The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-13
New Policy to be Pursued by
War Department.
No Forward Movement Upon
Santiago in Immediate Con-
temptation.

temptation.
Washington, July 6-By compari-
500 with what has gooe before, to day
was very quiet at the war and navy
departments There we're bulletins
posted in the former department, but
there we're oope of more recent date
than yesterday. aud so far from iodi
eating 40 impending battle, the ge6e-
raj tendency of these bulletins was to
show that 90 forward movement is 10
ing m ediate mpla,ion Deep con-
ceru is felt bere at the deprivations aod
sofferiugs Of our troops lying in the
trenches and FIELD hospitals surround
ing Santiago, aud there is everywhere
a disposition to Insist tha; hereafter
haste shall be nade sIo~l ~ly and shat the
equipment of our soldiers. their COM
uissary and quartermsster's supplles,
their smmuoition aod their hospital
stores shall be complete 10 every re-
epect before they advance further.
This is likely to be the rule even at the
expense of ,imc and 10 face of the crit
iclsm Of 40 element that he's been vebe-
uec.ly insisting upon rushing the
campaign Without regard to cost in
bIcod aod money.
Confidence is felt that there will be
no friction between the army auo navy
coomeudere, and that the conference
about to take pIsce between 'hem will
resul, 10 aa agreement upon joint
plan for the prosecution Ct the cam
paigu. Iu the eveot thsl this belief
should be not we'll founded, the Presl-
dent is prepared 20 act himself by or,
ders from 6rss hand There is muca of
force 10 the naval argument that if
Sampson is obliged to enter Santiago
harbor before the forts are captured. be
will ieopardiza the safety of the whole
irooclad feet under bis CON maud, sioce
by the sinking of one of these ships in
the narrow channel through Spanish
nine or she'll the feet would be left
helpless ADD exposed to destruction
under the guns Of the forts, to which
they could make 40 reply. owing to
the elevation of the latter. 90 the
other band, the army officers seem to
be justified io avoiding the tremendous
sacrifice of life that would be involved
in again throwing our soldiers upon the
Spanish defeDces uotil they have been
materially reinforced 10 numbers and
strengthened BY artillery.
The fac: that several Of the vessels
selected for Watson's feet were in the
thickes, Of the engagement Of July 3,
promises 70 delay somewhat the depar-
ture Of the Eastern squadron for the
shores CT Spaiu.
Secretary Loog regarded the report
that the AlphoDso MI. bad been ce.
ssroyed, while trying to ruu the Ha-
vaoa blockade, as tie best news Of the
day. 1t bad Dot come 70 nIm 10 any
direct cficial wa7. but through re.
port from General Greedy, chief sigual
officer, who bad received cipher mes
sage stating briefly that the Spanish
ship had been overhauied near Mariel,
while trying to getthEougb b the block
ade, and was q total loss. as the result
of the fire upoo her Both the score
,ary aud General G-eeiy regarded the
report as authentic. but there was a
desire to get more details, as this has
been something Of spectral ship
The Alphorso MI. is an iron gun,
boat With oae screw, oue funnel and
one military mast, ba.que.rlgged
$50 fee: long, 43 feet beam aud IL
feet draught. She mas Gisplacemeo
of 3 900 tors. She bad speed Of II
knots for short distances aud 40 aver
age speed CT Il knots She carried
eighteen large gnns, Eve machine guD:
aod Eve torpedo tubes Her officers
aud crew aunt oereo SO.
Secretary Lopg is quite hopeful thai
several Of the Spanish ships Of the Ger
vera squadron Gao be saved, in part al
least aud possibly as whole, Assist
ant Secretary Allen shares 10 this be
lief, aDd thiDss tha! toe Crls:ooa Coior
can be gotten of the rocks as an entire