OF war, while reading
the same telegram, would receive a mes
sage over the telephone from the president
directing him to come to the White House
Immediately to confer in regard to the dis
patch just received. The secretary Of war
would prepare a reply to a message, then
hand 1t to the president. who would make
his corrections.
Colonel Miller's command sailed from
Manila TO Iloilo In December, 1898. Upon
his arrival he met resistance and, having
no war ship, he was unable to. effect q
landing. Upon General Otis report OF this
fact and that the soldiers were suffering
greatly from the provided condition OF the
transports. the secretary of war prepared
an answer. The message was written on
New Years day Of 1899, and was as fol-
lows:
TT is of FIRST Importance that coA1ict
~ ~SSA