Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-29
ROOSEVELT DIARY
Of SPANISH WAR
IS VERY CRITICAL
Ordinance Bureau Shipped
Rifles by Freight and Un-
necessary Stuff by Express.

New York. Sept. 2S.-A terse his
tory OF the Spanish-American war. as
seen through the eyes Of its most
famous participant, came to light Wed
nesday. when Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt
presented the former presidents war
diary to the Roosevelt Memorial asso-
citation. '.,
The diary is record of experiences
and Impressions made up of laconic en-
tries. some historical, some critical.
Shafts of characteristic pointedness
were aimed at the stupidity of the ord
nance department" while the colonel
recorded the belief that in the war de-
partment there was mo management
at ALL"
The diary is small pocket volume
and contained notes in pencil and ink.
No part of it has ever been published
before
Some of the most characteristic en-
tries follow:
May 6, 1S9S-Commissio as lieu
tenant colonel U. S. Voluntary cavalry.
Wood as colonel by my choice.
Flags Ordnance Bureau.
May THE delays and stupidity of
the ordnance department surpass be-
lief: The quartermaster department
is better, but bad. The commissary
department is good. There is no man
agement whatever in the war depart
ment. Against good nation we should
be helpless.
May 21-The blunders and delays of
the ordnance bureau surpasses belief.
They express us stuff we don't need.
and send us the rifles by slow freight,,!!!
There is no head, no energy, no intel
igence in the war department
May 24-Quota nearly filled. 1t is
astonishing how rapidly we have armed.
and drilled these men. Woods
power of work and executive capacity
are wonderful
May 3O-Railway system tends to
break down. Interminable delays: no
proper facilities for unloading horses.
to rest, water or feed, etc, etc.
June 3-Reach Tampa in morning.
Railway system in widest confusion:
it took us II hours to get into camp
with our baggage.
June 5.-No words can paint the
confusion. No head; break down Of
both the railroad and military sys-
tens of the country.
June 6.-No plans: no staff officers;
no instructions to us. Eeach officer
finds out for himself and takes his
chances. We are doing as well as the
regular regiments. Have very light
baggage.
June S-Told to 60 aboard trans
port. Worst confusion yet. No allot
ments of transports; no plans; utter
confusion.
June 2O.-Reached Santiago.
June 22.-Landed
June o3.-Marched.
Defeated Enemy.
June 24.-Fight-Las Guasimas.
We drove enemy i'll fine shape. Lost 60
men, killed and wounded, 20 slight.
July Rose at four. Big battle.
Commanded regiment, held extreme
:ront of firing line.
July s:-Truce at noon. Spanish
'leet destroyed.
July 4. - Truce. Mismanagement
lorrible. No head to army.
July 1O.--Bombardment again.
July II. Truce. again. Shifted
amp a mile to extend lines. Heaviest
aims yet at night.
July 17.-Surrender at Santiago.
July 1S.-Shifted camp to foothills.
)ne-half Of men of my regiment dead
,r disabled by wounds or sickness.
Mrs. Roosevelt also presented the
Roosevelt Memorial association with
he spectacle case and manuscript of
IN address, pierced by bullet aimed
t Roosevelt in Milwaukee in 1912.
t was from this manuscript that
Roosevelt half hour later read his
speech with the assassin's
ullet still imbedded in his body.