Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-08-18
GROWS LESS wARLIKE.
Change I'm Busy Attitude of DEPART
ments mt Washington Since
Return to Peace.

/ 'o6 wa mug uO WAltC
house, the war department and the
navy department resumed their usual
Sunday quietude, condition which
has not prevailed since the Maine was
blown up in Havana harbor, February
Is. Secretary Alger was at the depart
ment few minutes and also went to
the white house, but did not remain
long. Gen. Corbin came into his Office
during the day and looked over his dis
patches, but did not remain constant
ly on duty, as he has been doing. There
were few clerks about the depart
ments, but scarcely Sunday passes
in peace times that this does not hap
pen. The busy, warlike attitude has
entirely disappeared and Washington
has settled down to peace basis.
The president believes that the most
serious problem which the peace COM
mission will be called upon to deal
with is the Philippines. Before the
commission assemblies it is hoped the
affairs of Cuba and Puerto Rico will be
found in such process of adjustment
as to leave little for the commission to
consider under that head. The abso-
lutte REIMBURSEMENT by Spain of all
sovereignty over tk e islands in the
West Indies will allow only the prop
erty questions to be settled between
the governments, that is what Spain
shall take away and what shall remain
as captures of war, and the protection
OF Spanish subjects and their property
in the islands. The greater questions
growing out of the war as relating to
Cuba and Puerto Rico will have to he
dealt with by the United States alone.
The fact that the Philippines will
present the difficult problem in the
peace negotiations has caused the adj
ministration to give it great deal of
careful attention. Several suggestions
have been made as to what shall be
done, one being the retention of the
bay, city and harbor of Manila. lust
what the protocol gives temporarily.
Another is that Subig bay and suf-
fiecient amount of territory for a naval
and coaling station be secured, and the
building up of an American city at
that place begun. Still another idea,
which is being considered is the reten-
ton of the Island of Luzon, the advo-
Gates of that plan believing that there
would be trouble between the govern
ments which occupied portion of the
island with line of demarcation such
as would exist in case Manila and the
bay only were retained The island of
Luzon is the largest of the group, and
contains about 100000 people, which
are said to be the better class in the
Philippines. 1t is believed, however,
that the administration and the COM
mission will be greatly influenced by
the reports which Admiral Dewey and
Gen. Merritt will make on the subject.
Their reports are expected before the
commission meets.
The final determination as to the
government of Puerto Rico and the
settlement of the government of Cuba
are problems for settlement, but the
impression prevails that these islands
will become quite rapidly American
lied, and every encouragement for
them to do so will be given. Puerto
Rico will be under military control for
the present. Cuba also will be similar
ly governed, but it is probable that
American reforms in the matter of
government will be such that the peo-
pie of Cuba will see the advantage of
becoming annexed to the United
States. 1t is thought the sanitary i'm
provement of Havana and other cities,
the management of the municipalities
and liberality offered the country peo-
pie will be of such character as soon
to convince the people that the
changed conditions are for their good.
No more troops will be sent 10 Gen.
Merritt unless he asks for them. 1t is
believed at the war department that
the 10000 men now there are sufficient
to garrison Manila and the ground
which the United States for the pres
ent will occupy. All of the troops that
were with Gen. Shafter in the Santiago
campaign will be out of Cuba by Fri
day of this week. Gen. Shafter will
accompany them to Montauk Point.
There will remain at Santiago five regi-
ments of immunes to do garrison duty.
1t is yet possible that battery will
be sent to Santiago to take the place
of the batteries which are 20 be re-
moved. Gen. Miles has about $4,000
men in Puerto Rico. They will be suf-
ficient for the occupation of the island,
and perhaps more than are needed
after the Spanish evacuate. The re-
mainder of the troops will remain in
the various camps to which they have
been assigned for the present, though
something may be done looking to-
wards diminishing the numbe- when
it becomes apparent that they are no
longer needed.
All vessels of the navy that can be
spared from the service in the West
Indies will be ordered to ports in the
states, where the men will be given
brief holidays. The big battleships of
the fleet will be put in dry dock as soon
as possible and undergo such repairs
az may be necessary. There is scarcely
a vessel of the navy that does not need
docking. 1t is expected that the large
dock in the New York yard will be
ready to receive the ships in about two
weeks. The auxiliary vessels of the