Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-20
TAKE TO The HIGH GROUND
General shafter Adopts Measures to Improve
Health of Troops.
CUBAN FORCES MUCH DISAPPOINTED
Had Expected to Take Possession of
the city of Snntiago-shnrtcr
Tells Them Not While
Americans Remain.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 1S.-Cvia
Kingston, Jamaica, July 19)-Strenuous
efforts to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases among the American troops in
front OF Santiago de Cuba were made so
soon as the city surrendered, and for the
past thirty-six hours our soldiers have
been sont as rapidly as possible to the
hills to the north Of the city, where new
camps have been established.
Everything possible is being done to inn
prove the sanitary conditions of the camps,
especially in the case of troops which are
expected to take part in the expedition to
Porto Rico. or the regiments here only
those which are not in the slightest infected
will be allowed TO go to Porto Rico. Others
will remain here for the present, encamped
on the high ground north of Santiago, Two
immune regiments from New Orleans and
Mobile are expected here daily and upon
their arrival they will be sent to the city,
forming the only American garrison which
will remain there.
The physical condition of our troops is not
considered serious, now that the number of
cases of fever is growing less all the time,
and 1t Is believed that the disease will dis
appear with the removal of the soldiers to
healthier localities and the extra precau-
lions which are being taken.
General Wheeler's cavalry division is
! practically free from sickness and probably
will be allowed to so to Porto Rico to take
part in the campaign.
A fact which is impressed more and
more every day upon the American officers
and men is the increasing strained relations
between the Americans and General Car
cia's Cuban soldiers. Indeed, tue situation
49,. ,.,, aak,I IN tnint pyhpIp thnrD iG
practically no communication between the
armies, and their relations border on those
OF hostility.
Not to BE Turned Over to Loot.
After General Shafter announced his de-
cision not to let the Cuban junta enter the
city OF Santiago deep mutterings were feard
among General Garcia's men. 1t was evil
dent the Cubans were generally disan-
pointed at the step taken by the American
commander. for they had confidently
counted upon having Santiago turned over
to loot and plumber as they had in success
sion sacked Biaquiri, Siboney and Ell Caney'
Consequently their disappointment was
keen when they ascertained that they were
not to be permitted to take possession o.
the city upon General Toral's surrender.
The correspondent Of the Associated Press
who sends this dispatch saw a group O
Cubans refuse point blank to aid in building
roads, and during the two days heavy hght'
ing, while they were lettering in the rear
our surgeons sought in vain to secure assist
ance from them, even to cut poles for i'm
provised litters for our wounded. Hundred
of such instances are being told around tn
campfres, until the name of Cuban /
usually wreathed with camp profanity, an
very rarely is a kind word spoken OF them
In fact, in some quarters there Is a dispose
ton to prophesy an early collision between
our men and the Cubans.
General Shafter Yesterday morning sen
an invitation to General Garcia to atten
the ceremony Of raising the American fla
over Santiago, but the Cuban genera
showed his resentment by sending a repl
which amply confirmed the course which h
and his ragged, ignorant soldiers have fol
lowed during the weeks of hard fighting an
campaigning which have resulted In the IA
Of Santiago. He declined the invitation, say
ing he hated the Spaniards, and added the
I he did not want to be where any of ther
were. Since that time the Cubans have re
. manned in their camp, eating American ra
I tions, and our troops have had no com
5 munication with them.
Castillo Wants to Know.
t On Friday last Castillo, a brother of Ger
v eral Demetrius Castillo, went to Genert
Skaters headquarters in order to ascertai
A the cause of this, to the Cubans, inexplic
able relation.
"Why is Santiago to remain in the hant
9 of our enemies?' he asked.
. 'The Spaniards are not our enemies" II
piled General Shafter. I'VE are fighting Il
soldiers of Spain, but We have no desire
despoil her citizens. No Cuban will
allowed to enter the city nor will any Anne
. lean. The government of the city Is fl
, the people to decide. When the Anericf
army leaves It, l presume it will be turnt
over, but not till then"
Castillo. who came direct from Gener
Garcia's camp, did Tot attempt to conce
his chagrin. The Cuban soldiers now full
q realize that there is a rising sentimeI
u against them in the army. They hear notl
ing but words of scorn from our men
they pass onward. Juggling their bacon al
= hard tack into the woods. Even our Of
VI GERS no longer conceal their disgust +
y their allies, and 1t is understood that Il
warm friendship displayed toward them
first has now turned into contempt. for Il
Cubans have neither fought nor worked.
- The question has arisen between the arm
and navy officials as to the disposition
: be made of the half a dozen large Spanl
merchant steamers which were in the ha
~ Dor of Santiago at the time of the surrendt
N Rear Admiral Sampson arrived In the CT
today on the Vixen and claimed the steai
10 ers were prizes OF the navy. He also W
DESTROYS of placing prize crews on boa
Ie them. General Shafter, however, refus
" to recognize dmiral SIMPSONS CLAIM
~ He declared the steamers. with everythi
'" else in Santiago, had surrendered to hi
The question, apparently. is still undecidi
40 but at any rate the admiral returned to
I flagship without having distributed pr
v crews among the merchantmen, and the Ii
~ ter are still in possession of the army.
y,
u. MORE WOUNDED COME MORT