The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-03
ROOSEVELI'S
PLAIN WORDS.

standpoint of the military efficiency OF
the flower OF the American army, lot
the great bulk OF the regulars are mere
with you.
"The sick list, large though IL ID. cx-
ceeding 4O00 affords but faint index
of debilitation OF the army. NOT ~
per cent. are fit for active work. PIX
Weeks ON the north Maine coast, for
instance. or elsewhere. where the vel
low fever germ cannot possibly propa-
gate. would make us all as mt as hgnt-
ing cocks, able as we are ana eager 20
take a leading part In the great cam
paign against Havana In the ran, even
il we are not allowed 10 try Porto nlco-
NO REASON FOR REMAINING.
"We can be moved north, IL moved at
once. with absolute safety to the coun-
trv. although, of course. IL would nave
been infinitely better IL we had been
moved north or to Porto Rico two weeks
ago. III there were any obJect In Keep
ing us here we would face yellow rever
with as much indifference as We ,@rce @
bullets. but there is no object In u. The
four immune regiments ordered mere
are sufficient to garrison the city ana
surrounding towns and there Is abso-
lutely nothing for us to DO mere, ano
there has not been since the city sur
rendered. 1t Is impossible to move into
the interior. Every day in camp dou-
ened condition. and. anyhow, the inter-
ior ia rather worse than the coast. as !
have found by actual reconnaissance.
our present camps are as heaitny az
any camps at this end OF the island
can be.
II write only because ] cannot see
our men, who have fought so bravely
and who have endured extreme hard
shin and danger so uncomplainingly, go
TO destruction without striving so far
as lies in me- to avert a doom as fear
full as IL Is unnecessary and unde-
served.
yours respectfully,
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
"Colonei commanding First brigade"
ROUND ROBIN ADDRESS.
After Col Roosevelt bad taken the
| initiative the officers In general united
in n round robin addressed to Gen.
Shafter. 1T reads: I'VE. the under
| signed officers commanding the war;
| ious brigades. divisions, etc, OF the
| army OF occupation In Cuba, are or the
unanimous opinion that this army
! should be at once taken out Of the
| island of Cuba and sent TO some point
| on the northern seacoast OF the United
| states. that 1t can be done without dan.
| ger to the people of the United States
that yellow fever in the army at pres
ent Is not epidemic; that there are only
Il
| Is disabled by malarial fever to the ex
tent that it's efficiency Is destroyed ant
| that IL is in q condition to be practi
| cally destroyed by an epidemic or vel
low fever which is sure to come In tn
near future.
I'VE know from the reports from
competent officers and from persona
observations that the army is unabl
to move into the interior and that ther
| are no facilities for such n move IL at
| tempted Moreover. the best medica
authorities OF the island say that wit
| our present equipment we could no
live i'm the interior during the rain
season without losses from malaris
| fever.
l (Signed)
]. Ford Kent, Major General volun
Il teers, commanding First Divisio
Fifth Corps.
IJC. Bates. Major General Volunteer,
commanding provisional division.
| Adna r. Chaffee, Major General, con-
manding Third Brigade, Second Rel
iment.
| samuel 8. Sumner, Brig. General. CON
manding Fifth Brigade Cavalry.
, Will Ludlow, Brig. General Volunteer
, commanding First Brigade, Secor
Division.
Adelbert Ames. Brig. General volul
teers, commanding Third Brigad
First Division.
| Leonard Wood, Brig. General Volul
teers, commanding the City of Sal
tiago.
3 Theodore Roosevelt, Colonel, comman
' ing Second Cavalry Brigade.
: Major M. ]. Wood. the chief surge'
Q of First division. said
!. "TheAariny must be moved north
adding with emphasis: or IL VIII
unable to move itself"
Il ~
q | cable message to Washington:
y | "The Hon. Charles Allen, assistant &c
a retary OF the navy
."This army Is incapable because
!, | sickness, from marching anywhere G
cept to the transports. Ii 1t Is ever
. return to the United States 1t must
y - WILL BE BROUGHT NORTH.
X Washington, Aug. 4.-After the co
h ference at the White House with Secl
/. | taries Day and Long. the President
N a conference with Secretary Alger, 81
- retary Long and Assistant Secreta
" Allen Of the navy at which action
= taken for the prompt transpor1a,h,oh
u Gen. Skaters army from CUBA
10 Montauk Point. The conference oct
10 MED a couple of hours and there v
r. an informal general presentation OF
ID needs of prompt action and or
es means at hand to effect II. 1t was
at naly concluded that there were 81
- cient vessels of the coast there now
], the purpose. When the meeting ent
III A was officially stated that the num-
IN of vessels now there was adequate
&. the removal of the army. The dispa
i'd of the troops home accordingly viii
w gin at once.
"a Another point taken up during
4 day was a thorough consideration
-, the expense rolls OF the war and a
% cussion of where retrenchment co
u Immediately be made. Plans for the
bandment OF the auxiliary fleet alre'
81 have begun and other action deman
nc In the interests of economy VIII foiio
cd -------------------