The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-10
UNCLE SAM GENEROUS
OFFERS TO PAROLE ALL OF GER
VERA'S CAPTURED SAILORS.
No Reply Yet Made by Spain, Except
an Acknowledgement that the
Proposition Has Been Accepted.

NEW YORK. Aug. "a special to tho
Tribune froml Washington says: The
United States has magnanimously offered
to parole the 1900 Spanish naval prisoners
taken at the destruction of Admiral Ger
veras fleet whenever Spain is ready TO
patriate them. With the exception of the
officers, who are enjoying American hospi-
tality within the limits of Annapolis, the
bulk of these prisoners are confined to ths
naval station at Portsmouth, N H., where
they have the liberty of large picturesque
island and are comfortably quartered and
fed in temporary buildings erected especial
ly for their use. The offer of this govern
ment was made regardless of the approach
ing elimination of peace negotiations. and
simply with view of sending home large
number of national guests who had consid-
erably overstayed their welcome and be-
come burdens on the host These Spanlards
have suffered scarcely any of the restraints
usually imposed on prisoners of war, BUT
have been cared for as tenderly as If they
had been American sailors. Most of them
were terribly debilitated from the depriva-
tons they had suffered, and a large per-
centage have had to be nursed and cared for
in the hospitals. Instead of turning them
over to Spain in the pitiable condition they
presented when they sought refuge from
their burning ships and from the Cubans
aboard the American naval vessels, they
have been fully restored to health and
VlSor and the offer of the United States
contemplates giving them back to Spain
more abie-bodied than they were when they
lett the peninsula six months ago.
Although this striking instance of Amer
lean generosity to an enemy was officially
laid before the Madrid authorities through
the representative of a neutral nation some
received beyond the simple acknowledge
ment with the statement that 1t would re-
ceive consideration There was every rea-
son to believe that Spain would eagerly en-
oners, constituting, they do, the flower
or the naval force, as an important source
OF strength to the government at this time
in case domestic dissatisfaction assumes Cii-
with great difficulty. The offer, however
did not contemplate the gratuitous trans
porting of the men to Spanish territory, as
IN the case OF ToralS garrison at Santiago,
trail vessels under guarantees of security in
the ports of the United States, and perhaps
the Spanish delay is caused by the difficulty
of securing a single transport at the pres
ent time. During the next two or three
months the prisoners will be a source of lit
tie or no concern to the United States, the
trouble of maintaining them being confined
to the furnishing of food and clothing, but
as winter approaches it will be necessary
as early as Nov. l, to erect more substantial
buildings for keeping them warm or 1t may
be necessary to transfer them to the South,
1t is remarkable fact that Spain does not
in exchange for the number of Spaniards
who have been captured by the United
States navy in the Philippines, as well as
in the West Indies, and this inequality
more charitable on the part of this govern
ment."