Evening star., 1921-09-29
ROOSEvELT'S DIARY
TELLS WAR TRIALS
Little Pocket Volume Pre-
sented by Widow to Me-
mortal Association.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreS8.
NEW YORK. September 2s-A
terse history of the Spanish-Ameri-
can war as seen through the eyes
Of it's most famous participant came
to light yesterday when Mrs Theo-
dore Roosevelt presented the former
Presidents war diary to the Roose-
welt Memorial Association.
The diary is a record of experiences
and impressions, made up Of laconic
entries. some historical, some critical
Shafts of characteristic pointedness
were aimed at the stupidity OF tne
ordnance department, while the
colonel recorded the belief that IN
the War Department there was no
management at all" .-
The diary Is small pocket volume
and contained notes in pencil ana
ink. No part of 1t has ever been pub
lished before.
Some of the most characteristic en-
May s, 1s98-Commissioned as
lieutenant colonel United States Vol
untary Cavalry. Wood as colonel, by
my choice.
Delays Surpassed Belief.
May THE delays and stupidity
OF the ordnance department surpass
belief. The QuartermasterS depart
ment is better but bad. The commits
management whatever in the War
Department. Against a good nation
we should be helpless.
May 2l-The blunders and delays
of the ordnance bureau surpass be-
lief. They express us stuff we don't
need. and send US the rifles by slow
freight! There no head. no energy.
no Intelligence in the War Depart
ment.
May 24-Quota nearly filed. 1t is
astonishing how rapidly we have
armed, mounted and drilled these
men. Woods power of work and
executive capacity are wonderful.
Railroad System Poor.
May 30-Railway system tends to
proper facilities for unloading horses,
to rest, water or feed, etc.
June 3-Re ached Tampa in morning.
Railway system in widest confusion !;
it took us twelve hours to get into
camp with our baggage.
June 5-No words can paint the
confusion. No head: a breakdown Of
both the railroad and military sys-
TENS of the country.
June 6-No plans; no staff officers:
no instructions to us. Each 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 go aboard trans
port. Worst confusion yet. No al
lotment of transports: no plans: ut
ter confusion.
June 20-Reached Santiago.
June 22-Landed.
June 23-Marched
Tells OF Battle.
June 24-Fight-Las Guasimas. We
drove enemy in fine shape Lost SO
men killed and wounded, 20 slight
July Rose at 4. Big battle. Com
manded regiment. Held extreme front
of firing line.
July s-Truce at noon. Spanish fleet
destroyed.
July 4-Truce. Mismanagement hor-
rible. No head to armv.
July 10-Bombardment again.
July 11-Truce again. Shi. .eu camp
a mile to extend lines. Heaviest rains
yet. at night
July 17-Surrender at Santiago.
July 1S-Shifted camp to foothills.
One-half of men of my regiment dead
or disabled by wounds or sickness"
Mrs. Roosevelt also presented the
Roosevelt Memorial Association with
the spectacle case and manuscript of
an address. pierced by a bullet aimed
at Roosevelt in Milwaukee in 1912. 1t
was from this manuscript that Roose-
velt a half hour later read his cam
paign speech with the assassin's bull
let still imbedded in his body.