The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-08-12
ARMY DEMORALIZED.
The Publicity Given to the Condi-
tion of Skaters Men Deprecated.
IT MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED PEACE.
An Effort VIII he Made In the Future to
Guard Such Information More Closely
from the Pubiic-statement OF
the Secretary of War.

washington, Aug. 6.-Army officials
are greatly relieved to know, from the
Santiago dispatches, that what APP
pears to have been great danger to
the American arms has been safely
passed by. The reports of the Ameri-
can commanders at Santiago, includ-
ing all the major generals, division
and brigade commanders, which
were made public in the news
dispatches Thursday, gave for the
first time to the public news of
the terribly demoralized condition of
the American army. IL this state
of affairs had been known a week ago,
the most serious results must have fol-
lowed. The Spanish government must
have been excited to refrain from maxi
ing peace overtures and to prolong
their resistance The publicity given
to these rumors was most strongly de-
precated by almost every official of the
administration, but the American
army at Santiago is being loaded upon
transports as rapidly as possible, and
1t is hoped that, within a few days,
the bulk of the army will be at sea,
bound for Montauk point, L. |.
Ia the place of these weary and bat
tle-worn troops will be five regiments
of immunes, now due at Santiago, sup
posed to be proof against yellow fe-
yer. and at any rate gifted with fresh
store of energy and health to draw
upon. Gen. Miles has with him in
Porto Rico force probably equal to
the actual demands of the campaign
there, so that the heavy reinforce
ments now on their way to that island,
or about to be dispatched, can be
safely diverted to Santiago or any
other Cuban point at short notice, if
occasion should make it necessary.
With a knowledge of these facts, the
officials breathe easier and feel toler-
ably safe as to the future conditions
at Santiago. 1t is supposed that the
government censors at New York
made an effort to prevent the commu-
nication of the facts stated in the San
tiago dispatches to Europe, but it is
unlikely that they succeeded, mas
much as the same news, being freely
given out at Santiago, undou btedly
must have reached Kingston, Jamaica,
and have been transmitted to Europe
without censorship at the hands of
our government.
1t is said to be overstating the case
TO say that Gen. Shafter was rebuked
for allowing publication of the
''round-robin," for the secretary of
war confined his communication to a
simple inquiry as to whether the gen.
eral had given publicity to the Roose-
welt letter and the round.robin. but it
is certainly the fact that henceforward
e effort will be made to guard such
information more closely from the
public.
The day had been dull at the war
department, considering the existence
of a state of war, had it not been for
the publication in the newspapers of
the round-robin signed by the military
commanders at Santiago and the
short, but sharp, correspondence be-
tween Col. Roosevelt and Secretary
Alger. These afforded food for much
discussion among all classes of off,
Gals, and the belief was general that
there are to be further interesting
chapters in the correspondence, pro-
viding it is deemed harmless to the
best interests of the army to allow fur
Their publication,
In proof of the allegation that the
war department had bestirred itself
to succor the unfortunate army at San
tiago before the united protest was
made, the following is given out by
the secretary of war regarding the
shipment of troops north trom Santi
ago:
Untl quite recently 1t was supposed thai
yellow fev'r was epidemic In Santiago and Il
was not believe that IL would be safe TO sen(
shiploads north Of men largely infected with
yellow fever The disease. II was believed
would spread rapidly on shipboard and result
in the death and burial Of many at sea
ON the 18th ultimo the secretary o
war telegraphed TO Gen. Shafter that a
soon as the fever subsidized the men o
camp that had been selected for them Of
Montauk point. On the 30th OF July Gen
Shutter telegraphed: Made known secretar,
OF wars telegram that troops would be- move
north as soon as fever subsidized. aud II had
very good effect on the men" When however
the true condition was made known an orde
was Is ,ued to Gen. Shafter to move his com
mand north AS rapidly as possible, and al
ships in quartermasters service possible I
get to Santiago. were sent there and the grea
liners ST Paul and ST. Louis, were also or
derei there All this was done before tn
communication signed by Gen SKATER and hi
generals was received. as we'll as before Co
RooSevelt's letter was published. Over Is
surgeons are at Santiago and lT6 immun
nurses have been sent there. besides the usui
hospital corps that always attends such q
army. There have been fewer deaths In SAINT
ago by yellow fevcr than by typhoid fever
any camp OF the same size In the Unite
States
ItnIy's ImpOverlsne0 army.
The necessity OF calling out the me