Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-07-18
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF rHr MONITOR
Washington, July 18th, 1898.
Z 4EB7NE7 ON LETTER

WUSH1UqtOU, JutU ILUt. 1896
President Mckinley has the whip
hand Of the situation, and he doesn't
in tend that either talk about peace or
the surrender of the Spaniards at San
tiago shall interfere with his plans.
IF the destruction of Cervera's fleet
and the Spanish defeats at Santiago
have convinced Spain that it is time
to beg for peace, she, must say so.
She can accomplish nothing by talk
ing peace unofficially, nor through
the intervention of other powers.
This country does not intend to allow
any other country to have any hand
either in obtaining peace for Spain or
in arranging the terms of peace. Spain
can have the terms of peace whenev-
er she chooses to ask for them, and
they will not be deviated from, nor
will they he offered until they are
asked for. Meanwhile the war is going
to be pushed. 1t is expected at the
Navy Department that Commodore
Watson's feet, which is going to the
coast of Spain, will get started this
week, and that, by the first Of August
it will be heard from by Spain; and
the expedition against Porto Rico is
to be prosecuted with Santiago as d
base of supplies.
The War and Post Office Depart
ments hove adopted system for the
Improvement of the mail service to
the soldiers. Under this system the
quartermaster's department of the |
army will transport all mail within
camp to and from the point of ar
rival and departure, and battalion
and regimental adjutants will be held l
responsible for the correct distribu-
ton of mail. Every military post or
camp established will be given post /
office Immediately, with postal SUI !
perintendent in charge. In short,
nothing will be left undone that will |
aid in quick and constant communi-
cation between the soldiers and their
relatives and friends.
Just a plain statement of what was
done at the session Of Congress just |
ended, without one word Of argument
should be amply sufficient to bring
about an increase Of the Republican
majority in the next House. 1t was
business session as we'll as a war ses-
sion. Aside from the important war
legislation, which has met every need
of the administration and prepared,
SO far as possible for its needs for the
next six months, and the regular APP
preparation bills, just and equitable
National bankrupt law was enacted;
Hawaii was annexed, and a number of
other important laws placed upon
the statute books. The total amount
by Congress at the ses-
sion was 1892, 527 ,991, of which $751;
7SS, O95 was to meet the expenses of
conducting the present war.
AS a special favor to those who are
here in attendance upon the annual |
tional Association, Secretary Long in
structed the Commandant of the
Wa shington Navy Yard, which has
been closed to visitors since. the war
started, to admit members of the AS
ISOLATION to the yards and shops.
Another unusual courtesy extended
to the Association was the opening of
the Congressional Library building at
night by Librarian Young. This was
the first time that handsome building
had been open to visitors at night.
Secretary Long gives the following
reasons for the success of the Navy in
the war-a success never equaled in
any war by any navy, involving, be-
sides individual ships captured or de-
the complete destruction of
two Spanish fleets, that of Admiral
Cervera having several warships that
were as fine as any of their class in
the world: First, the skill and me-
chanical genius Of our people in
building the best ships; Second, the
high personnel Of the Navy; Third,
the foresight of our Naval authorities
in literally spending money for am
to be used in target prac-
bice; Fourth, the help the Secretary
Of the Navy had from the Assistant
Secretary and the bureau chiefs. 1t
will be remembered that Theodore
who has just been pro-
noted from Lieut.. Col. to Col. for
gallantry in action before San tiago,
was the Assistant Secretary Secretary
IF the NAVY until after the fighting