The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09

ment tina perhaps owards the close
of the afternoon some word might be
received from Spain through the
French ambassador in reply to the
presidents deliverance yesterday on
the subject of peace conditions. This
expectation was based upon the fact
that the terms themselves had not
been modified in any essential point,
so that there was little occasion for
prolonged discussion by the Spanish
cabinet, which was presumed to have
thoroughly considered this matter be-
fore rendering the first reply. How
ever. it was perceived from the news
dispatches that the Madrid cabinet
meeting had been inconclusive, so it
was then presumed that nothing def
mite could be expected before tomorrow
noon at the earliest.
There is a confident belief amo
the administration officials that the
Spanish government will accept the
terms laid down by the president and
that the delay of a day or two in
recognizing the inevitable is to be ac-
counted for by reasons of Spanish in
ternal politics, which would not coun-
tenance an unresisting submission
without at least a display of a purpose
to improve the terms. This, however,
cannot be accomplished, and the
French ambassador, who is we'll aware
of the fact, unq~uestiOnably has so
informed the Spanish government,
though thai government has preserved
it's record in good form to meet the
criticism Of it's political opponents by
submitting the counter proposition pre-
scented yesterday by M. Cambon to the
president.
THE WADE EXPEDITION.
Meanwhile, preparations for the
Wade expedition go on steadily a
numbe of general officers being today
ordered to attach themselves thereto,
among them General Randall, who was
assigned only yesterday to command
the new military camp at Montauk
Point
WATSON'S FLEET TO GO TO EU-
ROPE.
Navy department officials also insist
that no change has been made in the
orders to the Watson squadron. In
deed, there seems to be now evident
a purpose to dispatch this fine squad
ron to European waters regardless OF
lie leT11llIldllOH " IL q IliC lOC
being tina the splendid display which
will be made by the American ships
will have a beneficial effect in inspiring
respect for our naval strength.
ROOSEVELT GAINS HIS POINT.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Of the
ROugh-RiderS, has succeeded in hur-
rying movement Of the war depart
ment in fetching Skaters army from
Santiago, though in his disregard Of
the cOnventiOnalities he has drawn
upon his head a rather sharp rebuke
from the secretary of war, who evil
IDENTIFY regards the course pursued by
Colonel Roosevelt as being calculated
to injure discipline, though inspired by
the most worthy motives. 1t is only
fair to state hat the var department
for some time has been intent upon re-
moving these troops, and it is now
more than a week & that General
Shafter was instructed by a special
cabinet meeting to cheer up the SOL
diers by publicly informing them Of
this determination. 1t was rather
a question Of ways and means than
of lack of attention to redeem this
promise that caused delay. AS far as
the question of removing the troops
back into the mountains was concern.
ed (the question which seems to have
precipitated the indignation meeting
among the American commanders at
Santiago it is learned that the medi-
cal department made no such recon-
mendation. All that it a to say on
this subject was hat if the troops
must remain near Santiago an effort
should be made to remove them at
once to some healthier camping
ground.
Surgeon General Sternberg agrees
thoroughly with the opinion expressed
by the signers of the round robin
at Santiago that men who have suffer-
ed from the severe malarial feVerS OF
the south Cuban coast, so far from be-
inb immune against attacks of yellow
fever, as has been asserted in some
quarters, are actually in very much
greater danger than those who have
escaped the malaria.
MaIarial fever, it is stated, is no
more a. protection against a subsequent
attack of yellow fever thar would be a
case of measles against smallpox, while
the fearful debility resulting from the
malarial fever would certainly tend to
make the victim an especial mark for
yellow jack.
The department today gave out a
statement of it's in the way
of transports at Santiago, and also,
as an incident, directed attention to
the fact that the troops cannot be
withdrawn as a whole until the Span
ish prisoners are disposed of. Other
wise, there is no certainty, that, find
ing themselves able to do so, the Span
iards would not ~overpower their cap
tors, reposses themselves of Santiago
and thus loose to the American army
the small foothold in Cuba, which has
cost so much blood and money to Sc
cure. 1t is, however, the expectation
that all of the American troops will
have been removed from Santiago to
the United States by the end of this
month and thai is probably the very
best that can be done under the cir
cumstanceS.
NO NEWS FROM MILES.
Today also passed without news from
General Miles and in his case the de-a
partment feels sure that mo news is
good news It is believed that at the
rate of progress he is reported to have
been making in his march across the
island the general will be at the doors
of San Juan by the end of next week.