Show GENERAL MILtS I REVLEWSTHE VAR Was Conducted According to His Own Plans SLIGHTED AND SNUBBED BY SECRETARY ALDER Was Denied Permission to Accompany Accom-pany Cuban Expedition Requests Concerning His Troops Ignored Ig-nored Talkative War Officials Made It Necessary to C1fung Porto Rican PlansHis Kansas City Star Interviews Were Correct Was In Full Command at Santiago Santi-ago and Negotiated the Surrender New work Sept 7The United States transport Obdam having onboard on-board Major General Nelson A Miles and his staff General Greenleaf Captain Cap-tain Whitney the Second regiment of Wisconsin volunteers consisting of 30 officers and 800 men and the hospital corps from Porto Rico arrived here today Mrs Miles son and daughter were also on board the transport which sailed from Ponce on Sept 1 The surgeon sur-geon in charge reported all well and no sickness or deaths during the voyage The troops were In the best of spirits The big transport was decorated profusely pro-fusely with palms and draped with flags From the fore truck was flying the American ensign over a large Spanish flag while long strings of international in-ternational code flags were floating from each masthead to the rails General Miles admitted to the Associated Associ-ated Press reporter who interviewed him while the Obdam waS lying of Liberty island the substantial accuracy of the statement attributed to him by the Kansas City Stars correspondent at Ponce Porto Rico There are General Miles said to the newspaper men about him a few minor inaccuracies in the published reports such ill usually occur in such I intervIews I do not care to point out the inaccuracies referred to at thIs time they are unimportant It is true that I requested that my troops in Porto Rico on their return home should be allowed to camp somewhere near New York preferably Brooklyn Heights Fort Waisworth or Governors island I also requested of the war department that the troops be allowed to march through New York City 1 never Intended to parade myself my-self as I shall go to Washington in a few days and would not be here at the time of the contemplated parade I asked that the Wisconsin men aboard the Obdam be permitted to stay i I in this vicinity for a day or two to i I gIve them a chance to seethe city It I would do no harm to let those western boys get a glimpse of New York Surely Sure-ly they merit it Many of them I think have never seen the city and I perhaps will never have another opportunity op-portunity to see it To my first request namely that my troops be permitted to camp hereabouts here-abouts In the neighborhood of Brooklyn Brook-lyn Heights and that they be allowed to parade I have received no reply r TOmv second request I received a reply I re-ply at Quarantine this morning orderIng order-Ing the Wisconsin boys home forthwith forth-with The men will go from the transports trans-ports directly to the cars I slutlr stay in the city aday or tb jt I 1 f a Y l < 1 < to transact some business and will I then proceed to Washington General Wilsons division will reach New York I in a day or two I think They will I come on the transports Mississippi Manitoba Alamo and Concho The I last will carry General Wilson and his t headquarters TOO MUCH CRITICISM I General Miles said that he did not desire to criticise the conduct of any officer engaged in the late war He i expressed the opinion that there had I been too much criticism complaint and condemnation published already and that the public had lost sight of the success and glorIes of the war He did not care to enter into any general discussion of the events of the war beyond the written statement that he had prepared during his voyage on the Obdam and which he has given out for publication He will go to Wash ington tomorrow morning General Miles declared that the health of the troops still in Porto Rico is good He said that he considered the island a most charming country but that he is greatly pleased to re turn to the United States The fOllowing statement emanating from General Miles was given to the reporters on board of the Obdam It is in the form of a letter in which General Milesjs mentioned in the third person I While at Porto Rico and during the voyage returning on the Obdam on which steamer were General Miles and I staff and two battalions of the Second regiment of Wisconsin volunteers I learned the fOllowing facts concerning the Cuban and Porto Rican expeditions In the first place let me say that the war has closed after being conducted largely as General Miles stated publicly pub-licly at the beginning of the war thai it would be The statement was pub licly made and a general order was issued is-sued by him as commander of the American army in which the plan he has striven to pursue was foreshadowed foreshad-owed namely seeking to accomplish I results with the least possible loss of life In an interviEw In the latter part of May he said The United States government is too strong too great and I too powerful to commit any foolish act in connection with the proposed invasion in-vasion of Cuba Referring to the proposed rush to i the feverstrIcken city of Havana he I said No officer is fit to command troops who from any motive whatever I would needlessly risk the life of a single I sin-gle soldier either from disease or the bullets of the enemy I have never sacrificed the lives of men under my command and do not propose to subject sub-ject them to any unnecessary risks in the present campaign In the order issued to the army at an early date he directed that Every officer of whatever grade will so far i as may be in his power guard and preserve I pre-serve the health and welfare of those under his charge He must labor diligently dili-gently and zealously to perfect himself I him-self and his subordinates in military drill instruction and discipline and above all he must constantly endeaver I b3 precept and example to maintain the highest character to foster and stimulate that true soldierly spirit and patriotic devotion to duty which must characterize an effective army i The principles thus enunciated have I been zealously observed from the first I Owing to the fact that the season J suited for campaigning in Cuba had been exhausted in debates and delay in congress and in necessary preparations I prepara-tions General Miles was opposed to rushing an illprepared undiscIplined and unequipped army in a movement against the capital of Cuba defended by 100000 trained Spanish troops and in this position he stood practically alone for several weeks Havana lIa tanzas Santiago and a few other points were drawn on his military map as hotbeds of disease destructive to an army and places to be avoided especially espe-ciallY during the sickly season HIS PLAN OF CAMPAIGN When finally called upon to submit a plan of campaign he did so and put it in writing In substance he took the stand first that every effort should be made to equip the Cubans and thereby enable them to harass the Spanish forces The cry If On to Havana should be encouraged bout when the transports trans-ports loaded with troops were out of > 5 sx sight of land they should sail as straight as steam power could bear them to the gate of the Antilles and the key of the whole positionPorto Rico Then having seized and occupied occu-pied that island a movement to Cuba was to follow by means of a strong cavalry force which was to be organIzed organ-ized and equipped by August or September Sep-tember He contemplated that 20000 cavalry thrown to the center of Cuba cutting the Spanish forces in two and moving west to Havana by the time the rainy season was over and it would be possible to maneuver an army we could move against that city a well organized well equipped and well disciplined dis-ciplined army and complete the capture cap-ture of the Spanish forces The enclosure en-closure of Cerveras fleet in the harbor of Santiago changed the condition and made it necessary to move a military I force to that Point ANTED TO GO General Miles hile at Tampa organizing or-ganizing the expedition felt the importance im-portance of the enterprise so greatly that he requested permission to accompany ac-company that expedition or to organize organ-ize another to join It This was not granted so far as accompanying that expedition was concerned but authorIty author-Ity was granted to equip a second for movement and operation against the enemy inCuba and Porto Rico However before this expedition was equipped calls were made for additional addi-tional forces to go to Santiago and they were immedlatel forwarded On the third day of Jyly General Shafter telegraphed that his losses had been greatly underestimated that he met I I with stronger resistance than he had anticipated and that he was seriously considering the advisability of falling I I back to a position five miles to the rear and that he had not been able to be up during the past four days Under such circumstances General Miles telegraphed General Shafter that he would be with him within a week with strong reinforcements Of course taking the troops prepared for the second sec-ond expedition which had been ordered by the president to operate against the I enemy in Cuba as well as In Porto Rico These reinforcements were pushed rapidly forward and some of them arrived in advance of the commanding com-manding general and were pUt in position posi-tion In the trenches around Santiago HAD FULL AUTHORITY Under verbal instructions of the I president Cetleral Miles was directed to go wherever he deemed his presence was required and that he should give such directions as in his opinion were best for the army and the government These were the circumstances under which General Miles left WaShington Arriving at Santiago July 11 not asa as-a private individual nor as a visitor any pretense that he went there disrobed dis-robed of his authority or official capacity ca-pacity is too childiah to be considered by sensible men From the moment he arrived at Santiago he was responsible for what mIght occur He arrIved therewith there-with the Yale Columbia and Rita loaded with infantry and three ships Continued Page 2 t 1 4 1I WI I t y Jr iGNfAliv e REVlfWS THE W AA R Continued from Page 1l loaded with artier besides those already al-ready disembarked He designed to disembark the troops and artillery named on the west side of Santiago a was undertcod before leaving Washington and before he went ashore he made the necessary arrangements accordingly CONFERENCE WITH TORA He then proceeded to the front and after consulting with General Shafer a note was sent to the Spanish commander com-mander by Gen rl Shafter saying that the commanding general of the United States army had arrived In his capac i with strong reinforcefnents and would meet him between tIe lines at any hour agreeable The reply of the Spanish commander was that he would meet him at 12 oclock next morning The meeting was held and after some tonversaton between General Shafer and General Torl General Miles frankly admitted to the Spanish general gen-eral that he had left Washington six day before and that it was ten the determination of the government that his portion or the Spanish army must be captured or destroyed He also informed in-formed the Spanlsf general that his reinforcements re-inforcements had arrived with him that some of those forces had already disembarked and the remainder would be disembarked on the west sIde of the wes harbor and that i was useless for him to contend against the inevitable These transports could also be plainly plain-ly seen by the Spanish from 1orro Caste and other points General Toral replied that so long as he had rations and ammunition he had to fight in order to maintain the honor of the Spanish army In response to that he was informed that he had already al-ready maintained the honor and that further efforts would be useless and would result in a wanton sacrifice of human life He then said that he was waiting to hear from his government and was informed by Generl Miles that he had already taken time for that purpose and would be given until daylight day-light of the following morning it be fag then 3 ocock to subuit a answer an-swer He begged for longer tm and earnestly requested until 12 ocock next day This was fn ly agreed toby to-by General Miles the meeting dIssolved and the officers separated AUTHORITY FROI AGER On returnIng from this conference a dispatch was received by General Miles I from Washington as follows I Washington D C July 13MaJor General Miles You may accept surrender sur-render by granting parole to officers and men the officers retaIning their side arms the officers and men after parole to be permitted to return to Spain the United States asistng I not accepted then assault unless in your judgment an assault would fail Consult with Sampson and pursue such course as to the assault as you joint agree upon Mater should be settled prQnlty Signed R A ALGER Secretary at Wa I S This the statement ays does not la c0 look as lf General Miles was ther as a visitor He was charged with reponsi I blty of ordering an assault upon the entrenchments and fortfcaUo s of mar m-ar which if successful would have costat east 5W or of withholding the 1 aultl1t in hit idgmcnt such assault sucl3 af5ul itV 1 J r 1 J i I would fail No greater discreton was ever given to any general commanding an army and what is more as wU be observed he was authorized to accept I the surrender which in the interest his subordinates he generously I declined to do and Went away leaving aU the Shatter honor to his next in rnk General ShaterREPLY REPLY FRO TORAL On the morning of the first interview a letter was received from General Toral translation of whIch the following is a literal Santago de Cuba July 1 1898 General in Chief of the American Forces Honored SirHis excellency the general in chief of the army of the is ad of CUba telegraphs from Havana Ha-vana lag yesterday at 7 p m the follow Believing the business f such Importance Im-portance as the caitulaton of that place to be known and decided upon bY the government of his majesty I give you notice that I have sent the condi tuns of your telegram asking an Immediate im-mediate aswet and enabling you also to show this to the general 00 the American army to see if he wi agree to await the answer of the government govern-ment which cannot be as soon a the time whIch he hasrdeided as com nluIcaton by way of Bermuda is more slow than by Key West In the meanwhile our honor and the general of the army may agree von canitula tUIL on the basis of repatriation returning re-turning to Span I have the honor to transmit this to you that in case you may consIder the foregoIng satisfactory that he may designate des-ignate persons in representation of himself who with those in I name may agree to clauses of the caitula tion uon the basis of returning to Spain accepted already in the begir ning by the genera In chIef of this army Awaiting a reply I am very respectfully re-spectfully your servant JOSE TORAL TOPALS REMARKABLE OFFER At the meeting on the fonQing day General Torl stated that he was prepared pre-pared to surrender with the approval of the captain generl of Cuba but it would require a little time to have his acts confirmed by the home government I govern-ment that in the meant me he was t prepared to appoint commissioners to arrange the clauses of capitulation I Not onlr this he offered to surrender the balance of his command which had not been under fire during the campaign cam-paign The remarkable olrer was on his motion and was in the nature ota ot-a surprise to the American generals present However at the conference of the day previous General Miles had reminded him that he had been tendered I tender-ed the most lberal terms ever offered to an enemy that his feet was destroyed destroy-ed and that they were 3000 miles from home Torals o1er could be accounted for in one of two wayseit r that the tlOOPS were wanted at home to meet a thieatened revolution or that they wanted to get home and regarded thIS as the onlv means Qf dOing so at the expense of the United States Whether Blanco and the rest of the Spanih forces in Cuba would have surrendered 01 the same terms is not now and perhaps per-haps may never be known J PORTO RICA pLANS I The place of lading the Porto ulcan expedition bad bee so thoroug lY advertised ad-vertised i communc tons sent over the French cable and in the news tiers te Qf our own country and telegtaph ed to Madrid nd from there to aI Juan that not hiving fdeelved the necessary appliances with which to disembark dis-embark Ceneral Miles decided a r leaving the Windward Passage to change his course and land on tJ1e south side of Porto Rico where the Spaniards were the least prepared and the least expecting to receIve him and where he knew that the disembarla tioui of the troops and supplies could be most easily efected From the time of that disembarkation during the following of the he lowing 19 days camvaJg kept the Spaniards guessing what the next move would be When they withdrew with-drew along the line of he great mH tary road between Ponce and San Juan they destroyed the bridges obstructed the roads and fortified strong positions in the mountain passages and then were surprised to find a column of his army was sweeping around the west end of the island capturing the principal prin-cipal cities and town while another had passed over the mountains over the trail which the Spaniards hld supposed sup-posed imassble and therefore had not forU1ed or guarded i and the first they knew of the march of the American army was the appeaance or a strong brigade within 20 miles ot the northern coast at the terminus of the railroad recibo connecting San Juan with Ar WON THE ISLAND The island of Porto Rico was fairy of and has won by the right conquest ha become 2 art of the United States The sentiment of the people was in no I sense outraged by the invader but on the contrary was successfully Drpl iate A people who have endured the I severity of Spanish rule for centurIes hail with joy the rotectfon ot the great republC One of the richest section sec-tion of the country over which our fag now floats has been added and will be of latn value to our nation politically commercially and from a military or strategic point of view Possession of that island has also rendered any furthr resistece 01 the Spanish forces in Cuba hopeless and General Miles firmly believes that by fair and just treatment the eonle of Cuba can be easily controlled either asa as-a friendly ally and neighbor on to lW come a part of our country as the peQ pIe of Porto Rico Generl lIes remained InPorto Rico I as long as he deemed his prescnce necessary nec-essary for carrying out the wishes ot the president and now returns t the I United States bringing with him nearly near-ly 5000 men who are no longer required re-quired there being some 12GOO remaining remain-ing arnhy sufficient for all purposes He returns at once to Washington where he believes he can be most useful use-ful as he considers the most important need of the hour now to be the i medIate me-dIate reduction of war eeses and the return of as large a portion of those in the militarY servIce as possible to their former occupations where they I are most needed |