Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Corresponding }
WASHINGTON, d. c., July IS, '9S.

On to Porto Rico and on to
Spain are now the twin watch.
words of President Mckinley and
his administration Commodore
Watson's fleet will probably be on
the way to Spain before this is print.
ed, and the expedition again Porto
Rico will be started at the earliest
possible moment. Havana is to be
left alone for the time being, as the
delay is daily weakening the offec-
tiveness of Blanco's troops
Gcn. Shafter's great victory in
the capture of Santiago and 5000
Spanish troops, with their arms ana
ammunition, would have caused
much more rejoicing had it not
been accompanied by the news that
yellow fever had broken out in our
army atSantiago. Every thing that
money aud science and medical sill
can do to stamp out the disease is
being done, and the reports indicate
that the fever is so far of a mild
type, but there will be much uneasi.
ness until the full extent of the in
lection becomes known
The War Department is perfect
ing arrangements to send the Span
ards, who surrendered at Santiago,
back to Spain, under parole, in ac-
cordance with the terms of surren-
der, and they will be hurried off as
soon as possible. Sending them to
Spain is the best possible thing they
can do with them. 1t will be cheap
er than feeding them and keeping
them as prisoners, either in Cuba or
in the U. s., and even if it wasn't it
would still be the best way to get
rid of them.
Secretary Alger is very proud of a
letter he has received from gentle
man who held high command in the
Union army during the Civil War,
and who has worldwide reputa-
ton as an authority on military
matters. The tenor of the letter
may be judged from this extract !:
You have shown the world what
American staff departments under a
head of great executive ability can
create in an emergency. 1t is diff
cult to create an army, equip it and
move it, and it requires a peculiar
kind of ability.
AS an additional proof that Amer
leans always keep near the head of
the procession, whether they are
engaged in fighting with deadly
weapons or in the struggle for the
Almighty dollar, it may be mention
ed that applica tion forauthority to
establish National banks in the fol-
lowing places have been filed at the
Treasury Department Honolulu,
Havana, San Juan, Porto Rico and
Manila.
A Washington delegation of the
Rod Cross Society made thorough
personal investigation of the ar
rangement r the comfort of the
sick aud wounded in the hospital at
Fortress Monroe and report all patti
ents comfortably provided for in the
way of accommodations To meet
need, the Red Cross has issued an
appeal for contributions of delica-
cies for the patients.
Gen. Miles added much to his
popularity by giving Gen. ShafteI
entire credit for the victorious cam
paign against Santiago, in his Off
cial dispatches to Secretary Alger
and proved that he meant exactly
what he said when he went to Cuba
that he was going to make observa.
tions, and not suDercede Gen. Shat
ter.
1t might be supposed from the
tenor of the European cable news
that the negotiations for peace be.
tween Che U. S. and Spain we're un-
der way. Such is not the clse
There has been no negotiations
in fact no word from Spain on thu
subject This government hal
ample sufficiency of negotiating will
Spain, and it is not likely to coun
tenance any in connection will
peace. There will be no need fo
any. When Spain thinks she ha
been thrashed sufficiently, she car
obtain our terms by asking for then
As they will not be deviated from
there will be no occasion for any
negotiations the terms must b.
either accepted or rejected at onc'
The statement that President Nj
Kinley had told the terms of peace
to a European diplomat in orde
that he might make them known t.
Spain, was a bare-faced lie, will
not even a probable foundation. 1
is not customary for the victoriou
country to offer terms of peace be
fore they are asked for, and an.
statement that President McKinle,
has done 50 or that he intends do