Evening star., 1898-04-29
YELLOW FEVER IMMUNES
Bill Proposed to Increase Special Enlist.
ments Of Them.
News of Conflict at Manila Not Ell.
pected for Some Time-Distribu-
tion of spain's Fleet.

bill is expected to be passed through
both houses of Congress speedily authoriz-
ing the President to accept the services CT
yellow fever immunes. Under the volun-
teer bill the President was empowered to
muster in three regiments, not exceeding
5000 men. as a special enlistment outside
the quotas of the several states.
The House committee today decided to re-
port a bill increasing these special enlist
ments to 1900, to permit the i'm
munes to be made use Of There is a fight
on over the matter. however because the
committee proposition is not to permit the
immunes. like other volunteers, to be mus
tered in the service with their officers.
The opponents to this proposition insist
that the immunes should be treated just as
the OTTER special en,istments are treated.
and be permitted to have their own Off
cars. 1t is pointed out that these irnmunes
will in the nature Of the case have tc come
from that part of the south where yellow
fever mas been severe, and that these states
will be called upon to furnish this large
force in addition to their regular quota OF
troops and that, being called on for the
additional service they ought to be per-
niitted to furnish the company and regi
mental officers.
There will be quite a fight over this be-
fore the bill is got through Congress. 1t
is expected that when the authority is Sc
cured a large force of immunes will be put
into the service, and that these and the
cowboy regiments will be the first volun-
teerS landed in Cuba.
Pressure for Military Appointments.
The congressional delegation and the le-
partment officials are being overwhe med
by pressure from all over the country for
military appointments. The siege of appll-
cants at the present moment overshadows
everything else. There is considerable crit
lciSm of the alleged selection of Minister
Woodford for major generalship.
The prevailing opinion here is that Mr..
Woodford did not distinguish himself in his
position minister at Madrid. and a feel
ing that the same sort of dilatory dispo-
sition which he seems to have shown in
the field of diplomacy would be serious
drawback to his usefulness in high COM
mand in the army.
Expected Engagement ut Manila.
1t is anticipated that we are going to be
kept very much in the dark with respect
to the situation at the Philippine Islands
and that we may not learn the result of an
engagement between Admiral Dewey's
fleet for some time after it has occurred.
The Spanish have control of the cable, and
until Manila has fallen and Admiral Dewey
has got possession of the cable there can
be no reliance placed upon reports from
there.
The news will come from Spanish sources,
and it is anticipated that no matter what
happens reports of a Spanish victory will
come by cable. Such reports would prob
ably be the first received, even If the Span
ish feet We're utterly destroyed.
The exact time when the troops are to
start from Tampa for Cuba is kept secret
at the department, the statement being
made that the time of departure has not
yet been decided Oil.
The active preparations that are being
MADE speak for Themselves Indicating tnat
the move will be made as soon as the troops
can be got on the transports and the great
quantity of supplies can be loade>1 and
ready for transportation
The Spanish Fleet
The reported sailing of the Spanish fleet
from the Cape Verde Islands in a southern
direction, though confused by the contra
dlctory statement that the fleet has sailed
i'll a westerly direction, is regarded as
probably correct. The theory is that the
Spanish fleet is likely to try to creep to
lection of the innurnerable islands and
intricate passages of the far southern wa
ters.
Very little credit is given to talk of the
Spanish fleet proceeding against any of our
northern ports. From whatever quarter
they come, however, the Spaniards will be
welcomed. The thing most feared is their
rot coming at all.
Should the fleet proceed directly toward
our blockading fleet they could not arrive
In time to interfere with the landing of
t-ccps for the base of supplies, unless q
knowledge that the fleet was coming to do
battle against our navy openly should in
duce this government to defer everything
until the issue on the water, being right
at hand, were concluded
The expectation is that they will not
come boldly to meet our fleet and that the
establishment of base of supplies will be
proceeded with speedily, without regard to
what the Spanish fleet may do