The record-union., 1898-07-16

These are likely to bs more complex
than are generally supposed, for, aside
from matters of actual moment, such
as the methods of transportation, the
carriageof arms and the transportation
of the surrendered officers, are some of
of the matters to be attended to, grow
ing out of the fantastic Spanish notions
of honor and are quite as troublesome
to deal with as matters Of vital import
ance
The French cable company shut down
over night, and that was supposed at
first to be the reason why further re-
ports We're not forthcoming from Shaf-
ter or Miles. 1t was believed that the
cable operators, Frenchmen, had be-
come wearied from their protracted la
boIS and refused to continue at work
last night With morning came
renewal of communication, though no
messages from Shafter were on file
Many inquiries are coming to the War
Department as to the condition of the
sick and wounded American soldiers
near Santiago. The appearance of yell
low fever among the transports was
an additional cause of apprehension,
and doubled the number of queries.
The War Department does not deem 1t
prudent just now to make any detail
ed statement relative to the conditions
in the camp, but Adjutant General Cor
bin stated that he could say that so
far as yellow fever was concerned the
conditions at last report were certainly
better than they We're two days ago
Colonel Hecker, who is in charge of
the transportation service of the war
Department. is busy trying to arrange
70, Ia homo NJ
ish soldiers who surrendered in Santi-
ago.
There is a disposition to appeal di-
rectly to the great steamship lines to
make bids to carry these people. The
adoption of such course would relieve
the Government of great responsible
ity. 1t would put the Spaniards under
a neutral flag which would insure their
reception without difficulty at home,
and it would relieve our Government or
the necessity of sending with the pris-
oners the heavy guard that would be
required if they We're conveyed on
United States transports. Economic
ally, it was thought that the PROPOSE
tion was a sound one. Assuming that
the companies charged the usual pas
senger rates for soldiers, the transfer
could be effected at cost not to eX-
ceed 100000, a sum which is probably
less than would be the cost of the serv-
ice if undertaken directly by our Gov
ernnent But a disagreeable compli-
cation has arisen from the fact that the
reports indicate that yellow fever eX-
lists among the Spanish troops as we'll
as among our own, and it is feared that
If these reports are we'll founded it may
be difficult to induce transportation
companies to undertake the task of
conveying sick soldiers and those who
had been exposed to infection. There
is also doubt whether the Spanish au-
thorities Will allow the men to land on
Spanish soil. Adjutant General Corbn
said that all the necessary ratlonS TO
care for the Spanish soldiers when
they surrendered had been secured, and
were now in place for immediate deliv-
cry at Santiago. 1t IS presumed that
the Quartermaster's officers will avoid
the enormous undertaking of transport
ing these supplies over the mountain
trails by sending these supplies in YES
sells into the harbor to the city of San
tiago This it is believed, can be done
safely, as the terms of surrender will
doubtless require the Spanish to indi-
cate the location of the mines in the
harbor 1t is expected that the great
body of refugees that fled from the
town on the threat of bOmbardment
will now return, and great distress is
expected to result from the lack Of food
supplies. General Shafter has been al
lowed to exercise his full discretion in
dealing with these refugees, and while
he will not assume the responsibility
for their maintenance, he Will without
doubt spare as many rations as pos
sibe from his own stores to aid these
unfortunate people.