Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-06


MONDAY as the time when the United
states Is likely to receive spain's final
answer but this is simply conjectural.
lot there Is not the slightest means of
knowing the tendencies at Madrid 7,
might come Tomorrow. but I'm the event
OF Its coming late in the day, or on Sun
day' the response would not be commune
Gated to the government until Monday.
| There is the same confident belief among
| officials that there has been from the
hrst-that SPANS answer will be a reIuc-
tant, but none the less a conclusive, ac-
| ceptance. At the same time, II was sug-
sested to-day in some quarters that there
was a possibility the disclosures made by
the American generals at Santiago con-
cening the serious condition Of our
troops might be a straw at which the
| Spanish Cabinet would grasp. This is
quite doubtful, however, as there is a
question whether the statement Of the
| American generals ever got outside Of
| the borders OF the United States, owing
70 the strict censorship imposed. More
over, all the evidence reaching the Off
cials here indicates that Spain Is weary
Of the conflict, and is convinced beyond
the slightest question Of the hopelessness
Of further struggle
THE SANTIAGO ROUND ROBIN"
The day would have been remarkably
dull at the War Department, considering
~ cfo To ~ Iad rnf
been for the publication in the newspapers
Of the "round robin" signed by the mill
tary commanders at Santiago, and the
short but sharp correspondence between
Colonel Roosevelt and Secretary Alger.
These afforded food for much discussion
among all classes of officials, and the be-
lief was general that there would be yet
further interesting chapters in the corre
spondence. provided it should be deemed
harmless 20 the best interests Of the army
TO allow further publication. In proof of
the allegation that the War Department
tunate army in Santiago before the
united protest was made, the following
statement is given out by the Secretary
Of War reg Gding the shipment Of troops
north from Santiago:
WAR DEPARTMENT EXPLANATION.
Until quiet recently it was supposed that
yellow-fever was epidemic in San
tiago, and It was not believed that
it would be safe to send north ship
loads of men largely infected with yellow
fever. The disease, it was believed, would
spread rapidly on shipboard, and result
in the death and burial Of many at sea.
"On the 25th ultimo the Secretary Of
War telegraphed to General Shafter that
as soon as the fever subsided the men of
his command would be moved north to
camp that had been selected for them
at Montauk Point. On the 3Oth Of July,
General Shafter telegraphed:
"Tiade known Secretary of Wars tele-
gram that troops would be moved north |
as soon as fever subsided, and it had a
very good effect on the men,
"When, however, the true condition |
was made known, an order was issued |
to General Shafter to move his command |
north as rapidly as possible, and all ships |
in the quartermaster's service possible |
to get to Santiago were sent there, and |
the great liners st. Paul and st. Louis j
were also ordered there.
"Al this was done before the commu-
ncation signed by General Shafter and |
his generals was received, and before |
Colonel Roosevelt's letter was published. |
cover 80 surgeons are at Santiago, and |
176 immune nurses have been sent there, /
besides the usual hospital corps that al |
ways attends such an army. There have |
been more deaths in Santiago by typhoid |
fever than in any camp in the United |
States"