The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-09

immunes that recently arrived Is not SUI
fering at al, and l do not believe they
will. What put my command In the
present condition was when they had
nothing but meat. bread and coffee. with
out change of clothing, without any
shelter whatever, and during a period
twice as stormy as II has been since the
surrender Fresh troops reaching here
in the middle of August need not appre-
bend serious danger.
Il thank you for the high regard in
which You hold my command and the
value Of the service they have rendered.
81 have referred this TO Wheeler, Law
ton, Bates and Kent, who concur with
me in the view expressed above"
Afraid Of a Bad Impression Abroad.
The issuance OF the statement from
Shafter was the sequence Of conference
held at the White House this afternoon
between the President, Secretary Alger
and Secretary Long. 1t was felt that
earlier statements made as to the cond-
ton Of the troops at Santiago might ere
ate a grave impression abroad.
This evening Gen. Shafter supplemented
his first dispatch with a second one ON the
subject. as follows:
"In connection with my telegram of the
Sd instant and the letter of general Of
ficers to me Of same date. have the honor
to say that since then have talked with
division commanders, and they join me in
saying that the first report was made so
strong because OF the weakened and ex-
hausted condition of the command. more
than 20 per cent. of which has beer Ill
with the very weakening malarial fever,
lasting from four TO six days. and which
leaves every man TOO much broken down
TO be of any service. and in no condition
to withstand an epidemic OF yellow fever.
For strong and healthy regiments coming
here now and a. little later with plenty or
tentage 10 cover them and not subject 10
hardships, and with plenty OF nourishng
food the danger. in my opinion. and that
of the division commanders, would be re-
duced to minimum"
Declares He IL Not to Blame.
Gen. Shafter, in a report TO the war de-
partment, emphatica!ly denies that he Is
responsible for the inadequate provision
made for the sick and wounded brought
from Santiago de Cuba to the United
States on the Seneca and Concho. Every
thing possible, he says. was sent With the
sick and wounded. The shortage Of wat
er. he says, is inoxcusabie. He thus con-
Guided the report:
There is no excuse fer the lack of food,
and there has at all times been plenty OF
that l have no doubt that many more
were put on the ships than should have
gone. owing to yellow fever and lack Of
hospital accommoda atoms. There never
has been A case Of suffering here that could
he remedied that was not attended TO.
The surgeons have worked as well as any
men that ever lived. and their complaint
has been OF universal lack of means and
facilities. / do not complain of this for
no one could have foreseen all that would
be required, but / will not submit to hav-
ing the blame laid on me for a lack OF hos
pital facilities"
Coping with Typhoid Fever
The epidemic OF typhoid fever which
prevails in many army camps is giving the
war department much concern. and steps
are being taken to prevent further
spread OF the disease, Surgeon General
Sternberg today issued a circular calling
attention to former circular issued by
the medical department April g. which
was devoted 70 recommendations for the
health OF troops. and minutely pointed out
what to avoid and how camps should be
c. INDICTED from a sanitary point Of view.
together with suggestions as TO the food
and clothing OF soldiers. Il IS the opinion
OF the surgeon general that these cond-
tions have not been carried out, and II
medical officers have failed 10 make proper
recommendations the responsibility rests
with them.
Nearly 1000 Fever Cases.
Gen Skaters sanitary report for Au-
gust is as follows:
Total number OF sick. ............-......34i5
Total number OF fever cases ........2 sss
Total number OF new cAEes.,............ Az
Total number fever cases returned to
u8ty ..---..-...--.---..-........ AZ
Rorsh Riders Leave for Home.
The following was posted at the war de-
partment tonight:
Santiago. Aug. g.
Gen. II. c. Corbin. AdjutAnt General L.
s. A. Washington-17ha Miami Ma,.ewan
and Nigilancia sailed this morning, having
on board the First volunteer cavalry First
regular cavalry. Battery III, Fourth artiI-
lery; Thirteenth infantry and Sixth in
fantFy 'SHAF-TER"
Tomorrow the transpor. Grand Duchess
VIII leave with 742 men and officers Of the
Thirteenth Infantry and six companies Of
the seventy-frst New York, aggrega,.ng
as men and offcer8
Red Cross Ambulances At Montauk
NEW YORK. Aug. s-A dozen arnhu-