Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-07-29
IS 1T ONLY BLUFF?
LOOKS AS IF THE MOVEMENT
AGAINST SPAIN WAS.

Partisan Discrimination in the
War Department - Too Much
Official IIob-Nobbing.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WAsHINGToN, July -, 1898.
Whether the administration is max
ing a gigantic bluff for the purpose of
frightening Spain into begging for
peace upon any terms that we may
choose TO ofler. or has actually de-
termined t. utilize the enormous
resources at its command to force the
fighting in every direction until Spain
is whipped to her knees, is not clearly
apparent at this writing. But every
thing points to one or the other. Mem
bers of the administration say it is the
latter. Every good American ought
to hope it is.
The Porto Rico expedition, now
under way, under command Of Gen.
Miles and Admiral Sampson, is no
bluff, for one of the certainties of the
war Is that we are to get and keep
Porto Rico for our very own. The
landing OF the advance guard of the
troops is expected to be accomplished
by the first of next week, and then the
In
against San Juan will begin. How soon
the town will be captured will, of course,
depend upon how vigorously the CAM
paign is conducted.
The bluff bluff it isis in con-
nection with the movement against
Spain Itself. All this week there has
been mysterious talk about Watson's
fee, being accompanied, or closely fol
lowed. by an army of invasion, and
the activity in the movement OF troops
from the various camps, which has
been much greater than was necessary
in connection with the invasion of
Porto Rico. has lent probability to the
talk. And the calling of Gen. Stewart
l.. WOodfOrd, who is still drawing
salary as U. S. Minister to Spain, to
Washington for the purpose of con-
ferring with Mr.. Mckinley and his
Cabinet, has not lessened the talk,
although some think that Woodford |
was sent for in connection with some
for peace that may have
been received, notwithstanding the
official denial that any such PROPOSE
ton had either been received or made.
The clashing between Gen. Shafter
and Admiral Sampson, which formed
such q disagreeable feature of the cam.
paign against Santiago. broke out in
the Cabinet this week, Secretaries
Long and Alger respectively taking the
sides of their subordinates rs to
the valuable Spanish mer-
chants ships that we're in the harbor
At Santiago when the place was sur
render to Shafter should be held by
the army and thus become the property
Of the government without the pay
ment of prize-money or should, in
with SIMPSONS demand,
be turned over to the navy. Just Is
the two Secretaries were getting
warmed up in their dispute Attorney
General Griggs settled the whole bust
ness by saying: "Neither OF you may
nave the ships. The Supreme
Court has rendered a decision on that
very point. When there is a Joint
capture OF ships by army and navy, or
when the army alone captures them,
hey are not to be considered prizes.
Nobody gets any prize money!"
Official orders have been issued in ac-
,ordance with what Griggs said.
Those who have stood up for the
Cubans are anxiously waiting to see if
Skaters official reports will confirm
he press dispatches, AS TO the in
under Garcia being in almost
, state OF revolt because Santiago was
not turned over to them; also as to
he numerous stories OF Sinking, both
If working and fighting, on the part
,f the insurgents. II these stories are
confirmed, stock in the in.
,urgents will take decided slump.
It has already occurred in the army,
many of whom are known to have
gone to Cuba strongly prejudied in
avor OF the insurgents and more like
y to exaggerate their good qualities
han their bad ones.
Secretary Alger is being accused of
allowing his political prejudice against
the Southern regiments, most OF the
members of which are known to be
Democrats, to prevent his giving them
\ chance to win any glory out of the
war by fighting. 1t is pointed out
that such extraordinary orders as COM
bining two brigades have been issued
from the War Department so a. to
shut out q southern regiment from
each brigade; also that Gen. Fitz Lee
was being kept in camp with the hope
that the war might end before he had
A chance to do any fighting. These
are not pleasant things to write, but
the accusations are being made, which
makes it necessary that they should
be written. 1t is only fair to add that
Secretary Ayers friends deny that he
has Disseminated against either the
Southern troops or generals.
There is much criticisms in Wash
ington of the hob.nobbing of American
officers with Spanish officers of the
surrendered army at Santiago. The
general opinion is that il our officers
remembered the Maine they
would confine their association with
Spaniards to military courtesy.
Although it is stated that the yellow
fever in our army in Cuba is now
under control, Sergeon General Stern.
burg. to whom all reports from army
surgeons are sent, declines to answer
a single question about the fever. He
will not even say whether it is in
creasing or decreasing. Dem.
THE Klondike mother lode, accord
ING IN Daniel SapdersOu a miner has |