The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-05
APPEAL TO GENERAL SHAFTER
WOEFUL PICTURE OF SITUATION
PRESENTED BY HIS OFFICERS.
"Teddy the Terror Rebuked by Al
Superior to other Volunteers.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 4.-Colonel Theo-
dore Roosevelt, of the Rough Riders. has
succeeded in hurrying the movements of
the War Department in Withdrawing
Skaters army from Santiago, though in his
disregard of the conventionalities he has
drawn upon his head a rather sharp rebuke
from the secretary of war, who evidently
regards the course pursued by Colonel
Roosevelt as being calculated to injure dis
cipline, though inspired by the most worthy
motives 1t is only fair to state that the
War Department for some time has been
intent on removing these troops. and it is
now more than a week ago that General
Shafter was instructed by a special cable
gram to cheer up the soldiers by publicly
informing them of this determination 1t
was rather a question of ways and means
than of lack Of intention to redeem this
promise that caused delay. AS far as the
question of removing the troops back into
the mountains was concerned (the question
which seemed to have precipitated the in
dignation meeting among the American
commanders at Santiago it is learned. that
the medical department here made no such
recommendation. All that it had to say on
this subject was that if the troops must re-
main near Santiago an effort should be
made to remove them at once to some
healthier camping ground. Surgeon General
Sternberg agrees thoroughly with the opin-
ion expressed by the signers of the round
robin" at Santiago, that men who have suf-
fered from the severe malarial fevers of the
south Cuban coast, SO far from being i'm
mune against attacks of yellow fever, as
has been asserted in some quarters, are
actually in very much greater danger than
those who have escaped the malaria. Ma
larial fever. it is stated. is no a pro-
lection against subsequent attack of yell
low fever than would be case of measles
against small pox while the fearful debility
resulting from the malarial fever would GER
taii1ly tend TO make the victim an especial
mark for yellow jack
The department to-day gave out state
ment of it's resources in the way of trans
ports at Santiago. and also, as an incident,
directed attention to the fact that the troops
cannot be Withdrawn whole until the
Spanish prisoners are disposed of. Other
wise there is no certainty that, finding
themselves able to do so, the Spaniards
would not overpower their captors repos-
sess themselves of Santiago and thus lose
to the American army the small foothold
in Cuba which it has cost so much blood
and money to secure. 1t is however. the
expectation that all of the American troops
will have been removed from Santiago to
the United States by the end of this month,
and that is probably the very best that can
be done under the circumstances. The War
Departments statement follows:
THE secretary of war has ordered Cen
eral Skaters troops relieved from further
duty in Santiago as fast as transportation
can be provided and the transfer of Span
ish prisoners will admit of reduction of the
garrison. Ships for the Spanish prisoners
Santiago Aug. 8, capacity 2136; Isla de
Panay sailed from Cadiz July 81. due at
Santiago Aug. 9, capacity 2135; Isla de
Panay, sailed from Cadizzz July 81. due at
Santiago Aug. II, capacity 1,699; Satrusegui,
sailed from Cadiz Aug. l, due at Santiago
Aug. Is, capacity 2254; Covadonga, sailed
from Cadiz Aug. /, due at Santiago Aug.
49, capacity 2174; Colon, sailed from Cadiz
Aug. 2, due at Santiago Aug H. capacity
2,2l3; Leon XIII, sailed from Cadiz Aug. 2,
cue at Santiago Aug, IA, capacity 2256; San
Augustin, sailed from Cadiz Aug 2. due at
Santiago Aug. IA. capacity 100: San Ig-
nacio de Loyola, sailed from Cadiz Aug g.
due at Santiago Aug. Is, capacity 1850: San
Francisco sailed from Cadiz Aug. A. due at
Santiago Aug. 16 capacity 1850; Alicante,
sailed from Martinique Aug. A. due at SAINT
iago Aug. Z, capacity 1,SC0 total capacity
1S,4G.
American transports now at Santiago are
as follows: Catania 500 men: Gate City, 600:
Grand Duchess. 200; Miami 900; Matteawan,
72O; Vigilance 500: Olvette, 500; Berkshire.
$50; total capacity. $40 men. These sail for
New York as fast as they can be comforta-
will prepare these seasoned troops for the
campaign against Havana, in which they
will probably take part. The first transport
left Santiago yesterday. The movement is
expected TO be completed by the 10Th of the
month.
Five United States volunteer regiments.
ilnmunes, have been ordered to Santiago for
garrison duty; the first has already arrived,
tie others are being pushed forward as
rapidly as transportation can be furnished"
The President to-day had conference
with Secretary Alger Secretary Long and
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Allen, at
which action was taken for the prompt
transportation of General Skaters army
from Cuba to Montauk Point. l.. l. The
conference occupied a couple of hours and
there was an informal general presenta-
ton of the need of prompt action and of
the means at hand to effect it, 1t was
finally concluded that there were sufficient
vessels off the coast there now for the pur-
pose. When the meeting ended it was of
ficialy stated that the number of vessels
now there was adequate for the removal of
the army. The dispatch of the troops home
accordingly will begin at once. Another
point taken up during the day was a thor
ough consideration of the expense rolls of
the war and discussion of where retrench-