The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-07-14
Washington Letter.
(Fr6m Our Regular Correspondent

(Fr0m Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON. July 8: 1898.
! President Mckinley is too we'll
pleased with the news of the week
to allow himself to be worried by
the resolution which has been in
troduced in the Senate by Mr. Pet
tigrew and in the house by Mr..
Berry, of KY, to give Commodore
Schley the thanks of Congress and
all the credit for the capture of
Admiral Cervera and the destruc-
ton of his entire fleet. He knows
that the motive behind this reso-
luton is not a desire to honor
Schley, but one to embarrass the
administration and to create jeal-
ousy and enmity y'between two able
and gallant naval o&cers-Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley-
and their friends. This sort of
firing in the rear of the adminis-
tration is not creditable to those
engaged in it. The same crowd
that is engaged in this work has
been trying to arouse antagonism
between the War and Navy Depart
ments and the army and navy ever
since the war began, by exaggerat-
ing every little friction that has
occurred between the represen-
tatives of the two branches Of the
sarvice. The real object Of this
sort of bushwhacking is politics,
and very dirty politics, too. The
war is being conducted entirely
too successfully to please the en-
emies of the republican party.
This particular resolution wi]lslum-
Der in the naval committees of the
Senate and House until President
Mckinley has made his recon-
mendations, which will be after
the official report of the destruct-
tion of Cervera's fleet has been re-
ceived; then, a resolution giving
proper credit to every naval officer
concerned therein will be reported
and adopted.
Gen. Shafter has the entire mat
ter in his own hands. He can
complete the capture of Santiago
at once, or await the arrival of the
heavy reinforcements that will
reach him next week before again
forcing the fighting. Inasmuch
as the principal object of the cam
paign against Santiago-the des-
truction of Cervera's ieet--has
been accomplished, and that the
Spaniards have been heavily rein
forced, War Department officials
are of the opinion that Gen. Shaft
or will wait for reinforcements rath-
or than to take the chances of the
large sacrifice of life that would
probably follow taking the t~wn
by storm with his present ferce
Another reason for delaying the
assault is the probably that the
Spaniards may surrender the town,
under persuasion of the lombard
ment of the heavy guns of Shafter's
army and SIMPSONS fleet. Presi-
dent Mckinley has a ;olute con
6dence in the ability and discre--
tion of Gen. Shafter and Admin al
Sampson, and is leaving them Ell
tirely free to act as they may deem
best to actunder the circumstances.
The success of Gen. Shafter in
exchanging Lieut.. Hobson and his
brave men was received with de-
light by everybody in Washington
from the President down to the
humblest citizen. The freedom
of these gallant Americans re-
moves one of the principal ankle
ties that was felt about the bonn
bardment af Santiago. Their is
now no danger of their being in
|jured by American shells.
The campaign against Santiago
has convinced military men that
the Cuban insurgents will play &
very small part in the fighting
against Spain; their forte seems te
be bushwhacking, not open fight
ing.
The Senate has at last adopted
the resolution for the annexation
of Hawaii, which President signed
at once. The sentiment of thu
, country was too near unauimou
for the opposition. AS it is, tn
prediction is freely made that NOR