Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-18
A LULL FOR A TIME
Rest for War and Navy Department
Officials.
THE REPORTS OF THE YELLOW FEVER
State Of Affairs at the Front En-
couragIng.
SOME VISITORS TODAY


With the Santiago campaign successfully
closed. there was a lull in the activity of
the War and Navy Departments today.
and the officials expressed the belief that
the stirring developments OF the last few
weeks would now give way TO the details
of occupying Santiago. the shipping of
Spanish prisoners TO Spain, the coping with
the yellow fever situation and the prepara-
ton for the next aggressive campaign.
No reports from General Shafter or Ad-
Tniral Sampson were received during the
early part of the day.
A dispatch was received late last night
stating that the entire number of yellow
fever cases up 10 that time did not exceed
30. This lowered the estimate by one-half
from that given in press dispatches, and
was a source of satisfaction to the authori-
ties. Col. Alden, acting surgeon general,
says the situation is much less serious than
would appear at first glance, for, while
the aggregate of 300 seems large, it is
relatively small when the 5000 troops at
the front are considered. Surgeon Arthur
at New York has been given carte blanche
TO get together at the earliest moment
large number of contract doctors and
ses familiar with fever cases. They will
go to Santiago on the Resolute, which
leaves the American Line pier tomorrow
morning.
Many anxious inquiries from relatives
and friends of soldiers are coming to the
War Department, owing to the fever re-
ports. This has led to the consideration of
the practicability of getting the full list
of fever patients, mainly as a means of
relieving the anxiety OF those whose friends
are not affected. 1t is thought that such-a
list will be available in day or go. In the
meantime inquiries have brought definite
Information that Brfgadier General Duff
field, whose condition has been open TO
much doubt, was down with a mild case of
fever. It is giving the surgeons no appre-
hension. as the attack is yielding readily to
treatment.
Gen. Duffield Doing Well.
The following telegram was received from
DR.. Legards at Santiago today regarding
the case Of Gen. Dufle1d. 1t was dated yes
terday, but did not come to hand until to-
day:
Gen. Duffield has yellow fever: is at d.
vision hospital, but Is doing nicely much
better today
Gen Duffield Is a man of vigorous constI
tuition, and no doubt Is felt that he will be
able to recover from the disease. He is a
warm personal and political frisnd of Sec
rotary Alger and Is a lawyer of some prom
inence in Michigan. He served creditably
throughout the civil war and was a MEM
Der OF Gen Ayers stan when he was gov
ernor Of Michigan in 1884. He volunteered
his services for the Cuban war and was ap-
pointed brigadier general and assigned to
the command of a brigade Of the I'd Army
Corps. at that time in camp at Falls
Church. Va. When Gen. Shafter called for
reinfOrcemsrts for the capture of Cuba
Gen. Duf1eld's brigade was one of those Sc
lected for that purpose. He accompanied
the SD Michigan and other troops from
Camp Alger on the auxiliary cruiser Yale
and had been on duty at Santiago only few
days when he was stricken down with the
dread fever.
Brig. Gen. Oates OF Alabama was al the
War Department today TO call on Secretary
Alger and Adjt. Gen. Ccrbiu. The general
desires a permanent command. He had
been assigned to the 4th Corps. under Gen
Ccppinger, but before he could take COM
mand the brigade was assigned to Gen.
Wheaton.
Performed Gallant Service.
One Of the battIe-scarred victims of the
war has reached the city and called on
Secretary Alger TO-DAY. He is Capt. 4. L.
Mills of the list Cavalry. who was wounded
while serving with Gen. Lawton In the al
tack on the heights of San Juan. Capt.
Mills performed meritorious and gallant
service on that occasion, as he did also sew
elaI days before the fight, when he en-
Gagged in hazardous accommodating expe-
dition to determine the strength of the en-
eny's position. He was shot through the
front Of the head. the ball going in near
one eye and coming out just back of the
other. He narrated briefly to the Secre-
tary the inci1ents Of the fight.
Another caller at the department today
was Baron Won Goetzen. German military
attache who has been at the front.
Manufacture of SmekeIess Powder.
The output Of smokeless powder for the
Navy Department is steadily increasing
and the ordnance bureau is now receiving
over 5000 pounds daily for the use of the
big guns.
The bureau Of construction and repair Is
expanding million and a quarter of dol
lars month upon repairs. hitting and re-
htt1ng vessels for the war with Spain.
: his is greatly in excess Of what was ex-
pended in a year before the war COM
nenced.
Docking the Vessels.
The Navy Department Is making ar
rargements for the acquisition of a num-
Der Of small ting decks to be used in
the gulf waters for decking such vessels
OF the navy as may enter them. These
docks will accommodate only the smaller
mo nitors ana sunboats.
II Will be necessary for the larger YES
sells OF the navy to come north to be dock
ed 1t Is said at the department that the
large dock at New York will be available
in three weeks. The dock at Port Royal
IL available for vessels but experience that
the department has had in sending ships
over the bar is not such as to encourage
taking our best battle ships into Port
Royal when they may be needed at almost
any moment.
Dispatches From shnfter.
Gen Shafter has sent several dispatches
70 the War Department during the day.
but Secretary Alger said as he left his
oiflce for lunch that they merely related TO
details of matters coming up constantly
for considera ton. There was no change
-