The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-14

DERED 10 QUIT HIS DickERlNG
AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
PRESENCE or YELLOW FEVER
SHOWS THAT HASTE MUST BE
MADE.
Washington, July 1S.--Whilc the long
expected fall of Santiago did not take
place today it is evident ;hat the crisis
has been reached. Within the next
twenty-four hours Santiago viii either
surrender or receive such a baptism of
fire as seldom falls to the lot of a be-
seeed town. "If he refuses | will open
on him at II noon tomorrow with every
gun | have and have tho assistance of
the navy, who are ready 10 lombard
the city with 13-inch ohc!ls." That is
the programme laid down by General
Shafter and it is to be carried out 20
the letter. General Shafter is still COM
mandng, according to ,he war depart
ment officials, and although dispatches
have been received from Mayor Gen
eral Miles, signcd majo; general COM
manding, it is said that he has not
displaced Go,.cral Shafter in direct
charge Of the operations.
The public in one of thcse teleCrams
from General Miles Was given the first
notice that our government in the
course of negotiations with General
Toral, had offered to send the Spanish
forces in Santiago back to Spain. a
few days ago il was stated that the
president would insist upon uncondi-
tional surrender but it appears that
conditions had been modified, as indi-
Gated by General Miles. This was done
from a desire TO avoid useless blood
shed, for General Torals army, re-
moved to Spain. would be harmless 20
prevent our further operations in cuba
and would serve as good a purpose as
would the destruction of the Spanish
army. TO allow the Spanish general
to withdraw to the interior ana fall
back on Havana, on the other hand.
would put us under the obligation of
overcoming that additional force when
it comes to the siege of Havana.
ANOTHER OBJECT.
Our government also is moved to
make this proposal to remove the Span
ish forces to Spain through a strong
desire to close uD the operations at
Santiago at the earliest possible mo-
strengthened by the appearance of yell
low fever within the American lines.
1t was at first supposed that the men
were falling i'll with malaria and eli
matte fever, 50 the cases were reported
as simply suspicious. Now, however,
comes the final admission that they
are genuine yellow fever cases. Their
appearance has determined the author
a n
the campaign.
Orders either have or soon will GO
forward to General Shafter to discuss
no more with the Spanish commander
the terms of surrender but to proceed
to assault the town with all the force
at his command as soon as the present
truce expires. 1t is expected by Shat
ter that the navy will cooperate and
while Secretary Long has received nc
direct advices on that point from Ad.
miral Sampson, he fully credits this
expectation. Reluctant as the war de.
partment is to sacrifice the many lives
that might be lost in an assault it il
deemed to be better policy to make il
than to allow the men to rot away Will
feVers and other diseases during the
long period that would be required t.
perfect the reduction of the city by 6
long investment.
SURRENDER EXPECTED.
An expectation is still entertained
here, however, that this assault vii
he unnecessary, through Toral sur
rendering before it begins 1t was, per
haps. the spread of this belief. caused
by a knowledge of the more energeti,
steps in prospect, that tended to re
move largely the feelings of depression
manifested at the opening of the da!
upon the circulation of rumors of tn
appearance of yellow fever in tn
American camps
Regarding the future of Santiago
nothing has been officially stated bu
it is significant that orders were ISSUED
from the department this afternoon T.
prepare the First and Second regimen
of volunteer immunes for immediat
departure for the front. This wouI,
seem to be indicative of a purpose OF
the part of the government to garrison
Santiago with these fever-proof mel
after its capituation. thus permittin
the removal of the regular troops I
more healthy points,
GOOD NEWS FROM DEWEY.
Turning to the far east it was re
freshing to receive today good new
again from Dewey. In fact it is be
ginning to be remarked that that Off
Ger is usually able to make Ielcitiou
reports. The administration is yer
much pleased with the readiness show
by the admiral in meeting the gray
issue presented to him at Subig ba
and Just reported as he did. Navs
officers, too. We're not n little gratitie
at the speedy retirement of the Ger
man cruiser Irene, after the appear
ance Of the Raleigh and Concord.
comparison of the ships shows tina
the Irene was much the superior [
either of the two American vessel
and in tonnage was almost as large a
the Raleigh and Concord togethe
From this it is inferred that the r,
tirement of the Irene was from me
tives of general policy, rather tha
from any indisposition to try conclu!
ions with the two American ships.
In official quarters here there al
pears TO be no disposition to look upo
the action OF the Irene as a menaC
which will require explanation. 1t wa