The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-06
FROM GEN. ALGER
SHOWING WHAT ACTION HAD BEEN
TAKEN TO REMOVE THE ARMY.
Sick Soldiers to BE Sent to the Noun
Skaters Orders for EmbarkatiOn.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.-The day would
have been remarkably dull at the War De-
partment considering the existence of a
state of war. had it not been for the pub
lication in the newspapers Of the round
robin, signed by the military commanders
at Santiago, and the short but sharp cor
respondence between Colonel Roosevelt and
Secretary Alger. These afforded food for
much discussion among all classes of Off
cials, and the belief was general that there
are TO be further interesting chapters in the
correspondence, provided it is deemed harm
less to the best interests of the army to
allow further publications. In proof of the
allegation that the War Department had
bestirred itself to succor the unfortunate
army in Santiago before the united protest
made, the following statement is given
out by the secretary of war regarding the
shipment of troops north from Santiago:
Until quite recently it was supposed that
yellow fever was epidemic in Santiago, and
it was not believed that it would be safe
to send shiploads north of men largely in
fected with yellow fever The disease. 1t
was believed, would spread rapidly on ships
board and result in the death and burial
of many at sea. On the 2Sth ult. the secre-
tary of war telegraphed to General Shafter
that as soon as the fever subsidized the men
of his command would be moved north to
a camp that had been selected for them on
Montauk Point. On the 30th of July Gen.
Shafter telegraphed Made known. secretary
of wars telegram that troops would he
moved north as soon as fever Srbsided and
it had a very good effect on the men,.
When, however, the true condition was
10
Shafter to move his command north as
rapidly as possible, and all ships in the
quartermaster's service, possible to get to
Santiago, were sent there, ana the great
liners ST. Paul and st. Louis were also or
dered there All this was done before the
communication signed by General Shafter
and his generals was received and before
Colonel Roosevelts letter was published.
Over $50 surgeons at Santiago and 116
immune nurses have been sent there, be-
sides the usual hospital corps that always
attends such an army. There have been less
deaths in Santiago by yellow fever than
by typhoid fever in any camp of the same
size in the United States
PUBLICITY DEPRECATED.
Army officers are greatly relieved to know,
from the Santiago dispatches, that what ap-
pear ~ have been a great danger to the
rel # the American commanders at
Sa' ), including all the major generals,
div Al and brigade commanders. which
were made public in the news dispatches
Yesterday gave for the first time to the
public news of the terribly demoralized con-
dition of the American army. If this state
of affairs had been known week ago the
most serious results might have followed
The Spaniards might have been excited TO
refrain from making peace over5ures and 10
prolong their resistance. Tie publicity
given to these reports is most strongly
deprecated by almost every official of the
administration, but the American army at
Santiago is being loaded on transports
rapidly as possible, and ii is hoped that
within few days the bulk of tie army will
be at sea bound for Montauk Point, L. /.
In the place of these weary, battle-worn
troops will be five regiments of immunes,
now due at Santiago, supposed to be proof
against yellow fever, and at any rate gifted
with fresh store of energy ard health to
dlaw upon. General Miles mas with him in
Porto Rico a force equal to the actual de-
mands of the campaign there, so that the
heavy reinforcements 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 1t necessary. With knowl-
edge of these facts the officials breathe
easier and feel tolerable safe as to the fu-
ture conditions at Santiago.
1t is supposed that the government GEN.
sors at New York made an effort TO pre-
vent the communication of the facts stated
in the Santiago dispatches to Europe, but ii
is unlikely that they succeeded. inasmuch
as the same news. being freely given out at
Santiago. undoubtedly must have reached
Kingston, Jamaica, and have been trans
mitted to Europe without censorship at the
hands of our government. 1t Is said 10 be
overstating the case TO say that General
Shafter was rebuked for allowing publica-
ton of the round robin" for the secretary
Of war confined his communication to q SIM
pie inquiry as to whether the general had
given publicity to the Roosevelt letter and
the round robin. but it is certainly the fact
that henceforward the effort Will be made
to guard such information more closely
from the public.
LARGE FLEET OF TRANSPORTS.
The War Department has ordered the
large fleet of transports at Ponce TO pro-
ceed to Santiago, there to Join with the
transports already at Santiago i'm bringing
General Skaters army back to this coun-
try. There are ten large transports In the
fleet at Ponce some of them like the Mo-
piie, having capacity OF one thousand. In
all they have a capacity of 6540 men This.
with Inc capacity OF the ships already at
Santiago, VIII give a carrying strength OF
over Twelve thousand men at trip. In ad-
dition TO the transports announced by the
war department yesterday as heing ready
at Santiago, IL now appears that the ORR
zaha' capacity 600 men, Is also available
Inc aale VIII also be brought into thia