Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-08
MORE GOSSIP.

Richard Harding Davis is one OF the
New York Heralds hlgh-priced CORE
! spondents near Santiago. He Is profess
sional fictionist in peace. but In war ne Is
rated and paid as a truth-telling historian
In one Of his last cable letters he makes
the following interesting observations:
General Wheeler, who refused TO re-
main In bed with his fever Is here beside
me asleep ON rubber blanket bullets
passing over him. Near the same locality
are Generals Sumner, Kent, Lawton, and
Chaffee and Colonel Wood. Never before
have so many commanding officers lived
so constantly on the 1ring-line, yet the
man who is supposed TO direct the expe-
dition Is in tent at the rear.
'If he is III. he should be relieved; II not,
the presence OF some man with absolute
authority is necessary al the front. / am
quoting what brigade commanders de-
mand."
General Shafter Is man who weighs
80 pounds, and It is no easy matter for
him TO ride or walk either under a tropi-
cal sun. However, we judge from Mr..
Davis's dispatch that he is not minded
20 do either. If he were determined 10
go 20 the front he could go in an ambu-
lance, or on litter, as old Joe Wheeler
did when he was unable TO stand upon
MS feet from fever.
Mr.. Davlss language implies doubt
whether Shafter is ILL., The fact is. a ru-
NOR is widespread that the Generals
habits are not so temperate as they ought
to be. His courage we have never heard
questioned at all.
The Herald correspondent has done
bold thing in thus attacking Shafter. and
we must presume he would not have done
so without due cause. Certainly II Shafter
IS unable or unwilling TO go to the front
tho lives Of our brave men should be en-
trusted TO his keeping no longer On the
other hand, If Mr.. Davis has erred, ne has
done Shafter an irreparable injury.
BY the way, Shafter denies that there
is any truth in the report written and
printed by Mr.. W. r. Hearst to the effect
that forty Spaniards captured by our men
had been turned over to the Cubans, by
whom they were beheaded. We hope the
General knows whereof he speaks; he GER
tainly ought TO. All the same, in our
opinion. II will not do for us to trust our
Cuban allies out Of the sight of our own
officers. Their military education has
been different from ours. and there's no
telling when they may involve us in dis
grace which will cause the American
public TO cry out in anger and alarm.
We put II under the head of gossip.
but we are quite sure the relations be-
tween Miles and Alger are strained" TO
say the least.
In the opinion OF some Of the Washing
ton correspondents. Acknowledgement
Corbin and the West Point contingent are
at the bottom Of the trouble. Miles is
still chatting at being Kept away from
Cuba, though there are some indications
that he may NOW soon be ordered there.
The Dispatch is not disposed to attach
immense Importance to the exhibition of
jealousies such as we see between Samp-
son and Schley and Alger and Miles
Like things have been known before In
army and navy circles. We have even
heard Of jealousies in politics. They will
continue as long as human nature re-
mains what 1t Is. But after n campaign
has developed a hero whom all the people
bow TO, the spirit of jealousy is kept in
check by that rascally virtue-prudence."