Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-11

u
inspected the principal gun foundries
and military camps and made valuable
reports to the government of his OBJ
servation.
In 1903, after visiting the Philip
pine Islands in his official capacity he
returned through Japan, China and
over the great trans-Siberian railroad
back to the United States, thus hay
ing made the tour of the world by this
comparatively new and untraveled
route.
When the war with Spain broke out
General Miles made many important
recommendations, which, If followed,
would have greatly reduced the cost
and increased the efficiency of the
army. He did not believe in the as
sembling of an immense army, ill-clad
and imperfectly equipped, nor did he
see the necessity therefor. He re-
garded the war as mainly a naval
problem and realized that the destruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet would leave
the Spanish army in Cuba cut off from
all supplies and communication with
the home government and that it's
capture would be rendered an easy
matter. He urged the immediate cap
ture of Porto Rico and was strongly
in favor of aiding the Cubans with
arms, ammunition and necessary sup.
plies.
Army in His Care.
Before war was declared, under his
direction the effective force of the reg
ular army was modified at Chicka.
manga, New Orleans, Mobile and Tam
nd nro of
material were sent to the Cuban
army. AT the breaking out of the war
the regular army, although consisting
of only $4,000 men, was well equipped.
organized and disciplined and prepar-
ed for immediate service. There We're
only equipments for about 10000 addi.
tional men. and he urged, therefore,
that the volunteer troops called into
service be kept in their respective
states until they. could be properly
equipped and organized. He took
steps to obtain the cooperation of the
Cuban forces in eastern Cuba, and by
his direction they were so disposed
by their commanders that they aided
greatly in the capture of Santiago.
Ordered to Washington.
] While at Tampa, organizing the first
expedition for Santiago, he requested
authority to accompany that
expedition, or to organize Immediate
ly another and join the first and after
wards go to Porto Rico, but this re.
quest was not granted, and instead he
| was directed by telegraph to return to
Washington. Later, when the army
before Santiago was seriously involv-
ed, he was authorized to go there at
! once with achievements, and arrived
on July IL. On July IS he met General
| Toral the Spanish commander, in con-
| ference, under a flag of truce, and de
| manded the surrender Of the Spanish
forces at noon on the following day.
| In the meantime he had arranged for
combined attack of all the naval and
military forces.
The Spanish commander was notified
that hostilities would commence at
that time should he not surrender.
Before the hour arrived on the morn
ing of July IA, General Toral agreed to
surrender, not only the garrison of
Santiago, but allpthe troops in his de-
partment. The commissioners to ar
range the details sof capitalization hay
| ing been appointed General Miles
l prosecuted W Iudlitduot1lJ U1y " VI ga
nize the expedition for the capture OF
Porto Rico. On July p he sailed with
1914 men although there was a force of
| 1900 Spanish regulars and Porto Ric.
an volunteers on that island at the
time. The objective point selected for
| landing, Point Fajardo, on the north
east coast of the island, was charged
by the general while enroute to Guam
lea, on the south coast, in considera-
ton of subsequent information and for
other reasons.
| A landing was made there on July
25, and after two engagements with the
Spanish troops, Ponce was occupied
July 81. The landing of our troops at
an unexpected point took the enemy
completely by surprise. The campaign
was admirably planned and executed
the island was practically taken by
strategy. In consequence of the care
| full disposition of the troops there was
| but small loss of life
| The series of general orders he has
issued during the years which he has
been in command of the army, as we'll
as the recommendations contained in
his annual reports, best illustrate his
solicitude in promoting the welfare, eff
| ficiency and patriotism of the army.
Maids and married women dress for
the envy of other women; widows for