Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-07-19

SlOI W CdpluAC lhal ioAoho'
Washington, July 19.-With the San
tiago campaign successfully closed there
was lull in the activity of the war ana
navy departments today, and the OH
Gals expressed the belief that the stir
ring developments of the last few weeks
would now give way to the details IN
occupying Santiago, the shipping or
Spanish prisoners to Spain, coping with
the yellow fever situation and prepara-
ton for the next aggressive campaign.
A dispatch received from the front
states that the entire number OF fever
cases do not exceed 300. This lowered
the estimate by one-half from that CIV
en- in press dispatches and was source
of satisfaction to the authorities. Colo
mel Alden, acting surgeon general, says
the situa ton is much less serious than
would appear at first glance, for while
the aggregate Of 300 seems large 1t is
relatively small when it is remembered
there are $4,000 troops at the front.
Surgeon Arthur at New York has
been given carte blanche to get together
at the earliest moment large number
of contract doctors and nurses familiar
with fever cases. They will go to San
tiago on the Resolute, which leaves the
American line pier at once. Many anx-
ious inquiries from relatives and friends
of soldiers are coming to the war de-
| partment owing to the fever reports.
This has led to the considera ton of the
practicability Of getting the full list of
fever patients, mainly as means of re-
lieving the anxiety of those whose
friends are not affected. 1t is thought
such a list will be available In day or
so. In the meantime inquiries have
brought definite information that Brig
adler General Duf11eld, whose condition
has been open to much doubt, was down
with a mild case of fever. 1t is giving
the surgeons no apprehension, as the at
tack is yielding readily to treatment.
The Porto Rico Invasion.
General Brooke has had another con-
ference with Secretary Alger in refer
ence to the preparations for the Porto
Rican expedition. The general reports
that his army is now ready, and it is I'M
derstood thai Newport News will be the
port of departure of the larger part of
the expedition. The army of occupation
is expected to consist of about $4,000
men, as it has been decided to take no
chances of repeating the mistake made
in Skaters case of landing with an in
sufficient force and then being obliged
to lie idle at critical moment awaiting
re endorsements The employment of an
overpowering force Is also expected to
save bloodshed.
Evidences OF preparation for the eXpe-
dition are everywhere apparent in the
war department. In order that there
may be no delay in supplying subsst-
ence stores Commissary General Eagan
is having prepared advertisements in
vtng proposals from the large beef
dressing concerns for supplying stated
quantities of this article of diet at a
certain place in the island, subject to
the order of the general commanding.
Very recently General Eagan awarded
contracts for supplying the army at
Santiago with refrigerated beef, and 1t
Is expected that the advertisements for
Porto Rico will follow on the same gen.
eral lines. The contract will be big
one, as it is the policy Of the depart
ment to keep the army as we'll supplied
as practicable with refrigerated beef.
Plans For Watson.
The plans for sending Commodore
Watsons eastern squadron to Spain
have reached point where naval off,
GERS are considering the exact day of
departure, and it is said that positive
orders have been given that prepara-
lions must be brought to a close at once
with view to having everything in
readiness by the end of this week. Two
of the golfers which are to accompany
the expedition are at Norfolk for the
purpose of putting light batteries on
them. The officer in charge of the work
estimated that it would take two weeks
more to get these batteries together and
have them mounted.
This meant delay, and an order has
been given that the work be completed
this week or else that the GOLFERS 20
without their light batteries. The same
view is taken as to the condition Of the
ships. The fleet officers would like to
have the ships bottoms scraped and
considerable overhauling done, but this
means delay, and the disposition here is
to have the cleaning and repairing done
as well as possible by the men on the
ships so that everything will be in read
mess by the end of the week or soon
thereafter.