The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-22
TRENCHES FULL OF DEAD.
Death Rate Among Spanish Soldiers
40 Per Day.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
Santiago, Aug. 22.-Since the surrender
of Santiago one thing has been upper
most in our minds, namely, the health
and condition of the brave American SOL
diers who fought and were victorious;
and this was very proper, for the men GER
tainly deserve whatever could be done for
them upon this score. In consequence Of
protests from commanding officers, the
orders from Washington as to the dlspo-
sition of the army were changed and our
The Spanish prisoners are also being put
on board the transports we have hired to
Ten thousand Of the men have been in
camp just outside the city limits. They
own men. They were our prisoners and
we, one and all, avoided the roads that led
that arose therefrom. AS the Spaniards
passed through the city on the way to the
docks we saw sights that brought tears TO
the eyes of men who are not readily NOV
ed to tears Down on the oocksli III d
some 200 Spanish soldiers waited orders
to move onto the lighter which Wo1ld con- con-
hospital ship Alicante. These men were
thin and of a sickly pallor, hollow checked
I'VE are the well men who have brought
the sick into the town on lighters" they
Down on the wharf, being loaded on the
sfgaSSr esc6 vif6 It's Dif{ful burden
Faces that looked like deaths heads, every
nne OF the SkuA marked 1leu on Ing I, y eI iins
would not close. One man grasped in
claw that had crushed them three pieces
Of American hardtack. Others had food
hidden under their scant covering. Their
men meisn Shattered E under the burden of one
stretcher. Down the city streets came
other professions of stretchers. Van
uuished and sick, weak pftiful, moaning,
staggering, they drifted into the town all
When the city surrendered the prospect
i've return to Spain brought JOY TO many
hearts; the fulhllment of the promise was
Ten American ambulances have been de-
walk, and we. have. erected tents on the
dock where the sick can wait until the
lighter is ready for them.
Fit is not a camp out there" said
Spanish officer; at is a graveyard. Be
tween 200 and 300 went into tbs hospital
daily. 1t was not a hospital-there were
no medicines, there was no attendance.
trenches are full of the dead. We have
save you many ~ 1 6 P6a e T7o money
than anything in the war There are
in today-but they won't last long. Dyson
tery--canp dySentery we call 1t--and II IS
% oT. than the plague IS carrying them
A white haired officer with stars and
bands on his sleeve, but so thin and weak
and pale that he looked more like a skele..
ton than man, walked down the wharf
IN need OF support as ne was nlnS sell
Over a loose board they tripped and fell
who cry almost continuously. Finally
they all got aboard, the women to spend
are many women going thus-wives of
officers who cannot pay for passage;
These Spanish troop ships bid fair to rival
old time slavers in the misery and suffer-
ing that will be confined within their
sides on the voyage back to Spain.
Our soldiers We're sick, but the condi-
ton of the Spaniards is SO many times
worse that our men seem strong and
healthy compared with them.
The Spaniards were not in this condition
when they moved to their death camp.
Just how far we are obliged to provide
care for a vanquished foe is a question
M h4iOR discussed in this town. EVeTV-
one admits and has admitted that the
Spaniard has been a good enemy, a good
their hats to the Spanish on the nth of
July did so with true homage to brave
men. AS the pitiful lines of the Spanish
prisoners stagger through the streets
of this city for the next week or so, feebly
stepping out of the way of pedestrians,
looking fearfully at rafting guns. and in
sad contrast to our strong men in brown,
the Americans who see them will be in
clined to again uncover the heads, prompt
ed by the same feeling of homage to