The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-10

NEW YORK, August "a special to
the Tribune from Washington. says:
Tue United States has unanimously
oaered to parole the thirteen hundred
spanish naval prisoners taken at the
destruction of Admiral cervera's heet.
whenever Spain is ready to repatrIate
them. with the exception of the Off
GERS, who are enjoying American hos
pitahty within the limits of Annapolis,
the bulk Of these prisoners are eonsned
to the naval station at Portsmouth,
where they have the liberty of large.
picturesque island. and are comfortably
uuartered and fed In temporary. build
ings erected especially for their use.
The offer of this government was made
regardless Of the approaching culHlina-
lion OF peace negotiations and simply
With q view of sending home a large
number OF national guests who had
considerably overstaved their welcome
andbecame burdensome upon the host.
These Spaniards have suffered scarce
" any OF the restraints usually imposed
upon prisoners of war, but have been
cardd for as tenderlY as II they had
been American sailors. Most Of them
were terribly debilitated from the de-
prlVatIons they had suffered and a large
percentage have had to be nursed and
cared for in hospitals.
Instead OF turning them over to Spain
In the pitiable condition they presented
when they sought refuge from their
burning ships and from the Cubans
aboard the American naval vessels. they
have been fully restored to health and
Ylgor and the offer Of the United States
contemplates giving them back TO Spain
more able-bodIed than they were when
they left the peninsula six months ago.
Although this striking instance Of
American generosity TO a helpless en-
envy was officially laid before the Ma
drid authorities by the representative OF
q. neutral nation some days ago no re-
Spouse whatever has been received be-
gond the simple acknowledgements with
the statement that It would receive
consideration.
There was every reason ~ believe
that Spain would eagerly embrace the
opportunity 10 secure these prisoners.
constituting as they do. the flower OF
the naval force. MS an important source
OF strength 10 the government at this
time. n case domestic dissatisfaction
assumed Dimensions which could be
controlled only with great difficulty,
The offer, however. did not contemplate
the grntuitous transportation Of the
men TO Spanish territory, as In the case
81 Torlrs garrison. Mt Santiago. but
provided only for their delivery on neu-
fral vessels, under guarantees OF seeur-
ity IN the ports OF the United States
and perhaps the Spanish delay is rhus-
ed by the difficulty Of securing single
trans poFt at the present time.
During the next two or three months
the. prisoners will be n source Of little or
no concern to the United States, the
trouble and cost OF maintaining them
being confined to the furnishing OF food
and clothing. but as winter approaches
Il win be necessary as early as Novem-
Der last 20 erect more substantial build
fnEs for keeping them warm or 1t may
be necessary to transfer them to thl
eouth, It Is a remarkable fact thai
spain does not possess n single Amerl'
can prisoner TO offer In exchange fol
the number Of Spanlards who have
been captured By the United States
navy IN the Philippines, as well as IL
the west indies, and this inequality
makes the present offer OF parole al
the more charitable on the part OF this
government.