The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-13
THE MILES-SHAFTER QUARREL.
DEATH OF LATTER BRINGS our
CAUSE OF LONG FEUD.
Miles Refused Command Of santiago Cam
psIgn. HOping for Bigger worE-when
Disappointed In This Ambition Crit.
cIsm Began -AIger Tells the story.

CNsm hchs INC StVfys
BAKERSFIELD, Cal, Nov. 12.-Major-Gen-
Shafter died at 12:45 o'clock to-day at tho
ranch Of his sonin-law. Capt. McKittrick,
after an illness of one week.
The body will be taken to San Francisco
Wednesday evening, where the funeral,
with full military honors, will be held at tire
Preside.
Gen. Shsfter contracted the cold which
led to his death while he was going to cast
his vote last Tuesday The General gradu-
ally lost strength till the end came. He
was conscious until three hours before
death.
Gen. Shafter recalls to many people here
the long controversy over the conduct Of the
Spanish-American war Of which Lieut.
Gen. Miles was the storm centre.
1t is>known TO men here who were prom
inent in the Mckinley Administration that
Russell A. Alger, then Secretary OF War.
now Senator from Michigan, IN President
McKinley offered Gen. Miles his choice OF
command in the field, that Genl Miles de-
clined the command Of the Santiago army
and that it was on his direct recommends
ton that Gen. Shafter was selected.
Subsequently, sGter the battle of Santiago
WIS on, Gen. Miles, wh0 he'd been assigned
to command the Porto Ricsn campaign,
vented TO stop at Santiago on his way 10
Porto Rico end the Administrations con-
scented on the condition that he should not
sur ersede Shafter in Cuba and take from
the latter the honor of the victory he had
earned.
From that time on Gen. Miles began tn
critioise the conduct of the war and created
the controversy over the alleged en-
belmed beef served to the soldiers Of
Skaters army corps.
The impression was created by the Attn
u of Gen. Miles that the, Administration
had made a great blunder in selecting Gen.
Shaftcr. As far as known Gen. Miles never
acknowledged that he and not Secretary
Alger had been responsible for Shafter.
The popular opinion wa that Secretary
Alger had selected Gen. Shafter because he
was from Michigan. Ayers own State.
People in Washington who knew the facts
did not think it worth while to tell the real
story of Gen. Skaters selection, and it has
been known to very few.
DETROIT, Nov. ri can speak only in
terms of highest praise of Gen. Shafter,'
said Senator Russell A. Alger to-day. Il
think he did all that could be done; that
nothing was left undone even in that time
when confusion reigned.
The achievement Of the American peopIe
never was and never will be equalled. Two
hundred and fifty thousand troops were
mustered, armed and equipped, sent to
encampmentA by ships to Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines, battles we're
fought in different lands, the Spaniards
conquered and the protocol signed, all in liz
days from the declaration of war.
Gen. Shafter was very efficient in the
field and in the work he did for the country.
When criticised he came to me. | told
him: Repeat the statement Of what
was accomplished in those 1l3 days; that
is enough"
Senator Alger recalled the designation
Of Gen. Shafteras commander Of the army
that invaded Cuba. He said:
The President was Disguised with Miles.
One day when the President and myself
were discussing the question Of who should
he made commander Of the expedition
the President said:
How would Shafter do? We can get
rid Of he whole thing that way
That is how Cen. Shafter was assigned
to go TO Cuba at the head OF the army.
Miles had been Criticising everything as
usual and disgusted the President.
Later Miles began critio!sing thec conduct
Of the camplign in Cuba. / had another
interview with President Mckinley and the
matter Of Miles's criticisms came up.
IL Miles can do any better let him 20
to Cuba and take command, said the Presi-
dent.
The next day | told Miles that he could
20 to Cuba and supersede Shafter, but he
evidently thought il beneath him az thst
time, for he did not 60"
BosToS, Nov. r. Former Secretary Of
the Navy John d, Long told The sun cor
respondent tonight that his impression
was that Maior-Gen. Shafter was selected
to command the Santiago expedition by
Secretary of War Alger after Lieut.. Gen.
Miles had declined the command, because
Shafter was a Michigan man n a close
friend Of the Secretary of War. Mr.. Long
said:
As | remember the circumstances.
President Mckinley offered the command
of the expedition against Santiago TO Lieut.
Cen. Miles because he was the superior
army officer.
Gen. Miles declined 20 take charge for
the reason that he believed that there was
to be a subsequent movement OF far greater
Importance n that a large army was to
be thrown against either the northern or
eastern coast Of Cuba in the month Of Octo-
Der.
Il do not recall that Secretary AIger
rendered the command to Gen. Miles, and I
am quite certain that President Mckinley
did so. l have no recollection that Gen.
Miles recommended Gen. Shafter for the
command and nm quite certain that Secre-
tary Alger appointed the latter because
he was a Michigan man."
Victor l.. Mason. now president OF the
Passaic. N. j.. Board OF Trade, who wa
secretary to Gen. Russell A. AIger when
the latter was Secretary Of War. said last
night that the appointment OF Gen. shafter
to command the Santiago army was sug-
gested by Gen. Nelson A. Miles. and that
Gen. Niles was not turned down for the
place, az was supposed at the time Gen.