The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-21

Washington. July 21.-There has oc-
Cured one of those natural pauses In
the progress OF the campaign, incident
TO the completion OF one set Of opera
tions and the initiation OF another.
There being no possibility Of the receipt
OF news OF a great battle or Of a sur
render there was less excitement and
less evidence Of nervous strain yester-
day than for weeks past. General Miles
expected departure was again deferred.
The explanation given was that there
was difficulty experienced at Santiago
In securing the naval convoy for the
expedition.
1t is known, however. in addition that
the president himself has restrained
Miles to the extent Of adjuring him In
earnest terms not to commit the folly
OF starting for Porto Rico without the
most complete preparations. The gov
ernment has prohted by the lessons
taught by the Santiago expedition.
Aside from the actual loss of/life that
might be expected TO result from badly
calculated start II Is realized that our
relations with some of the European
powers would be impaired in a small
measure at least by the moral effect
created by anything approaching de-
feat for the American arms at this stage
of the war. Thereforeit is certain that
so far as the department can prevent,
General Miles soldiers will not run
short of food. nor of tents to protect them
from the tropical rains, nor OF the means
OF transportation that were so deficient
at the beginning of the Santiago move
ment.
General Miles reported that he had
10 transports. which II is presumed have
aboard several thousand soldiers. al
though at least two Of them are fiiled
with equipment The men aboard ship
are suffering from delay precisely as
did the soldiers who lay in Tampa bay
before the departure of the Shafter ex-
pedition. Inquiry made at the navy de-
partment to ascertain where the delay
had arisen in securing conveys was met
with the statement that the orders to
Admiral Sampson in this matter were
very general. He was simply directed
by the department to furnish a convoy.
and IL was assumed that he would con-
fer with General Miles as to the num-
ber and character OF vessels required
for that purpose. AS the campaign
from a naval point of view il TO be prin-
cipally a land movement. the naval Of
ficers do not believe very extensive
convoy is necessary.
Or. Greenleafs last report to Sec
retary Alger from the American camp in
Santiago was tocthe effect that while
the yellow fever was wide spread among
the troops IL was very mild in type. Gen.
eral Dufiield. who has been suffering
from the disease, is improving
The open statement from the men,
bcrs Of the Cuban legation TO the war
department officials. that they were pre-
pared to accept as proper the program
laid down by General Shafter for the
government of affairs in Santiago, Is
but a prelude, 1t is hoped. to instruc-
tions from that body to the Cuban
generals in the field, Garcia, Gomez and
others, that will tend to prevent a
repetition Of the conduct that has jeop-
ardized the relations between the Amer
lean and Cuban soldiers.
According to the calculations at the
navy department, Admiral Dewey's
feet at Cavite should now be reinforced
by the Monterey, which. with her ten
der and collier, the Brutus has now
been about 20 days out from Honolulu.
With the addition OF this powerful mon
itor Dewey will be amply able to take
care Of himself so long as the naval
forces in the Philippines are maintain
ing the relative proportion they now oc-
cupy. However. the disclosure by the
state department of the lack Of founda-
tion for the sensational stories OF
strained relations with Germany has
largely abated the anxiety entertained
mt the navy department. as TO Dewey's
position at Manila.
Arrangements practically were con-
ciuded by the government last night for
the transportation OF the Spanish pris-
oners at Santiago from Cuba to Spain.
The contract was awarded to the Span
ish Transatlantic company. represented
by J. NJ Ceballos g. Co. OF New York
The company agrees TO carry the pi'is-
oners from Cuban ports to Spain at the
rate of $50 for each enlisted man and
s55 for each commissioned officer. sub
sistence to be furnished by the company
on the army ration basis. az provided for
in the governments advertisement for
bids. The award provides also that the
company shall have FIVE ships at San
tiago in nine days from today. two more
in II days, and enough 10 complete the
transportation OF the prisoners in q
days.
1000 officers, IL wili-eost the government
f535.ooo 20 transport the prisoners. The
ships VIII ny the coiors OF Spain and vii
he manned, probably entirely. by Span
ish crews. IL was remarked as one o
the curious Developments OF the wa
that the United States government
should enter into a friendly contrac
with company. many Of whose vessel
onrifio "a 10 a On nj 81 N a M