Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-04

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ENTIRELY CLEAR TO THE SPAN
IsH MIND-THE PRESIDENT AND
The FRENCH AMBASSADOR BIND
THEMSELVES TO ABSOLUTE Sc
CRESY REGARDING WHAT PASS
ED BETWEEN THEM DURING A
CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE
HOUSE-ARRANGBM MAX
ING FOR SENDING GEN. WADES
EXPEDITION TO PORTO RICO.
Washington, August 3.-After a con-
ference on the peace question, lasting
for just an hour this afternoon, be-
tween the President and NJ. Cambon,
the French ambassador, the latter act
mig as the representative of Spain, Sec
rotary Day emerged from the White
House and announced that to-day's
conference was inconclusive; wherefore
the parties to it had agreed to say
nothing publicly as to what had occur
red. The secretary did not appear to
nent, though he admitted that no time
had been set for another conference
From this it is gathered that the long
expected answer of the Spanish gov
eminent to the Presidents note upon
being received, had tnrned out to be
just as it was expected, either coun-
ter proposition or request for fuller
statement in detail upon some Of the
heads of the Presidents note.
Up to the middle of the afternoon, it
was stated by all parties concerned
that the Spanish answer had not been
received, that the only formal note that
had come to hand was one from the
Madrid cabinet to NJ. Cambon, asking
for information upon some points that
were not clear to the Spanish mind
However, just after three o'clock, the
secretary of the French embassy, NJ
Thiebaut, called at the State DepartA
ment and arranged with Secretary Day
for a meeting between the President
and the ambassador, as soon as posi-
BILE.
The meeting was set for 8: As o'clock,
and Secretary Day was at the White
House in season, but was obliged to
await about ten minutes for the French
ambassador. AS already stated, after
comforting for an hour the parties sep
arated. having been unable to reach a
conclusion as to the acceptance by
Spain of the peace conditions laid down
by the President and binding them
selves to the observance of the strict
est secrecy as to the proceedings until
further progress had been made. Thus,
it is practically assured in advance that
any attempt to state what occurred at
to-days meeting at the White House
will be nothing more than pure guess
work.
Meantime in consonance with the
declared purpose Of the President at
the beginning CT the overture, this
conference is not operating to restrain
military operations in any degree. Or
ders went out to-day for a conference
of leaders of the regiments to accom-
pany General Wade to Porto Rico, and
within "a hours some of the troops for
this expedition will be boarding the
transports at Newport News. 1t is felt
that even should an armistice be de-
clared before these troops see active
service at the front, it will be bench
cial for them to have made the trip,
for otherwise there was danger of the
morals of the troops being destroyed
through their craving to get away
from the big concentration camps and
at least see the shores of Cuba or
Porto Rico. Profiting by its last ex-
perience, Gen. Wode's expedition is
going to be the most complete in de-
tails of any that have yet left our
shores, and the soldiers will be pro-
tected in their health and comfort to
the utmost degree.
Secretary Alger has himself conduct
ed an inquiry into the conditions that
led up to the fearful experience of the
wounded soldiers who returned to the
United States on the Concho. and he
has taken the necessary steps to pre-
vent a REPETITION of the bad manage
ment exhibited In that case. Thus
there may be some delay IN getting
the troops away with Gen. Wade, in
view of the determination to have
everything ship-shape before the men
are. on board, and as the transporta-
ton department was taken somewhat
by surprise, by the suddenly an
nounced decision OF the Secretary Of
War to start this expedition some days
mustxelapse before the necessary trans
ports can be gathered at the ports OF
transportation.
Skaters daily health report failed
to show any improvement in the
health conditions of the Fifth army
corps. so that 1t is matter for con-
graduation that the War Department
was able to announce to-day that 1t
had ordered five Of the cavalry ragi-
uonfS of that cornS IN he embarked AZ