Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-11
ARMY DEMQRALlzED.
The Publicity Given to the Condi.
ton Of Skaters Men Deprecated.
IT NIGHT have PREVENTED PEACE
An Effort VIII he Made In the Future "a
Guard Such Information More Cl0seiy
from the Publlc-Statement Of
the Secretary Of War

the Secretary Of War
Washington, Aug. 6.-Army officials
are greatly relieved to know, from the
Santiago dispatches, that what ap.
pears to have been great danger TO
the American arms has been safely
passed by. The reports Of the Ameri.
can commanders at Santiago, includ'
ing all the major generals, division
and brigade commanders, which
were made public in the news
dispatches Thursday, gave for the
FIRST time to the public news OF
the terribly demoralized condition OF
the American army. II this state
of affairs had been known week ago,
the most serious results must have fol.
lowed The Spanish government must
have been excited to refrain from max.
ing peace overtures and TO prolong
their resistance The publicity given
to these rnmors was most strongly de.
precated by almost every official Of the
administration. but the American
army at Santiago is being loaded upon
transports as rapidly as possible, and
1t is hoped that, within few days,
the bulk OF the army will be at sea,
bound for Montauk point l.. l.
In the place Of these weary and bat
tle-worn troops will be five regiments
Of immunes, now due at San tiago, sup
posed to be proof against yellow fe.
yer, and at any rate gifted with a fresh
store Of energy and health to draw
upon. Gen. Miles has with him in
Porto Rico force probably equal to
the actual demands of the campaign
there, so that the heavy reinforce
ments now on their way to that island,
or about to be dispatched, can be
safely diverted to Santiago or any
other Cuban point at short notice, II
occasion should make it necessary.
With a knowledge of these facts, the
officials breathe easier and feel toler.
ably safe as to the future conditions
at Santiago. 1t is supposed that the
government censors at New York
made an effort to prevent the commu.
nication OF the facts stated in the San
tiago dispatches to Europe, but 1t Is
unlikely that they succeeded, mas
much as the same news, being freely
given out at Santiago, undoubtedly
must have reached Kingston, Jamaica,
and have been transmitted 10 Europe
without censorship at the hands Of
our government
1t Is said TO be overstating the case
TO say that Gen. Shafter was rebuked
for allowing publication Of the
''round.robin," for the secretary OF
war confined his communication to q
simple inquiry as to whether the gen.
eral had given publicity to the Roose-
welt letter and the und.robin, but 1t
Is certainly the fact that henceforward
the effort will be made to guard such
information more closely from the
public.
The day had been dull at the war
department, considering the existence
Of state OF war, had 1t not been for
the publication In the newspapers Of
the round-robin signed by the military
commanders at Santiago and the
short, but sharp, correspondence be.
tween Col. Roosevelt and Secretary
Alger. These afforded food for much
discussion among all classes Of Off
cials, and the belief was general that
there are to be further interesting
chapters In the correspondence, pro-
viding II is deemed harmless to the
best interests of the army to allow fur
ther publication.
In proof of the allegation that the
war department had bestirred itself
to succor the unfortunate army ut San
tiago before the united protest was
made, the following Is given out by
the secretary Of war regarding the
shipment Of troops north from Santi.
ago;
Until quite recently 1t was supposed that
yellow fever was epidemic In Santiago and 1t
was not believed that 1t would be safe to send
shiploads north Of men largely infected with
yellow fever The disease, II was believed,
would spread rapidly on shipboard and result
In the death and burial Of many OF sea
On the 18th ultmo the secretary Of
war telegraphed to Gen Shafter that as
soon as the fever subsidized the men OF
his command would DO moved north to
q camp that had been selected for them on
Montauk point On the 30th Of July Gen.
Skater teegraphed; Made known secretary
OF wars telegram that troops would be moved
north Us soon Us fever subsidized, and It had q
very good effect on the men" When, however
the true condition was made known on order
was issued to Gen. Shafter to move his COM
mand north as rapidly as possible, and all
ships In Quartermaster's service, possible TO
get to. Santiago, were sent there, and the great
liners St Paul and st, Louis, were also Or
dered there All this was done before the
communication signed by Gen. Skater and his
generals was received, as well as before Col
Roosevelts letter was published Over $50
surgeons are ut Santiago and l7o immune
nurses have been sent there, besides the usual
hospital corps that always attends such On
army There have been fewer deaths In Santi-
ago by yellow fever than by typhoid fever In
any camp OF the same size In the United
States