entrenched, defending party, were even a little greater, or over 7 per cent. of its strength.  It is, therefore, probable that the Spanish force was greater than officially reported and included the troops from the other posts as well as those from Siboney.  The engagement was classed by General Shafter as unimportant, although its effect upon our army was inspiring.  It did not cut off the retreat of the Spanish force, and the men who faced our army at Guasimas met them again in the trenches before Santiago.  General Shafter desired to advance with his whole force, and cautioned strongly against any further forward movement until the troops were well in hand.  The two battles between the Cubans and Spaniards, fought on the 23rd, in which the Cubans had sixteen men wounded and two killed, were engagements of some consequence, although we have no reports of them.  There is no evidence that the Cubans took part in the battle of Guasimas, although they arrived on the grounds immediately after the firing ceased.

The story thus far told is, as the reader cannot fail to see, directly from official records, and the conclusions arrived at are those which result naturally from the facts as therein detailed.  Not one word is quoted from any but military men—­actors in the affair.  We may now go briefly over the same ground, giving the views and conclusions of able civilian correspondents who followed the army to see what was done, and who were trained observers and skilled writers.  How have these able war journalists told the story of Las Guasimas?

To quote from Stephen Bonsal in substance, not in words, is to contradict what General Shafter says officially in one particular, but in no such way as to discredit the General, or to weaken Bonsal.  It is not a case of bringing two universal, antagonistic propositions face to face, but a case where two men of different training look upon an action from different standpoints and through different field-glasses.  General Shafter says of the collision of the Rough Riders with the Spanish force:  “There was no ambush as reported.”  As a military man, he says there was no more concealment on the part of the Spanish force than what an attacking party should expect, no more than what is usual in modern warfare, hence he does not regard it as an ambush, and does not officially take notice of any surprise or unexpected encounter on the part of his force.  To do so would be to reflect, however slightly, upon the professional skill of the commander of the left column.  General Shafter thus says officially in a manly way:  “There was no ambush.”  Beyond this his duty does not call him to go, and he halts his expressions exactly at this line, maintaining in his attitude all the attributes of the true soldier, placing himself beyond criticism by thus securing from attack the character of his subordinate.