The record-union., 1898-07-06


tives at Santiago has been an addition
al reason for deferring the lombard
ment. 1t was made known late to-
day that one of General Skaters dis
patches states that these representa-
uves had joined in a request to him
to put off the shelling of the city for
another brief period, until their re-
spective colonies could be removed.
This accounts for the departure of the
foreign warships from Santiago har-
Dor, as they are bearing away the Tor
eign residents in the period before the
bombardment begins. The activity OF
the Consuls at Santiago has led to no
diplomatic complication which has
reached the State Department thus Tar,
and the authorities here believe that
nothing win develop.
To-day a cablegram came from
United States Minister Lewis, at Cara
cas-, saying the Spanish residents there
We're giorifying the naval victory. The
Minister was informed briefly that Ger
vera's fleet had been destroyed, the
Admiral made prisoner, and that Gen
eral Shafter had demanded the surren-
der of the city.
The definite official report winch
reached here to-day that the Spanish
fleet had entered .the Suez Canal made
no change in the plans of the Navy
Department as to sending Commodore
Watson's squadron to the coast OF
Spain Secretary Long said it would
start at the earliest moment but he dld
not care to give the day of departure.
The annihilation of the Spanish fleet
continues to be an absorbing topic
among naval officials, and they are Civ
ing most generous praise to Commodore
Schley for the noble manner in whicn
he destroyed the fleet, when the imme-
diate command fell to his lot. The
Commodore's friends have long pre-
dicted that if he secured an opportunity
he would render a good account Of the
fighting ability of the American navy,
and are glad the opporrt unity was final
ly reached. 1t is perhaps the greatest
achievement in long line with which
Commodore Schley's list has been as
sociated, others including the relief Of
the Greedy Arctic expedition and the
command of the Baltimore at Valpa-
raiso as result of a mob attack on
the American bluejackets.
The question of what disposition to
United States forces is causing the War
Department SONS. perplexity The mat
ter was under discussion, but Secretary
Alger said no conclusion had been
reached as to the steps to be taken. 1t
is realized that the naval prisoners can
not be kept long aboardship. They must
be gotten off before actual cnerations
are taken by Simpsons efiee~ against
the shore batteries. One suggestion
which the army officials have under
consideration is the esta bhshment, near
Skaters army, of camp where both
the army and navy prisoners may be
located. A suggestion that it might be
in good taste to bring Admiral Cervera
and his staff to Washington, where
they could be placed on parole, meets
with some favor in army circles, though
it is very questionable whether such ac-
ton will be taken The suggestion that
the Spanish prisoners be brought to the
United States is said to meet with OBJ
lection from those who are fearful that
this will increase the danger of the m
portation of yellow fever.
A graceful courtesy was to-day eX-
tended to the captured Spanish Adj
fniral, Cervera, by the President
Through General Greely, Chief Signal
officer, permission was sent to Cervera
to communicate with his family IN
Spain by cable. Permission was also
granted to other captured Spanish Of
ficers to use the cable to transmit per-
sonal messages to friends in Spain
The messages will be, of course, care
fully censored, and nothing will be al
lowed to pass that would be of assist
ance in any manner to the enemy.
The plan of feeding the starvig Gu
bans is proceeding Systematically de-
spite the attention which the authori-
ties are obliged to give to the war
These plans are being carried out by
| the Commissary Departments Of tho
army. To-day large consignmentS Of
food are being loaded on the steamer
! Port Victor at New York, viz: I5,00t
| pounds of corn meal, 562, 900 pounds o1
| flour, 100000 pounds of bacon, 900R
pounds of coffee, 10000 pounds Of
sugar 60000 pounds of soap. $1,000
pounds of salt and 5000 pounds of pep
! per These will be made up into rations
and distributed over wide territory to
the Cubans. This is but one of several
consignments. as the work of relief has
! been going on for the past two months
hundreds of thousands of Government
rations being distributed. The supplies
win now include refrigerated and cold
storage beef for Cuban troops and the
! reconcentrados. The first consignmenl
of this kind will leave Tampa on next
! Saturday, and win be sufficient to last
/ until the next consignment of refrig-
Grated beef goes forward.