The Forrest City times., 1898-07-15
CONCERN At THE CAPITAL.
News of a Disquieting Nature Be-
lieved to Have Been Received
from the Army.
n RELATES TO THE HEALTH OF THE MEN.
But All Concerned are Reticent as to
Matters Discussed. as They Did Not
Want to Excite Unnecessary Appre-
hension In the Public Mind.

WASHINGTON, July 13.-The war de-
partment received dispatches from
Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter. At the
same time the navy department rel
ceived dispatches from the fleet off
Santiago. The contents of these sew
eral dispatches were not made public
up to noon, They had the effect, how
ever of arousing officials, both mill
tary and naval, to unusual activity. and
coupled with this was
An Undercurrent OF Apparent Anxiety
throughout official quarters. The ad-
vices speedily led to war council at
the White House, at which Secretaries
Long and Alger and the members of the
war board were present. Adjt. Gen.
Corbin was also present. Before Sec
rotary Alger went to the White House
he had a conference with Surgeon
General Sternberg, who also had re-
ceived.
Dispatches from the Surgical Corps
near Santiago. Although no word of
any of the dispatches was given out,
those in position to speak intelligent
ly of them said that any anxiety which
might exist was not due to a material
change in the military situation, but
rather to the conditions surrounding
our soldiers
As Result of the Rainy Season
and severe storms of the last few days.
To what extent our troops were af-
fected the authorities would not dis
close, as they desire to avoid unneces-
sary apprehension. Although the dis
patches were thus guarded, it was
stated definitely that
No Fighting Was In Progress
up to the time of the last report. II
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 real
lied. The city was still surrounded,
it was said, and there appeared to be
no apprehension on the part of the Of
ficers in command that the enemy
would get away.
AS Regards Brig. Gen. ID field.
Much anxiety had been created at
the war department by press report
to the effect that Brig. Gen. DuffieId
was sick in the hospital. Gen. Duffield
is a fellow townsman of Secretary
Alger and one of his closest personal
associates. The dispatches O: Generals
Miles and Shafter made no reference
whatever to Gen. Duffield being in
the hospital.
Closed Against inquiry
While the war council was in prog
ress all the usual centers OF informal
ton at the war and navy departments
were closed against inquiry A nam
Der of public men called, and to them
the officials conveyed the general i'm
preston that the military situation
stands substantially unchanged. with
no hghting and no surrender, but that
the chief attention for the moment was
being directed to the health and
hygienic condition of our troops.
Medical Omcers Reticent.
N"iSai oiuceTs OF the army de-
cline to make any statement respecting
the health of the troops at SANTIAGO
especially in response to questions
whether fever prevails to any great ex-
tent among them. The surgeon-gen-
eral has received several
Dispatches from the Chief Surgeon
In charge of the medical department
OF Skaters army. but if they relate tn
fever he would not say. It is know,
however, that the surgeon general is
engaging the services of immune doc.
tors and nurses for work in the hos
pitfalls. Before the expedition to San
tiago was made up and sailed from
Tampa, DR.. Sternberg had
Sent Number of These Immune Phy.icans
to Tampa, and they accompanied Gen.
Shafter To Cuba. Gen. Sternbery
thinks 1t unwise to discuss Questions
relating to the troops, as this may only
give rise to concern, in many cases
unwarranted to their friends at home
An Explanatory Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, July 13.-The war de-
partment has made public the follow
ing statement concerning the condi-
tion OF things in the hospital near San
tiago
On the 18th of July telegram was
received from Lieut.. Col Pone cb;es
surgeon I Skaters army, Informing
the surgeon-general that there were "a
cases OF yellow fever in the field hos.
pltal, which had been established
Ior the care of such cases
Since that time information has
been received that a number of
addition al cases have occurred. Every
EFFORT Will be made to arrest the prog |
ress OF the disease by the establish |
ment OF isolation hospitals in which |
the sick will be treated by immune |
surgeons and cared for by immune
nurses.