Evening journal., 1898-07-07
QUIET AT THE FRONT
Awaiting Result of Skaters
Conference With Sampson.
PREPARING TO PURSUE CAMARA,
watson's Ships to Sail In Few Days-No
Fever on the Yankee-Alfonso XII
Destroyed on Havana--Refu-
gees From Santiago.
gees From Santiago.

ed in the former department, but there
were none Of more recent date than
Tuesday, and so far from indicating an
| impending battle the general tendency
of these bulletins was to show that no
forward movement is expected at pres
ent.
Deep conceyn is felt here at the pri-
vations and rufferings Of our troops
lying in trenches and in field hospitals
surrounding Santiago, and there is ev-
erywhere a disposition to insist that
hereafter haste shall be made slowly and
the equipment of our soldiers, their
commissary and quartermaster's sup
plies, their ammunition and their hos
pital stores. shall be complete in every
respect before they advance farther.
This Is likely to be the rule even at the
expense OF time and in the face Of the
criticism Of an element that has been
vehemently insisting upon rushing the
campaign without regard TO cost in
blood and money.
Confidence is felt that there will be no
friction between the army and navy
commanders and that the conference
between them win result in an agree
ment upon a joint plan for the prose-
cution Of the campaign. In the event
| that this belief should be not well
| founded the president is prepared to act
himself by orders from first hand. There
is much force in the naval argument
that If Sampson is obliged to enter San
tiago harbor before the forts are cap
tured he Will jeopardize the safety Of
the whole fleet under his command,
since by the sinking Of one Of these
ships in the narrow channel through a
/ Spanish mine or shell the fleet would be
! left helpless and exposed to destruction
under the guns OF the forts, to which
they could make no reply owing to the
elevation Of the latter. On the other
hand. the army officers seem to be justi-
fed in avoiding the tremendous sacri-
flee OF life that would be involved In
again throwing our soldiers upon the
Spanish defenses until they have been
materially re-enforced in numbers and
strengthened by artillery.
Sampson did not report yesterday to
the navy department but the war de-
partment sent over a very agreeable
message from Shafter announcing the
readiness Of the Spaniards to exchange
| H0bsOn and his men. II is believed that
this was accomplished some time dur
ing the day, though notice Of II has not
been received.
The fact that several of the vessels
selected for Watson's fleet were in the
thick OF the engagement Of July prom
ises TO somewhat delay the departure
of the eastern squadron for the shores
of Spain. The vessels have consumed
a good deal OF coal and without doubt
have expended a large quantity of theii
highest grade Of ammunition in the fu-
rious attack on the steel warships o.
the Spaniards. It viii be necessary L
replenish these stores before the Ions
European voyage is begun. However
Secretary Long has given rush orders
for the preparation Of this squadron
and It will certainly be of in the cours,
OF a few days. The movements Of the
Cadlz fleet are very puzzling to our ex.
perts here. Weakened as it IS by the
sending back Of the torpedo boat de-
stroyers, the Spanish squadron bound
for the Philippines seems destined tC
go to as sure destruction as did Ger.
vera's unlucky ships when they headed
westward from the Cape Verde islands
The Spaniards without doubt are fully
aware OF the inferlority Of their fleet
and why they persist in sending it {,
be sunk in the Philippines is a mystery
The navy department was advised yes
terday that the squadron was passinl
through the Suez canal. and as the yes
sells must nave paid the heavy toll re
4 Qulred in advance, the indications ar,
now regarded as conclusive that tn,
ships are actually bound for the Philip
pines. This belief stimulates the prepa
rations here for Watson's sailing. HI
will strike straight after Camara. VIII,
in the end is doomed to be caught be
tween Watson and Dewey.
The report that the fine ship Yankee
lying at Tompknsville. just from Cuba
has yellow fever aboard caused a grea
deal OF worry at the department unit
Captain Brownson telegraphed tina
there was absolutely no fever on tn
ship and that she was not in quaran
tine.
Secretary Long regarded the repor
that the Alfonso XIII had been destroy
ed while trying to run the Havani
blockade as the best news Of the day
1t had not come to him in any direc
official way. but through a report iron
. General Greely chief signal officer VIII
had received a cipher message statin
{ briefly that the Spanish ship had bee
overhauled near Mariel while trying I
! get through the blockade and was a TO
tai loss as a result Of the fire upon hel
Both the secretary and General Greel
regarded the report as authentic. bu
there was a desire to get more detail.
> as this has been something Of a specie
ship. The Alfonso XIII was an iro
cruiser. with one screw, one funnel an
one military mast. bark rigged. 2S0 fee
I. long, 43 feet beam and IS feet draft. Sh
had a displacement of 5000 tons Sh
!, had a speed OF IL knots for short dis
!, tances and an average speed OF Il knot,
: She carried IS large guns. machin
guns and torpedo tubes. Her officer
and crew numbered $40.
Secretary Long is quite hopeful tina
several Of the Spanish ships OF the Ger
n vera squadron can be saved. I'm part a
U least and possibly as a whole. Assist
ls ant Secretary Allen shares in this be
e lief and thinks that the Cristobal Colo
h can be got off the rocks as an entiret
N and that the hull, upper works and gun
n can be made available. She was tn
i best armored cruiser in the Spanis
navy and II she can be fioated and re
s. paired will make a valuable acquisitio
Fl 10 the American navy. Mr. Allen
& hopeful also that the Vizcaya an
't Oquendo can be saved in part Informa
r, tion has reached the department tha
oi the hulls are not badly damaged TIL
l. contract with the Merritt Wreckln
Lo company is by the day and may be car
d celed at any time II the goverQmer