Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-28
The President Greatly Interested in
the Matanzas BCmbardment.
DISCUSSED IT WITH Ills VISITORS
Regiments of Yellow Fever I'm
munes for Cuba.
WILL BE THE PIONEERS

| ed this morning in the press dispatches S
| telling Of the bombardment of Matanzas.
He received the news before breakfast ana
exhibited unwonted eagerness IN quickly
! arriving at the facts. Despite the absence
! of official confirmation no doubt was felt
| that there was considerable truth in the re-
ports Many of the Presidents early Wis
| tors, including Secretary Alger talked with
| him about the effective work done by the
| three ships. Some OF the visitors were in
| cli:ed to believe that the press reports had
been greatly exaggerated. One of them
said that there is only one fort at Matan-
zas, and that dilapidated affair, which
could be hammered to pieces by a few
shcts from modern ships Senator Money
of Mississippi. who was also of This cpin-
Ion, had a talk with the President during
| the morning.
Admiral Sampson's INSTRUCTIONS.
Numerous inquiries were made as to
whether Rear Admiral Sampson exceeded
his authority in bombarding the fort. The
opinion of men who have general idea of
the orders to the rear admiral was that he
followed instructions. 1t was held that
| these Instructions authorized him to pre-
vent any increase il the strength of the
fortitcations at Matanzas. When Lieu
tenant Fremont into the port with his
torpedo boat recently he ascertained what
was being done in trengthening the force
| ana reported to Rear Admiral Sampson.
Acting either under fresh Instructions or
previous orders, the three ships decided to
dismantie the forts so as to prevent any
opposition in that line when troops are
| landed in the neig hborhood.
The Landing.
One 0f he Chi viii
vent any further work on the forts. When
everything is ready to land troops their
landing will be covered by the guns of the
feet. Spanish troops could not meet Amer
ican troops under the fire of the fleet The
warships could take care of the troops
Until they were well posted and fortified on
the high hills on the coast
1t Is not doubted that Rear Admiral
sampson Is keeping things in good shape
Tor the early landing of troops.
1t Is also said that If Rear Admiral
Sampson did not act under Instructions in
insttuting bombardment his general in
structions were to respond TO an attack
upon him.
The moral effect of the bombardment Wi,
be good In Cuba, it Is said at the White
House
Regiments of Yellow Fever Immunes.
Secretary AtSer had a long talk this
morning with the President on the aues-
tioE OF at once raising several regiments
OF yellow fever immunes in the south for
duty in Cuba Later in the day Senator
Money and other southern leaders talked
on the same subject with the President.
The subject is now greatly interesting
President Mckinley and Secretary Alger,
and 1t has been practically decided to at
cEce move in the direction of ascertaning
how many of these regiments can be raised
in the south. The President, it is said,
would like to secure 10,000 immunes for
immediate service in Cuba.
Justice White of the Supreme Court be-
lieves that nearly this number could be
obtained in New Orleans alone and has
SO informed the President.
Senator Money says that lot many men
who have had yellow fever could be secured
in other parts of the south. 1t has been
many years since yellow fever ragged in the
larger cities of the south. Those men who
were afflicted in the great epidemics Of the
past have reached ages which practically
unit them for military duty. The number
of young men outside of New Orleans is
small.
The President is willing to take as many
n-en as will volunteer II he cannot get
10000 he will be willing to have any num-
her less than that.
VIII he Sent to the Front.
Secretary Alger, acting under the Pres
idents advice, will Immediately see what
can be done. These regiments OF south
erners and the cowboy regiment will prob
ably be sent to the front together and sent
as soon as they can be organized.
Senator Money told the President that
he.
yellow fever, but from dysentery. This
disease is more fatal than The fever
The President has spent great deal OF
time today in considering this matter.
The plan of the War Department will be
to have lU,O0U 'immunes' and cowboys Join
the armies OF Gomez and Garcia for the at
tack which will be made upon Havana
When everything is ready for the fleet to
act. With the feet bombarding Havana in
front and the combined American and pa
triot armies in the rear, The Spaniaris
would be quickly forced to surrender.
ihe Commander.
1t has not been decided who would COM
mand the American forces in an expedition
of this kind, but 1t is intinlated that Gen
eral Lee will be selected. His residence in
Cuba has put him on an almost equal foot
ing with a man who has had yellow fever.
II is said that he would gladly accept the
command. His knowledge of the climate
and diseases of Cuba would enable him to
look after the interests of his little army
better than most any man who could be
selected
General Lee will reach the city this after
noon. and will at once have conference
with Secretary Alger. 1t is thought he will
approve the plans and enter eagerly into
the arrangements.
assembling the Volunteers
The President Is today understood to be
studying the question Of the best PLACES In
the south to concentrate the volunteer
troops which have been called for. He is
especially giving attention to the heaithful-
ness OF southern cities He IS anxious to
take care OF the health Of the troops dur
ing the time they will be in camp.
It the President can avoid It he win send
no volunteer troops into Cuba until the dan
ger Of yellow fevsr Is over. II is said he
hopes that 1t will not be necessary to send
them there at all. The belief now prevails
that the Cubans and the m IN mon s<,s,r, -,