The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-14

Washington, July 13.-While the long
expected fall of Santiago did not take
place today, it is evident that the crisis
has been reached. Within the next ~
hours it will either surrender or re-
ceive such 4 baptism of fire as seldom
falls to the lot of a besieged town
IF he refuses, 1 will open on him at
u, noon, tomorrow with every gun
have, and will have the assistance CT
the navy, who are ready to lombard
the city with 13-inch shells
That is the programme laid out by
General Shafter, and it is to be carried
out to the letter. General Shafter is
still commanding, according to the war
department officials, and although dis
patches have been received from Mayor
General Miles signed Major general
commanding" it is said that he has not
displaced General Shafter in direct
charge of the operations.
The public, in reference to these tele-
grams from General Miles, was given
the first notice that our government
had offered in the course or negotia-
lions with General Toral to send the
Spanish forces i'll Santiago back to
Spain. A few days ago 1T was stated
that the president would insist upon
that condition has been modified, as in
Dictated by General Miles. This was
done from a desire to avoid useless
tloodshed, for with General ToraIs
army removed to Spain it would be
harmless to prevent our further opera
tions 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 and fall back
on Havana, on the other hand. would
put us under the obligation of over
coming that additional force when 1t
comes to the siege of Havana.
Our government also is moved to
make this proposal to remove the Span
ish forces to Spain through a strong
desire to close up the operations of
Santiago at the earliest possible mo-
ment This desire has been materially
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, so the cases were reported
as simply suspicious. Now, however,
comes the final admission that they are
genuine yellow fever cases. Their APP
pearance has determined the authori-
ties upon a more active prosecution of
the campaien. Orders will soon go
forward to General Shafter to discuss
no more with the Spaniards the terms
of surrender, but to proceed to assault
the town with all the force at his COM
mand as soon as the present truce eX-
pireS.
FOURTEEN CASES.
The war department made the fol-
lowing staten ant concerning the con-
dition of things in the hospitals near
Santiago On the 18th of July tele-
from
Colonel Pope, chief surgeon of Skaters
army. informing the surgeon general
that there were IA cases of yellow fever
in the field hospital. which had been
establish I'd for the care of such cases.
Since that time information has been
received that a. number of new cases
have occurred. Everything is being
done to check the disease. The patients
are being treated by immune physi-
clans and cared for by immune nurses.
Dr. Wyman, of the marine hospital
service, said his office was giving care
ful attention to the conditions in Cuba
with a view of preventing the intro
duction OF the scourge from that is
land.
Hereafter" he said. mo more
wounded soldiers are to be brought
from Cuba into the United States
Florida. This will be a great
help in preventing an outbreak of fe-
YER"
YELLOW FEVER CONFERENCE.
There was an undercurrent of ap-
parent anxiety throughout army head
quarters today. The adviceS from
Cuba speedily led to a war council at
the White house, at which Secretar-
les Long and Alger and the members
of the war board were present. Adju-
tant General Corbin also was 1t the
White house Before Secretary AJger
went to the White house he had con-
ference with Surgeon General Stern
berg, who also had received dispatches
from the surgical corps near Santiago.
The medical officers of the army de-
cline to make any statement respect
ing the health of the troops at Santi-
ago, especially in response to questions
fever prevails to any great
extent among them. 1t is known, how
ever, that the surgeon general is en-
gaging the services Of immune doctors
and nurses for work in the hospitals
Before the expedition to Santiago sailed
from Tampa, DR.. Sternberg had sent
a number OF these immune physicians
to Tampa and they accompanied Shat
ter to Cuba General Sternberg thinks
it unwise TO discuss questions relating
to the health of troops, as this may
only give rise to apprehension. in many
cases unwarranted, TO their friends at
home.
1t was nearly o'clock when the war
broke up. Members of the
cabinet when questioned as TO the pur-
pose of the meeting. said it was called
to discuss the general situation in San
tiago. Several cablegrams had been
from General Miles and Gen
eral Shafter, and while they were not
at all alarming, they showed that the
situation is unsatisfactory. Some cases
of yellow fever have appeared among
our troops, but they have been prompt
ly isolated and it is thought that there
is no great danger of the disease
spreading 1t is believed that yellow
fever also prevails to a slight extent
in the city of Santiago
1t is believed that at today's confer
ence it was decided that orders be sent
to General Miles and General Shafter
to make general assault upon the
enemys works as soon as the weather