The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-15

heavy guard that would be required II
they were conveyed in United States
transports.
Economically, 1t was thought that the
proposition was a sound one. Assuming
that the companies charged the usual
passenger rates for soldiers, the transfer
$500, ,0oo a sum which is probabl less than
would be the cost of the service II under-
taken directly by our Government.
But a agreeable complication mas
arisen from the fact that reports indicate
that yellow fever exists among the SPAN
ish troops as well as among our own, ana
it is feared that If these reports are well
founded it may be difficult to induce
the task of conveying sick soldiers and
those who had been exposed to Infection.
There is also doubt whether the Spanish
authorities will allow the men to land on
Spanish soil.
Adjutant General Corbin said that all
the necessary rations, to care Tor the
Spanish soldiers when they surrendered,
had been secured and were now IN place
for Immediate delivery at Santiago 1t is
presumed that the Quartermaster's Off
GERS will avoid the enormous undertaking
of transporting these supplies over the
mountain trails by sending these supplies
in vessels into the harbor to the city of
Santiago.
This. 1t is believed, can be done safely,
as the terms of surrender will doubtless
require the Spanish to indicate the loca-
ton of the mines in the harbor. 1t is
expected that the great body of refugees
that fed from the town on the threat of
bombardment will now return and great
distress is expected to result from the
lack of food supplies.
General Shafter has been allowed to ex-
ercise his full discretion in dealing with
these refugees, and, while he will not as
sumo the responsibility for their main
tenance. he will lithout doubt spare as
many rations as possible from his own
stores to aid these unfortunate people.
With all Of our disposition to be on
friendly terms with the British, our nav
al officers are quick to resent the allega-
tions made to the effect that Dewey
owed his marvellous success at Manila
TO the en,sloynent of English gunners
whom he had engaged at fabulous wages
at Hong Kong before he sailed for Ma
Mia. Such statement as this was made
of Parliament in a communication to
some of the British newspapers which
has aroused a good deal of discussion.
CAPTAIN crowninshield. the Chief Of the
Navigation Bureau Is directly in charge
of the personnel of the navy and when
this statement was called TO his attention
he very promptly and positive said
1--WE never have yet been called upon
to get Englishmen to teach us how to
shoot. An inspection of the muster rolls
of Dewey's squadron will convey the
anlplest refutation of this charge and
show how absolutely false It is.
Even LATER than the muster rolls are
| the prizs lists prepared for the use of the
auditing officers of the Treasury Depart
ment and by comparison with the muster
rolls as the squadron was originally
formed they show very clearly that no
Englishmen were behind the guns that
sunk the Spanish fleet and sienced the
forts Of cavite.
It is authoritatively stated by Secretary
Day that there is no truth in, the pub
lished report that peace negotiations have
been opened at Washington, led by Sir
Julian Pauncefote, assisted by the Rus
| sian Ambassador. the Japanese Minister
and other foreign diplomats.
There have been no overtures for peace
received by any United States embassy
| or legation abroad or by the Department
of State at Washington
| That was the statement made by a
member of the Cabinet who is thoroughly
| familiar with the conditions as they exist
| today and was called forth by various re-
| ports that ranged all the way from an
announcement that the basis for treaty
| of peace already had been reached. to the
more guarded declaration that the Spanish
| Government had conveyed in an unofficial
manner to the United States Government
an intimation of some of the concessions
| it was prepared to make to secure peace.
The prospect for the speedy institution
/ of peace negotiations have frightened de-
! cidedly since the collapse Of the Spanish
| resistance at Santiago. The moral effect
! of that victory for the American arms is
| beginning to be felt in the direction of
| peace If the Cabinet has discussed
| terms of peace up to this moment, the
| fact has not been divulged by any re-
| sponsible source. Now and then one of
| the Governments agents in Europe COM
municates some message summing up
of the earnest desire for the speedy re-
| storation of peace entertained by the
| European powers, this gossip tends to
| bear out the belief that peace negotia-
tions are at hand.
/ The President hopes so. He has made
no concealment of his earnest desire for
| a speedy termination of the war Such
| a position on his part is entirely recon-
cilable with an earnest purpose to prose-
cute the war until its original purposes
have been attained. Before that time any
| oyertures for peace must come from
Spain.
The news from Madrid, that Spain had
practically been placed under martial Law
is regarded as a most hopeful sign. L
is construed to mean a purpose on the
part of the Spanish Government to bind
up in advance the turbulent elements II
Spain that might be expected to take ad
vantage of the public discomfort causet
by the heavy sacrifices the Government
must make to obtain peace in order Il
cause a revolution and overthrow the
monarchy.
1t is realized here by the officials tha
| every day will bring forth a fresh crol
of peace rumors. few with any founda
tion. hui their very circulation and th
credence gained for them is regarded a
an encouraging sign Of a general belle
that the Spanish cause is near its end
L I.