The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-14

Washington, Aug. 13.-The sudden
transition from war to peace was re-
Elected today in a complete dullness
and stagnation throughout official
quarters. Instead of the hustle and ac-
tivity which has prevailed for months
through the corridors of the war and
navy departments. there was a dull
ness not apparent since he midsummer
vacations of last year. Most of the Of
ficials went home early IN the day, en-
jOying the first partial holiday since the
war began.
There Will be a large amount of i'm
portant details to be worked out from
this time forward, a gradual reduction
of the army and navy to peace fOotings,
the establishment of temporary and
permanent administrations for our
new colonial possessions, caring for the
wounded and prisoners and the relief
of the distress in Cuba.
The question of immediate attention
is the appointment of the peace COM
mission. TO meet at Havana and San
Juan.
The president conferred with Secre-
tary Day during the day relative to the
peace commission, but it was said at
that an announcement of the commits
sioners might be deferred for some
days. In is understood that the pres
ident had not fully determined upon
the personnel of the commission. Sew
eral of the public men who saw him
today were satisfied that the commits
sion would be made up of Secretary
Day. Senators Allison and German,
either Joseph K. Choate or Elihu Root
OF hi NO
army officer. General Corbin is spoken
of favorably in connection with the
army appointment on the committee.
The military commissioners for Cuba
and Porto Rico are not receiving any
attention from the state department,
as the military officers will have entire
charge of this branch of the peace set
tlement.
During the day the state department
q call from NJ Thiebaut, secre-
tary of the French embassy, for the
purpose of leaving a letter explaining
the authority given by cable to the
French ambassador TO sign the peace
protocol. These assurances already
had been given verbally, but the letter
gives them in a more definite form,
and in the course of a few days the
complete written authorization from
Madfid will be filed with the state de-
partment.
Many congratulations kept coming to
the state department and to the White
House on the establishment of peace.
OCCUPATION OF MANILA.
It is expected that the occupation Of
Manila under the terms of the protocol
will occur within the next few Jays. 1t
was first thought the navy department
had a dispatch boat at Hong Kong
ready TO carry forward the orders to
Dewey and General Merritt,
but the department learned today that
no dispatch boat was at Hong Kong, al
though one was likely to reach there
today or tomorrow. Meanwhile 1t Is
possible that Consul Wildman may
charter a steamer and send the orders
He has general Instructions
as dispatch agent, and it was said at
the state department today that these
instructions govern in the present case.
General Greedy is satisfied no use can
be made of the cable connecting Hong
Kong with Manila, as here are no
cable operators at the Manila end.
Acting Secretary Allen said today the
matter of establishing coaling stations,
the disposition of Admiral Cervera and
other Spanish prisoners and like ques-
tons brought up by the peace settle
ment would receive consideration in due
time. but that there was no immediate
necessity for passing upon them
Preparations are making to receive
the battleships and armOred cruisers
now under orders to come north. Dry
docks No 1 and No. at the New York
navy yard are available for the big
cruisers New York and Brooklyn, but
not for the battleshiDs- Dry dock No.
8 will receive the battleships, but will
not be in condition before Sept. l, as
it has Just gone through a long period
of repair.
CAPTAIN Bartlett, in charge of the
auxiliary fleet. is arranging to get back
these craft into their old channels The
old single turreted monitors will be re-
turned to the. League Island navy
yard Some of the auxiliary are stllI
needed to look after mine fields estah-
lished along the coast.
ARMY.
The war department was busy all day
with matters pertaining to cessation of
hostilities. Secretary AlSer consulted
the president for some time, but when
he returned said that the military
for Cuba and Porto Rico
would not be announced today. There
was no need of haste, he said, as by the
terms of the protocol ten days were
allowed for the selection of the COM
mission. There has been some specu-
lation as to who will be commissioners
and nearly all of the more prominent
officers have been canvessed, both
volunteer and regular. 1t seems to be
generally conceded that General Lee
will be one of the commissioners for
Cuba on account of his knowledge of
the conditions of the island. Generals
Brooke and Henry are mentioned as
probable commissioners - for Porto
Rico.
TO BE MUSTERED OUT.
The subject of mastering out a part
of the volunteer forces has been con-
sidered and it is probable the total
force will be reduced TO 100000 This
out will not begin at once
Garrisons of both regular and volun-
teer soldiers will remain in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines. Manila and
Porto Rico will be governed through
the military arm at present and prob
ably the authority which the United