Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-29
WILL DECIDE TODAY.
CONTINUED from page ~

that If genuine, it was simply one of
a series of complex moves on the
board of Spanish politics and was in
tended purely for home consumption.
The report from Madrid, toward the
close of the day, that the newspapers
there had given their approval to the
terms of peace described by the Pres
ident went Ear towards relieving a GER
tain feeling of Encouragement that
was manifested at the opening of the
day, for ii was patent that members of
the administration apprehended Il re-
lection of our demands by Spain at the
beginning. If. however, it shall appear
that this Madrid statement is we'll
founded and that the Madrid papers
fairly reflect the views of the mass of
the Spanish people, then it seems prob
able that the difficulty that will lie be-
fore the administration in accomplish
ing peace would be rather internal than
external, and will be based upon the
preparation of the treaty that shall Sc
cure the ratification OF sthe United
States Senate.
1t may be pointed out that if we are
really as near to peace as many people
suppose, it will be come necessary to
issue call for an extra session of
Congress. the Senate to act upon tn"
peace treaty with all the promptness
that the Importance of the subject de-
mands.
Secretary Alger is deeply concerned
over the Welfare of the gallant troops
under Skaters command now en-
camped on the outskirts of Santiago
The health reports show surprisingly
large number of cases of sickness but
army surgeons authorize the statement
that these figures are misleading in a
certain sense and that the situation
may not be nearly SO bad as they
would seem to indicate. The slightest
ailment of the most temporary nature
sufiices to place soldiers name on the
sick reports. which in their present
shape would not distinguish between
such a case and one of mortal illness
The inference is that many of these
cases in Skaters camp are of triv-
ial nature. but go to swell its grand
total. of sick and wounded.
Notwithstanding this mitigating fact.
Secretary Alecr is going to remove tho
soldiers at the very earliest opportuni-
ty to a more healthful cline. The
surgeon general under the direction of
the secretary a few days ago, inspected
a tract of land adjoining Montaui
Point. l.. l., belonging to the Long
Island Railroad Company, which road
offered to the government as suitable
for large cncampment The tract i
three miles square. The necessary or
ders to equip this as a camping ground
will Immediately go forward ana every
advantage will be taken Of the expert
ence gained in the formation of tho
camps at Chickamauga and Camp AL
ger to make the conditions as com
Portable as possible for the battle-scar-
red veterans of Skaters army.
The time for their removal is loft
to Gen. Shlfter. the only limitation
placed upon him being that he shall moi
delay the homeward sailing Of his
troops beyond the moment when il
shall be safe for them 70 leave Santa
go having regard to the fever condj
tons Meanwhile, details are beins
made of troops to supply the force tina
shall garrison Santiago So long as j
shall be found necessary to continu,
troops there. This force will be mad
up almost entirely Of immunes.
No word came from Gen. Miles, to
day, and the war department assumes
that he is pursuing his advance acros
Porto Rico towards San Juan. They
attach little credence to the Spanisl
account of q battle at YuacO. rcstin.
confident in the belief that when tn
truth is known ii will be found tina
there was a victory Of the usual Span
ish type, resulting in the complet
achievement of the object of the Amer
lean commander. Considerable rein
forccmcnts are now arriving to sup
port Miles and before the week is owe
the campaign there will be in full
swing.