Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-10-07
WASHINGTON LETTER,
CFrom our Regular Correspondent

From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3,-Nothlng
startling and little that was interest
inc has yet occurred in connection
with the investigation of the war,
started a week ago, but something
may be turned up during the coming
week, as Gems. Fitzhugh Lee and Joe
Wheeler are among the witnesses
who have been invited to testify.
Although several editors have been
asked by the Commission to furnish
the names of witnesses willing to
testify to statements made in their
papers, none have yet done so, al
though an attache of New York
paper has filed long statement COLI
corning Camp Wykof. There is some
objection because the Commission
decided to allow only Representatives
of the Press Associations to be pre-
sent while testimony is being taken,
but it is confined to those represent
inc papers not served by either Of
the Press Associations. 1t must be
perfectly plain to anybody who will
think moment that the army Of
Washington correspondents could
not be.admitted, unless the Commits
sion conducted the investigation
in one of the largest halls
in town. No one need fear that any
important evidence taken by the
| Commission, will fail to get publicity.
Senator Hanns's statement in 4
published interview that the l. ;.
would not possibly consent to allow
ing tho Spanish government to retain
control of any portion Of the Philip
pine islands, has attracted
much attention in Washington,
where it j, generally regarded
as statement of tie Presidents posi-
ton, and as an indication of the
nature of the instructions given our
Peace Comlssioners.
The success of Gen. Wood, late
Col. ofthe Rough Riders, in admin
list ering the affairs ofSantiago, has re-
suited i'm the abandonment of the
idea of appointing a military Gov.
General of Cuba. According to pre-.
sent plans, which are subject to fur
ther change, the island will be divid-
ed into military districts, just as the
army OF occupation takes possession,
and the commander of each District
will be held to strict accountability
Tor affairs within his jurisdiction.
The advance guard of the army Of oc-
cupation is likely to be on Caban soil
inside of three weeks, aud the entire
force intended tc be sent is expected
to be on the island before the first of
December. The Command of the
Havana district will be the most i'm
portant under this plan. Sometime
ago it WAS understood some say
positively promised-that this com.
mand would fall TO Gen. Fitz Lee
but since Gen. Lee was summoned to
Washington, last week, there have
been hints that it may go to a regu-
lar army officer, probably Maj. Gen.
Wade.
The Navy Department finds itself
in rather peculiar situation. SO
many officers ofthe Navy earned pro-
motion by gallant conduct during the
war that there is probability that
very few of them will get promotion,
for the very simple reason that there
are not enough positions to promote
them to. Secretary Long will ask
authority from Congress to give
gold medal and an increase of ten
per cent in pay to officers in line of
promotion, and the idea now exists
that Congress will accept that solu-
ton of the problem. Some officers
who have already been named for
promotion, have expressed their will
ingness to give up the promotion and
take the gold medal and an increase
of pay.