The times., 1898-07-18
1000 COMPLETE RATIoNs.

The vessels selected viii report 10 the
| chief quartermaster at Santiago between
| July 80 and August 10.
! The proposals are to be addressed, Col
! Frank j. Hecker, Care Depot Quarter
master, u. s. Army Building, New Io"h
City," and they will be opened At IL
o'clock a. m, July 20.
The problem of sending the Spanish
army back to Spain is entirely unprece-
dented in the history of the world. The
War Department has been working on tie
| question for three days and is far from
/ a solution of II yet. Complications arise
| every day that have not been thought of
! before, and it is thought probable that
when the advertisement has been read by
! intending bidders hundreds OF telesrams
| will flood the office of the quartermaster
| general, suggesting more difficulties and
! further questions to be answered.
The entirely novel character of the task
of sending 24,coO prisoners 7,ooo miles safe
| ly to their own country is indicated by
the fact that the War Department has no
| idea as TO what the bids will be and prob
ably could not guess the cost Of the work
within 100000. 1t. is probable that It viii
be somewhat over million dollars.
This unofficial calculation has been
made: The cost of the army ration is
about II cents TO the Government. This
| would make the price of subsistence 81, ,00J
a day if the contractors supply the food
as cheaply as il is obtained for American
soldiers. 1t is believed that the trip 10
Spain from Santiago will take at least
fifteen days. The total cost Of subsis-
tence would thus be $50 coo.
Steerage passage from New York to
Southampton is $50 on the smaller and
slower lines. II is believed that the rate
| obtained by the Government for the
Spaniards will be considerably above
this figure. The ships that undertake the
work will, If they are on this side of the
| ocean, be obliged TO make the trip to
| Santiago, there TO take on the prisoners,
! carry them to Spain, and finally make
the return trip TO this side again. The
24000 steerage passengers will, perhaps,
| be carried for $40 a head. The one thou
| sand officers. at cabin rates, will proba-
bly, cost the Government at least $50 each.
! This would make the total cost for sub
sistence and transportation $1,070000.
The matter has not been formally con-
sidered as yet, but there is no doubt that
| America will put the entire cost of this
pleasure excursion for the Spanish army
in the bill of war costs that Spain will
be asked TO pay when the peace terms are
| decided upon.
There has been much comment over
| the question of American shipownerS
making bids for this contract. The pro-
posal does not stipulate anything as to
the nationality of the ships TO be offered.
II may be stated on the authority of an
| officer of the quartermaster-ge general 5
office that the Government would be glad
| to have American offers of ships, but
| that il does not expect that many will
be made. The reason for IniS is obvious.
! The actual obligations of America TO
| Spain as to the prisoners will cease when
| they have been landed. There is nothing
in the terms of surrender TO prevent
Spain sending out warships Immediately
| after the prisoners are safe on Spanish
soil and capturing the American ships
that carry them over. AS soon as the
| American vessels were three miles out
| from Spain there is nothing in interna-
| tional law that would prevent their
seizure. That such a thing would actual
| ly be done by Spain is not considered
probable, bu5 1t is not thought that
American shilsowners will care TO take
any chances on Spain's sense of honor.
The supposition is that the bids will al
most all come from lines now flying for
| eign flags or international lines that vii
be able to sail under the banners of Other
! nations
Several representatives of foreign line:
| have already been in communication witt
| the War Department discussing the sit
| uation and gathering data as to the size
| of the contract and the requirements Il
| be imposed II was said at the depart
| ment last night that the fear of not Sc
| curing sufficient ships in time is nearly
past.
Under the terms of surrender the Span
| ish army will be American prisoners dur
ing the trip across the ocean and after
ward during the war. They viii be pu
on parole, however. from the time they
| leave Santiago There have been som,
| suggestions as to the precautions tina
| America may take to insure their goins
| TO Spain. AS stated in The Times yester
| day. the plan is now under discussion K
| send Commodore Watsons squadron Il
Spain as a convoy to the transports. Thi!
will probably be done. If this plan /.
carried out there will be no temptation OF
the part of the Spaniards to mutiny wher
they reach the middle of the ocean. Com
| modore Watson would also be able Il
| prevent any attempt to capture American
ships that may take part of the contract
| The advertisement allows more time II
sending the transports to Santiago thar
was at first thought necessary. Tht
statement was made to a Times reporter
on Saturday that the entire Spanish
army would probably be out of Cuba be
fore the end of this week The advertise
ment states that the ships must be a
Santiago before August 10. 1t is proba
BILE, therefore, that the Spaniards will re
main at least three weeks longer in San
tiago. The bids for the ships are to b.
| opened on Wednesday.