Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-09
THE GROUND ROBIN EXPLAINED.
Gen. shnfter Explains the Cnuse OF
It-Conditions More Favorable Now.

WASHINGTON. August s.-Generai
shafter has telegraphed the President re-
garding the round robin" signed by the
general officers OF his command, as fol-
lows:
II can very readily see what Intense
excitement the publication must have oc-
casioned; a great deal more than the
situation warranted. The situation Is
greatly aggravated in the fact that before
any OF the men were taken i'll they were
thoroughly exhausted. At lease 70 per
cent. of the command has been down
with malarial-fever, from which they re-
cover very slowly, and are in no condi-
ton to stand an attack Of yellow-fever
or dysentery. Things here are not in the
condition In which they were when we
came here, and do not believe there Is
any particular danger. The regiment OF
immunes is not suffering at all, and l 40
not believe they will. They are well
clothed and well fed.
THE CAMPAIGN TAXED THEM.
what put my command in the present
condition was the twenty days campaign
when they had nothing but meat, bread,
and coffee, without change of clothes,
NllnOuN any NniNtNNAt 1h0
q period twice as stormy as It has been
since the surrender. Fresh troops reach
ing here in the middle of August, with
good camps, good water. and the abun-
dance OF tenting which they will find
here, need not apprehend serious dan
ger. / thank you for the high regard In
which you hold my command and the
value of the service they have rendered.
1t pays for all the suffering we have en-
dured. l have read this to Generals
Wheeler. Lawton. Bates, and Kent, who
concur with me in the view expressed
above"
The issuance of the statement from
General Shafter was the cause of a con-
ference held at the White House this
afternoon between the President. Secre-
tary Alger, and Secretary Long. 1t was
felt that the statements as to the condi-
ton of the troops at Santiago might
create n grave impression abroad. While
the statement as issued was brief. 1t
occupied almost an hour In its conside-
ration, it being felt that the utmost pre-
caution was essential at the present stage
OF the negotiations between this country
and Spain, which 1t had been at FIRST
thought might be at least impeded by
knowledge of the serious conditions re-
ficers there. The issuance of the state
ment was the result, and it speaks for
itself.
WHY THE REPORT WAS SO STRONG.
This evening General Shafter supple
mented his first dispatch with second
on the same subject addressed to the
Acknowledgement, as follows: 'In con-
nection with my telegram OF the Sd in
stant and the letter Of the general officers
to me Of the same date, have the honor
to say that since then have talked with
the division commanders and they Join
me in saying that the first report was
made so strong because of the weakened
and exhausted condition Of the command,
more than 70 per cent. of which have
been III with a very weakening mala-
rial fever, lasting from four to six days.
and which leaves every man too much
broken down TO be Of any service and
in no condition to withstand an epidemic
of yelIow-fever For strong and healthy
regiments coming here now. and little
later, with plenty of tentage TO cover
them and not subject 10 any hardships.
and with plenty OF nourishing food, tho
danger, In my opinion, and that Of the
division commanders, would be reduced
to minimum"