The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09

, certainly be made, for the sentimental
| reason alone is strong enough to war
| rant the expenditure of money enough
| to put the ship into serviceable condl-
| ton
THE EASTERN SQUADRON.
! If the navy department contemplates
any further change in the composition
! of the eastern squadron which was
destined for a cruise to Spanish waters
| the matter has not taken form as yet.
| This statement applies to the COM
! manders of the ships of this squad
! ron, as we'll as to the ships themselves,
and the talk of sending Admiral Samp-
/ son in charge of this eastern squad
ron, consequently, is rather specula-
! tive at this time. OF course, it is we'll
understood that in the event peace is
! restored there must be a complete re-
| organization and redistribution of the
| United States naval forces, and this
will involve undoubtedly the separa-
! ton of the four naval commanders of
! high rank now on duty in connection
with the North Atlantic fleet; namely,
Admiral Sampson, Commodore Wat
son, Commodore Schley and COmmO-
| dore Howell. The North Atlantic fleet
! comprises about 100 vessels, the most
! numerous and powerful force ever
! commanded by an American admiral.
! Such a gigantic force would not be
| maintained on one station in time of
! peace.
| Many of the auxiliary vessels and
! the monitors which are unfit for gen.
! eral cruising, will be retired from COM
mission and laid up in the navy yard,
or in case of the former, will be sold.
A sufficient force of the remaining
vessels will be retained on the north
Atlantic station to maintain the
most important naval command. The
others are to be distributed between
| the various other stations vacated
completely just prior to the declara-
ton Of war will be rehabilitated.
With the exception of the Eastern
squadron, the north Atlantic squad
! ron is not diminished as long as the
war continues. More clearly than ever,
! it is now perceived to be the strong
| arm of the country and the naval Of
! ficials are congratulating themselves
| that they were able to resist the pres
! sure brought to bear at one time upon
} them to expose this tremendous force
to dissipation by profitless attack upon
fortified ports.
! Surgeon General Sternberg today re
| ceived the following cable dispatch
from Lieutenant Colonel Harvard,
. chief surgeon at Santiago.
] Necessary medicines purchased and
l all present needs supplied. Report
about overcrowded transports furnish
ed as soon as possible. Similar things
| will not again occur.
The reference to the OVercrOWded
transports relates to the telegraphic
| inquiry made by General Sternberg for
particulars as to the Seneca and Con-
chO.
| Assuming that Spain has decided to
l accept our terms for the negotiations
| of peace, it is expected that the peace
| agreement will be formally completed
1 ~, AZ bot hos
/ tilties will be suspended at once. This
| will not be followed at any early date
| by the diSbandng of the army, but on
I the contrary, the period before the
| signing of the formal peace treaty and
| it's ratification by the senate will be de-
| voted to perfecting a compact and ef-
fective organization of the army and
cleaning, repairing and placing all the
vessels of the navy. The sick and
wounded Of the army who are regarded
| as incapacitated for further service
will probably be given their discharge
| at an early date. The men who are in
good condition or suffering only tenn
| porary disability will be held together
| and put in the best possible shape for
| service part of the forces to Porto
Rico v oe kept there and others to
/ Havana and other cities for garrison
duty. 1t is regarded as quite possible
| that some of them may have to be
sent to Cuba again. The 'immunes"
| who will take the place of General
| Skaters army at Santiago are not,
| in many cases, it is believed, really
immune, therefore it is proba BILE that
some of them will become victims to
| the climate.
| The protest of Senator Bacon against
sending the Georgia "immunes'' to San
| tiago indicates lack of confidence in
| the locality from which the so-called
| ''immunes' come IN their ability to
| withstand the heat. Communications
| to the department from friends of the
| 'immuneS'' shows the feeling of anx-
| iety which exists. The department.
| however, while anticipating that there
| will be sickness among the immunes
| and that some of them will have to be
brought back incapacitated, does not
| feel that the great anxiety expected
| is warranted The regiments sent to
| Shafter whether immune or not, Will
| land there under much better condI-
tion than General Skaters army.
| The government has ordered the re-
| lease of the steamship Manoudia, Of
| the Campagnie General TranslantiQue
| OF France, captured by the Am arican
| warshipS in West Indian waters and
brought to Charleston, S. c. A decis-
| ion has not vet been reached as TO the
! Rodriguez, another French steamer
| captured under similar conditions and
| held al Charleston.
| The question of the removal Of the
| First division from Camp Alger de-
| pends upon the recommendation of
General Butler, who is inspecting the
| ground at Manassas. The camp at
/ Dunn Loring has proved so satisfacto-
ry that the troops may remain there