Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
rCorraspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.

A disnatch received at the war office
this morning from Santiago makes the
following sanitary report for August 3:
Total sick, 3,77S; total fevers, 1896; new
cas- es fever, 449. First Lieutenant J.
b. steele, Signal Corps, U. S. volun-
teers, died OF Santiago fever this morn
ing.
General SKATER is being attacked by
tn headquarter staff here for permit
tiug the bad state Of affairs at Santiago
to reach the public, and threats OF his
court-martial are numerous. The fall
ure to provide proper food, transporta-
ton, clothing and surgical efficiency, is
pltent here and has compelled the War
Department to postpone the picnic OF
eighteen regiments TO Porto Rico. The
early return OF Roosevelt, Wheeler and
s lafter who have told the truth, has at
last opened the eyes of the President.
The insistence OF the regulars to be
brought home at once causes the great
est alarm as they were claimed TO be
completely disciplined. The fact that
regulars have rebelled demonstrates in
some measure the enormity OF the
abuses. Now that the condition oil
affairs has been made public every effort
is being made TO get the forces of Gen
eral SKATER home. All transports that
are available will be ordered to San
tiago, and the eight vessels now there
will be- loaded as rapidly as possible
and arted for Montsuk Point, l.. l.
Secretary Alger last night, at the re
quest of the Governor OF massachusetts,,
telegraphed Gen. Miles requesting a
statement as to the truth of the report
cabled from Ponce to the effect that
there is fric ion between the officers OF
the Sixth Massachusetts and those OF
Garretson's brigade; that the regiment
was useless, and that because of having
been found, after an examination, to be
unfit, several officers of the Sixth were
permitted to resign. No reply has yet
been received.
Orders were issued at the War De-
partment this morning sending three
immune regiments from Macon, Ga,
aad FIVE immune regiments from Col
umhus, Miss, to Savannah, Ca, from
watch point they will start for Santiago
sunday or Monday. The tenth im
mune regiment, now at New Orleans,
has been ordered to Tampa. and will
De shipped as soon IS possible. Two
regiments of immupes are already at
Santiago.
The cabinet meeting lasted until
nearly one O'Clock. Secretary Day
5 a.ed on leaving the White House
That there was no likelihood the govern.
ment would to-day be able to make
public anything bearing upon the peace
question. Another cabinet member in
timated it would probably be the mid
die of next week before the negotia-
lions with Spain are in such shape that
The President vii! feel warranted in
making final statement. The Presi-
dents advisers talk as if they feel very
certain peace is practically arranged,
put there are certain explanations ask
ID by the Spanish government, and
rom what can be learned Pre-
m er Sagasta is taking his time.
As an evidence of the feeling of security
and confidence it is stated that the cab
net to-day discussed almost entirely
p )stsl and treasury matters, including
.ders that have been issued and are
to be issued relating to territory in
Cuba over which the Stars and Stripes
uow A)at. Secretary Alger said this
afternoon that vessels in which immune
regiments will be transported to Cuba
will bring back as quickly as possible
Skaters forces that are TO be trans
ferred to Montauk Point, Long Island.
The war board visited the White
House this morning for the purpose of
inducing the President to continue the
auxiliary navy in existence for several
months at least, instead Of cutting
down the force at once as contem-
p ated. 1t is represent that even for
long time after the declaration of peace
numerous small naval vessels will be
required in the West Indies for police
aud customs purposes and that sub
5tantial additions must be quickly made
to the naval force in the Pacific
ocean, nearly all the national vessels on
tnat side of the continent being now
concentrated at Manila. The War
Board is also reluctant to give up the
idea of speedily establishing the Eu-
ropean station and sending Admiral
Howell back there to complete the
tour of duty from which he was brought
home at the outbreak of hostilities. 1t
is also urged that Commodore Watson
and three ships be sent to the Philip
pines in order that some of Dewey's
vessels may return to San Francisco for
docking and repairs.
1t is reported that the administration
has declined to act uponlnquiries made
by Spain concerning the manner in
which the Spanish troops in the West
Indies shall be transported home. The
statement was made that Spain had
neither the vessels nor the money need
ed to make transfer. President Nc
Kinley declines to supply either ships
81 cash and, while he desires Spain to
act promptly, he will grant a reason
able timesfor the evacuation.
A Virginia politician here to-day
says that so far as the democratic con.
OCCASIONAL delegation from his State is
concerned, while they have made no
nubiic expression of their views on the
utject, ii is pretty generally believed
hat they are evenly divided in respect
of several matters in which their State
and party are interested, Messrs
Jones, Lamb and Rixey usually voting
one way, aud Messrs. Swanson, Obey
and Hay, the other. What this may
lead to he does not know, but thinks it
will have its effect in the Senatorial
election.