The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-02

Washington, August 30.-When Gen
cral Miles returns to Washington ne
will be asked for an explanation of
recent interviews appearing with him
and the publication Of certain dis
patches which the war department has
not made public Whether the inves-
tigation viii take the course Of
military court Of inquiry or Of a pri-
vate Interview between the president,
the secretary of war and General Miles
remains yet to be seen.
Until the arrival Of General Miles
the war department will not discuss
the matter. Secretary Alger says that
the department viii not enter into any
controversy with it's subOrdinates and
he does not propose to discuss mat
ters affecting General Miles during his
absence.
The department is Of opinion that
General Miles made public the dis
patches of the secretary, General Shat
ter and himself, published this morn
ing. Such action it regards
breach of military regulations, but no
military court can secure proof that
General Miles made public dispatch if
he and the person to whom they were
furnished refuse to give the infOrma-
ton, as several military trials have
made it settled law that no military
court can compel a civilian to testify
if he does not want to. General Miles
also may be called to account for the
interviews with him as, unless diSa-
vowed, they would place him in the
attitude of criticising his superior Of
fcers, and subject him to military
discipline.
The publication of the dispatches to-
daily, taken together with previous in
terviews in The Kansas City Star,
were the topic of conversation among
officers Of the war department and al
ready there is a disposition by some
to take sides in the matter, while 9TH
ers deplOre the conditions as tending
to lower the tone of the army and to
do irreparable injury to the service. 1t
is expected the controversy Will ex-
tend to both houses of congress and 1T
is feared will have an adverse effect
upon legislation which will be asked
to better the army. 1t is generally en-
derstoOd that the regular force will
have to be largely increased, at least
until the conquered islands are dis
posed of, and it is feared that legis-
IatiOn in this direction viii be ham
pered by the inevitable controversy
between the secretary of war and the
general commanding the army.
The facts as shown at the war de-
partment in reference to the departure
of Lieutenant Johnston and his de-
tachment from the camp of General
Gomez do not correspond with the re-
ports telegraphed from Havana and
published this morning. When the
Wanderer sailed from the Florida
coast ON her last trip with supplies for
hA ,boy oh jn1
orders to Lieutenant Johnston to re-
move his detachment and return to
the United States. The orders were
not made public at the time, because
the war was not over at that time and
il was not deemed prudent to allow
the Spaniards to know that a detach-
ment Of United States soldiers We're
about to ship for the United States.
and because general secrecy was main
tanned regarding expeditions to the
Cubans until they were accomplished
It is stated that Lieutenant Johnston
withdrew from Gomez's camp on di-
rect orders from the war department
SPANIARDS REFUSE TO ALLOW
SUPPLIES LANDED AT HA-
VANA.
TeleCraphic adViceS were received a
the state department today so the Ell
feet that Miss Clara Barton, of the
vana yesterday on the steamer Clin-
ton No. with supplies for the starry
ing inhabitants of that country ant
that the Spanish authorities at Ha
vana refused TO allow the supplies tt
be landed and imposed a fine of s50'
upon the master of the relief ship be-
cause he had no manifest. The matter
is now under consideration by the au
1hOrities here and steps will be taker
TO secure the landing OF the supplies
and a remission OF the fine. The alb
senCe of the manifest is not explained
The vessel cleared from Santiago fo4
Havana.
TO RESUME MAIL LINE TO HA-
VANA
An order was issued today directins
the resumption of contract mail ser.
vice on Monday next between Tampa
Fla, and Havana, via Key West. The
vessels on this line had prior to hos.
tilities been making trips to Key Wes
three times a week. The service tC
Key West and Havana for the presen
VIII be Serni-Weekly.
a dispatch from Surgeon Borden a.
Montauk to the surgeon general de.
MES the report that the sick on the
San Marcas had had no bedding ex
cept blankets. He says all the sicI
had mattresses, pillows and blankets
The surgeon in charge OF the hos.
pital at Fort Mcpherson, Atlanta, re-
ports to the surgeon general that the
900 patients there are being we'll cared
for. He has seventy-one female nurses
and plenty Of ice, milk and other things
and fund Of $4,000 to expend for any