Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-22
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, June IT, 1895
There could not possibly have been
any more i,npatlence any where else
over the long delay in getting Gen
eral Skaters army started for Cuba
than there was among the officials
of the War department. Even the
knowledge that the delay was I'M
avOidable did not curb this i'm
patience. President Mckinley was
much relieved when Admiral Samp-
son telegraphed that the gallant
little handful Of United States
marines who have been so Dravely
holding their own on the shore OF
Guantanamo bay, against almost
continuous attacks from Spanish
force many times larger than their
own, had been reinforced by insur-
gents and were all right 1t had
been feared that these marines would
be compelled by superior numbers
to give up the ground they had oc-
cupled and return TO their ships until
the army arrived, and it was a
positive pleasure to learn that Old
Glory would not have to be lowered
after having once been hOisted in
Cuba. General Skaters army will
not arrive at it's landing place be-
fore Sunday, and possibly not until
Monday, and it is not expected that
it will be able to begin active opera
lions against Santiago until about
the middle of next week. There is
quite diversity Of opinion as to
whether the capture Of Santiago will
be at once accomplished or whether
it will only be done after several
weeks hard fighting.
This government has not yet de-
clded upon It's permanent policy to-
wards the Philippine islands and is
not likely to do so until the war is
ended, unless compelled by circum-
| stances to announce an earlier de-
cision. If the emperor of Germany
attempts to carry out his reported
intention OF assem- bling his Asiatic
| squadron, under command of his
| brother, at Manila, for the purpose
| of Selling a coaling station in that
vicinity, and possibly interfering to
| prevent American occupation, he
would better be sure that his sQua-
| dron is strong enough to whip Dewey,
| who has orders to brook no inter -
ference from any nation. 1t is be-
lieved in Washington that the slight
est hostile move on the part of Ger
many would result in the official de-
claration that this government in
| tends to permanently retain the
Philippines, but neither President
Mckinley nor Secretary Day expect
such a move. The sentiment in
favor Of keeping them is growing
rapidly in congress.
Judging from the way in which
subscriptions to the war bonds are
now pouring into the treasury by
every mail it looks as though the
issue of 5000, 100000 will be largely
oversubscribed by individual in
vestors, and that banks and other
corporations will get none Of the
! bonds.
There were eighteen Democrat 8
in the house who had the good sense
to resist by their votes the silly at
tempt upon the part Of some of their
so-called leaders to commit the
Democratic party against the annex.
alton of Hawaii. A little more than
half of the Democratic mem bers of
the house attended caucus the day
before the vote on which the annex
alton resolution was taken and by g
vote of so to Is adopted a resolu
ton declaring annexation to be
dangerous and unwise. The house
adopted the annexation resolution
by vote of 210 to 90, only three
Republicans voting against it, ano
the friends of annexation are fully
determined that congress shall not
adjourn until the resolution is
brought to vote in the senate.
That the Russians consider Ameri
can railway locomotives and railway
appliances, AS we'll as American
battle ships, the best in the world, il
shown by an official communication
received by the department of stat
from Ambassador Hitchcock, Stain
that an order had just been sen
from St. Petersburg to the Baldwin
lOcOmOtiva wOrkg of Phila0elnhia