Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-14
A WAR COUNCIL.
The President and Advisers Considering the
Situation in Cuba.


Washington, July 13.--The war de-
partment received dispatches, today.
from Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter At
the same time the navy department
received dispatches from the fleet Off
Santiago. The contents of these sew
eral dispatches was not made public
up to noon. They had the effect, how
ever, of arousing officials. both military
and naval to unusual activity ana
coupled with this was an under cur
rent of apparent anxiety throughout
official quarters.
The advice speedily led to a war
council at the White House, at which
Secretaries Long and Alger and the
members of the war board, Admiral
Sicard, Captain Mahan and Captain
Crowninshield, were present. Adju-
tant General Corbin also was at the
White House. Before Secretary Alger
went to the White House, he had con-
ference with Surgeon General Stern
berg, who also had received dispatches
from the surgical corps near Santiago.
Although no word Of any of the dis
patches were given out, those in a
position to speak intelligently Of them
said that any anxiety which might eX-
list was not due to a material change in
the military situation, but rather to the
severe condition surrounding our SOL
diers as a result of the rainy season
and the terrific storms of the last few
days.
To what extent our troops were az
fected, the authorities would not dis
close as they desire to avoid unneces-
sary apprehension. Although the dis
patches We're thus guarded, it was stat
ed definitely that no fighting was in
progress up to the time of the last re-
port.
1t was also stated that the fears that
the enemy might secretly draw off
some of their forces to the mountains
| in the north of Santiago, had not been
realized, so far as the last reports dis
| closed. The city was surrounded, il
is said and there appeared to be no ap-
prehension on the part of the officers
in command that the army would get
away.
1t was nearly . o'clock when the war
! conference at the White House broke
up. Members of the cabinet when
| questioned as to the purpose of the
liittllllS SdIi llfit IL NdS tdit'n u uiS-
| cuss the general situation in Santiago
| Several cablegrams had been received
| from Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter.
| and. while they We're not al all alarm
| ing. they showed that the situation is
| unsatisfactory.
| Rain had fallen almost necessarily
| during the last several days making
! the condition OF our forces extremely
unpleasant and adding materially to
the distress of the sick and wounded
! Some suspected eases Of yellow fever
have appeared among our troops. but
they have been promptly isolated and it
is not thought that there is any great
danger of the disease spreading
1t is believed that yellow fever also
prevails 10 a slight extent in the city
Of Santiago. Under the circumstances
| the President asked for a chief con-
ference Of the members Of his cabinet
and the war board with a view to
| reaching some conclusion as to what
should be done.
General Miles in a telegram stated
that the Spaniards have several times
sent in flags of truce asking for re-
consideration of their terms for capt.
slider unconditional surrender. which
had been demanded by Gen. Shafter.
1t is known that the President and
| his advisers have about come to the
conclusion that the enemy has no in
tention of accedng to our terms and
that the repeated hosting of the flag
of truce is done with the single pur-
pose of delaying 4 decisive engage
| lnnt
1t is believed that at today's con-
ference it was fully decided orders
should be sent to Gen. Miles and Gen.
Shafter to make a general assault
upon the enemy's works as soon as the
weather permitted. 1t is well under
stood that this assault must neccs-
sarily cost many lives and it seems
equally certain that to keep the men
much longer in the trenches under
present weather conditions would be
almost as disastrous to our forces as
a general engagement
1t is also believed that without a
very material Improvement in the
climatic conditions the fall of Santiago
} and the sure nder of the Spanish army
there will close the campaign against
Cuba until the rainy season shall have
= passed. Whether this will involve the
return of the army to the United
States is not now known, but the pre-
t sumption is that with the fall OF
= Santiago the army will be re-em-
| harked on transports and sent to the
United States where the troops will
! remain until October or even Later
before making a general movement on
Porto Rico and Havana
q In the meantime our fleet would
= maintain Il strong blockade of all the
f important Cuban ports.