Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-05
BACK FROM SANTIAGO
Preparations for Bringing Home the
Troops.
TRANSPORTS AT PONCE TO BE USED
Care of the Soldiers After Their
Return.
NEWS w AS SENT ARPOA
TRANSPORTS AT PONCE 10 BE USED
NEWS WAS SENT ABROAD

There are ten large transports in the fleet
at Ponce, some of them, like the Mobile
having 4 capacity of 1909 men. In all they
have a capacity of G,J40 men, This, with
the capacity of the ships already at San
tiago will give d carrying strength of over
12,0O0 men at trip. In addition to the
transports announced by the War Depart
ment yesterday as being ready at Santi-
ago, it now appears that the Oriza ba,
capacity ESQ men, is also available. The
fine liner Yale will also be brought into this
service in the course of Il week or ten
days. At present she is to utilized in
taking Col. Fred Grants brigade to Porto
Rico. after which she will return by way
of Santiago and take on load Of Snaf-
ters men. No arrangement has yet been
made as to utilizing the Harvard for this
service as she has not been turned over to
the War Department
The statement from Santiago that the
troops were greatly elated on the prospect
of beginning the homeward move today is
accepted with satisfaction by the war Off
Gals here. They say, however, that the
embarkation has already begun, and that
the Louisiana. which left day before yes
terday with cavalry on board, is now we'll
on her way homeward.
The department telegraphed to Ponce this
morning asking for information as to the
condition of the transport Massachusetts,
said to be aground. One report was that
the Mississippi was aground, but this is
said by officials to be erroneous, the Mas
sachusetts being the one in difficulty
After the Troops Return.
With the arrival of Skaters army in
this country. every facility will be given to
the troops to rccuperate THIS will apply
not only to the sick but to the well. as it
is appreciated that the hardships through
which the men have gone must have taxed
the vitality even of the strongest AS far
as the sick are concerned. there will be
no yellow fever cases or anything remotely
suspicious IN that line brought to this
cor ntry, as such cases can be best handled
without removal. The less serious cases of
sickness, not involving contagion will be
brought here if the patients are conva-
lescing to point where removal will g
advantageous. Surgeon Gen Sternberg has
in view several points for patients and
convalescents. The actual hospital station
viii probably be located at Montauk Point
where field hospital for 800 patients IS
being prepared, in addition to the regular
hospitH equipment, which Gen. Skaters
forces will bring along with them
Gen. Sternberg's Plans.
But in addition to this, Gen. Sternberg
mas IN View two fine locations where the
Draclng mountain and lake air will helm
conVaiescents to recovery. These points are
fort Ethan Allen, VT, and the post at
fIattsourg, New York. The latter point is
on Lake Champlain. and the former in the
DraclnS ATTITUDES Of the mountains Gen.
oternberg mas no purpose of making these
points hcspital camps in the ordinary sense
OF the word, where severe cases will be
hafidled, but only to make them available
Tor the ccnvalescents already well on. the
way 70 recovery, who need good air and
surroundings to bring them completely
back TO health. Each post will accommo
gate 900 TO 500 men. The order desIenat-
ing them for this purpose has not vet been
made, but Gen. Sternberg is satisfied as 70
tie advantages of these points and will
doubtless make the recommendation for
their removal. They will not necessarily he
confined tC the convalescents from San
tiago, but will be for general use for the
cases we'll advanced toward recovery.
fhe Military Situation Dominated.
Inc impression that there is a difference
OF opinion between the medical officers at
Santiago and those at Washington on the
question of removing the troops Of Shat
ter's army is said to be without foundation
as it is pointed out that Surgeon General
SterAberg's office has maintained from the
hfst that the army should be removed as
last as the military situation would permit
II Is SAID, however, that the military stu
alloh' IN the common custom of field opera
uohs, dominates the medical situation. and
that the latter must shape itself to the
felt that it would be disastrous for the
troops to remain at Santiago through the
late summer and early fall months as these
are most likely to breed serious cases of
yellow fever. For this reason, it is said. he
recommended the removal of the troops if
the military situation would permit The
military situation does not come within the
province OF the surgeon general SO that 1t
Is sad MS recommendation for removal
fully anticipated all the medical conditions
of the situation. In the event that q re-
moval was not possible because of the mill
tary situation, then it was General Stern
berg's view that the camps be removed as
speedily as possible from points OF infec-
ton and new camping ground back of Sam
tiago be established.
Army Officers Relieved
Army officers greatly relieved to
KNOW from the Santiago dispatches that
what appeared to have been great dan
ger to the American arms has been safely
passed by The reports of the American
commanders at Santiago, including all the
major generals, division and brigade com
manders, which were made public in the
news dispatches yesterday, gave for the
first time to the public news of the terribly
demoralized condition of the American
army If this state of affairs had been
known a week ago the most serious re-
suits might have followed The Spanish
government would probably have been in
cited TO refrain from making peace over
lures and to prolong their resistance. and
IL Is even possible that there NAV have
been another uprising at Santiago by the
spanish troops who surrendered there. the
result of which no one could have foretold
Although the publicity given to these re-
ports Is most strongly deprecated by all
most every official of the administration
they still find food for congratulation in
the fact that this most critical stage has
probably been safely passed.
Already the American arrnv OF So,+;a.o