The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-07-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent-I

More Sighting, and lots Of it, il ON the
administration programme. 1t il to be
started 10 Porto Rico next week. General
lilies and Admiral Sampson being now
on their way there in command respect-
lively of the army and navy expeditions
which are to act in concert for the cap
ture of the island. Spain occupies con-
spicuous place on the programme. It is
to I've visited by Commodore Watson's
fleet, and the unusual activity in the NOV
ing of the troops other than those which
are to go to Porto Rico has caused many
to believe that the programme actually
includes an invasion of Spain itself by
our troops. This belief was increased by
the presence in Washington of Gen.
Stewart L. Woodford, who is still United
States Minister to Spain, although he
ceased to perform the functions of that
position at the breaking out Of the war.
That he was sent for BY the President 10
known, and it Is believed that it was to
furnish information that could be utilized
in the movement against Spain, whether
that movement be confined to Commodore
Watsons fleet or shall include an army
of invasion.
Although peace talk continues to be
cabled from Europe there is nothing but
fighting in administration circles, the
President and his cabinet having become
fully satisfied that Spain will not accept
peace on the terms that would be offered
until she is further Inundated aud having
determined to bring about her further
humiliation at the earliest moment posi-
ble.
The War Department has closed con.
tract for the transportation Of the Spanish
soldiers that surrendered at Santiago to
Spain, aud they will be sent a. quick ~
the ships can get to Santiago to take them.
The rush to enlist has not been equal
in the states. Seven states - Indiana,
Minnesota. Missouri, New York. Rhode
Island, Virginia and Wisconsin-bave
furnished more men than their quota, but
all the rest are short, majority at least
one third, and North Carolina has only
sent S. men to meet its quota Of 76s under
the Presidents second call.
Gen. Shafter seems to have had the law
on his side when he declined, after the
Spaniards had surrendered to him, to
allow Admiral Sampson to take posses
sion of the Spanish merchant ships that
were ia the harbor at Santiago, and put
prize crews in charge of them. Several
decisions By the U. s. Supreme Court
have . direct bearing upon this matter.
In one of them, the opinion by Justics
Field, II was stated that no prize money
could BIO allowed for captures or for the
destruction Of vessels by the navy, where
the army had aided. even BY it, opera
tons several miles distant. It 10 claimed
BY some that the above decision will bar
the payment Of head. money to the officers
and crews Of the vesssls which destroyed
Cervera 3 feet, because 1t was the opera.
tions of tho army which virtually drove
the deet out Of 6andiago harbor; but that
seems to be drawing it rather dOe, and
tho wrong way, 1t that, while the natural
presumption 10 that If there 10 any stretch
ing to be done it will be in favor Of, and
not against, the gallant fellows who de-
stroyed Cerveras heet. Gen. Shafter vac
right in claiming that the navy had moth
ing to do with the ships that had sur
rendered to him, but he would not BE-
right in claiming, ard nobody who knows
him believes that he will claim, to have
assisted in destroying Cervcra1 dest.
According to an official report to tho
War Department, the Russiaps are sxpe.
rimenting with aluminium hOrss-shoss for
their cavalry, and have found that the
latter metal is better than iron and the
shoe can be made now for about the sane
cost, with the probability Of considssably
lesseniDg it when faoilities Tor nakisr
them IN large quantities ~ axsil.l,ls.