The Somerset reporter., 1898-07-21

ing to the terms of surrender these
soldiers must be carried back to Spain
by our government. This Is one of the
difficult tasks now ON hand, but not so
hard as il would be to know what to do
with the men as prisoners OF war. 1t
is stated that the government will prob
ably not use its own vessels but let the
Job to some transportation company.
The plan is to garrison San tiago with
yellow fever immunes, and take the
troops who have endured the hardships
of the seige, to place where they may
recover from the effects. They certain
" have earned such reward.
The surrender of Santiago will be
followed at once by the invasion OF For
to Rico, and Gen. Brooke will set out
with the least possible delay to take
possession of this important Spanish
base. The expedition has been prepar-
ing steadily while attention was con-
centrated on Santiago, and there need
now be little delay. The summer eli
mate of Porto Rico is healthful, and
there need be no fear of throwing our
troops into the island. Brooke's ex.
pedition will consist of troops now at
Chickamauga, Tampa and Camp Alger.
1t may not have the regulars for a nu.
cleus, as had been hoped, but it will be
the flower of the volunteer army. The
Administration does not look for diff
cult campaign in Porto Rico. The
spanish garrison at San Juan is not
formidable, and there are not many
Spanish troops in the island. More
over, the population is ripe for invasion,
and will welcome the appearance OF an
American army. San Juan does not
present the difficulties offered by San
tiago and, in fact, by almost every 9TH
er considerable port in Cuba. The task
appears easy. The city is situated on
q spit at the very entrance of the har.
Dor, and the leveling of the fortifica-
tions practically assures the fall of the
city at once.
The L. S. auxiliary cruiser Harvard,
having on board ZOOS Spanish prison.
ers, half OF whom are i'll, arrived in
Portsmouth harbor and dropped anchor
about three miles from the centre of
the city, Friday morning. These
prisoners are not from Cervera's fleet,
but those picked up in various battles
and skirmishes. There was trouble in
handling the Spanish soldiers, they
making a rush on the guard, who were
obliged to fire on them, killing six and
wounding several.
Gen'l Merritt's safe arrival at Honol-
ulu was reported, Friday.
The stations of the Maine volunteer
troops at present are: Troop A of
Maine, heavy artillery, at Fort Popham,
Maine; Troops B. c. and D., at Angus
ia, Maine.
The transports Peru and City of
Puebla, left San Francisco, Friday, for
Manila, under command Brig. Gen.
Otis.
An eye witness from Santiago says:
Il saw Captain Capron and Hamilton
Fish shot down. said corporal. "If
it had not been for the negro cavalry,
the rough riders would have been ex-
terminated. The negroes saved that
fight"
General Wheeler has recommended
the following officers in his cavalry
division for gallantry in action Brig
adler General Carroll, Col. Sumner,
General Wood, Major Vessels, Major
Lebord, Major Whit, Captain Howes,
Captain Hartman, Lieut.. Andrews,
Captain Beckham, Lieut.. Col. Dorst,
Major Gardington, Capt. West, Capt.
Dickinson, Captain William Aston
Chandler and his aides, Lieuts. Steele,
Reeves and Wheeler. He also compl-
ments Mr.. Mestee, his Cuban volu reer
aide for conspicuous service.
We are making heroes so fast now
that fame will soon have to lay aside her
roll and start a Observation-Disclosures
Ledger.