The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-20
OUR 10000 PRISONERS.
The Government Now Has To finu
Shins 90 Transport Them 20 Spain.

Shlps 60 Transport Them TO spain.
WASHINGTON. July 14-The Quar-
termaster-Generals Department OF the
army now has on hand the most gigan-
tic problem in the transportation OF
frooue and supplies that ever confronted
the War Department. According TO the
hest estimates the number OF Spanish
soldiers in Santiago. which the United
states will have 10 transport 90 spain
under the terms OF surrender arranged
by Gen. Shaftor and Gen. Toral IS not
far from 5000. This will require from
forty 10 fifty transports OF the klnd
ikelv 10 he available for the use OF the
Government. Assistant Secretary Meikle-
gohn and Col Hccker. the volunteer Of
drer apDolnted by the President 10 ne
cotiate for the charter and purchase OF
transport vessels were I'm consultation
for a long time this afternoon. An at
fornnt was made 10 provide a feasible
pian FOR carrying the Spanish prisoners
across the ocean without impeding the
progress OF a campaign I'm the West In
dos which Is so largely dependent on
the use OF the ships. II Is this need or
TRANSPORTS 20 carry our own troops be-
twween the United States and Santiago
and Porto Rico which renders the trans
portatlon Of Spanish prisoners to Spain
an especially difficult problem.
The administration has decided that the
best method under the circumstances
IS 10 advertise for ships which will be
required TO fulfill certain conditions for
TRANSFORMATION OF tho parOled men. As
soon as Assistant Secretary Meiklejonn
and Colonel Hecker began the cOnsidera-
ton of the subject. great difficulties were
found TO exist one Of the terms or the
surrender as dictated by General Shafter
was that the Spanish soldiers should be
carried I'm neutral vessels. The commits
,,.H4 ga Of Santiago TO-
day to arrange the precse terms Of trans
portation Of the men. may have modified
this condition. IL IS safe TO say. how
ever. that the United states viii have
TO carry the men at its own expense and
I'm vessels procured by the efforts Of the
War Department In order 10 overcome
objections which might be raised the
Government will probably turn over some
OF the ships which IT procures. and which
nv American flags. 20 foreign transp0rta-
ton companies who will use the flag
OF their respective companies. This. OF
course, will involve "a change Of register
OF the SHIPS.
In an the discussion which was held AZ
the War Department on the subject Of
transportation Of the Spanish prisoners
10 was assumed that the commission
which was meeting to-day At Santiago
might impose conditions which would
either simplify or render more complex
the problem under consideration. No
thing definite can be done until General
Shafter IS heard from I'm regard TO the
result OF the meeting of the commission
ers Secretary Algcr was al the White
House until n late hour tonight waiting
with the President for news OF the meet
ing between the lines Of two armies. AT
midnight no dispatches of the kind had
been received. but a cablegram came
from General Shafter during the evening
stating that he had between 1900 and
500 prisoners. This indicated 10 the war
Department that "a longer dispatch tell
ing Of the meeting OF the Joint COM
mission had been started on its way 10
Washington previous TO the sending OF
the other message. but had been delay
ed I'm transmission.
The War Department has decided that
bids for Transporting the Spanish troops
TO Spain shall be called for, and 10 was
hoped that the exact number OF men 70
be carried could be learned before Issuing
the advertisement How long time Will
be required to land an OF the prisoners
i'm Spain no official will attempt TO pre-
dict, but there is no hope that the pro-
ject will be completed within the next
four or five weeks. II may be much
longer than that before the scheme IS
successfully carried out.
The Commssary Generals Department
will also have large work 10 do In con-
nection with the return OF the Spanish
soldiers taken at Santiago IT will be
necessary 20 provide regular rations for
the Spaniards, and these will have to be
procured and forwarded on the trans
port vessels with the same care and sys-
TEN which is required in Quitting an eX-
petition of United States troops.
After army officers here had got used
to thinking yesterday Of Santiago as
American territory az least for the pres
emit, they began 10 ask one another the
question.
How are we going 20 get those Span
iards back to SPAIN
Everybody wondered when the deporta-
ton would begin and where the govern
ment was going TO get the ships. The
curiosity on this point was partly graft
fed lust before o'clock yesterday after
noon. when Col. Kimball was informed
from Washington that the War Depart
ment would not undertake 90 send the
prisoners TO Spain at present
man who is familiar with steamship
transportation and its cost made this
suggestion:
III I were detailed TO attend 10 the de-
portation Of those Spaniards l would use
our troopships, as soon as they are avail
able. TO bring the whole lot 10 some port
of Florida connected with New York by
rail. once I'm Florida, / would send the
Spanlards North as quickly as possible
under guard. load them on regular trans
Atlantic steamers and send them home
The cost OF steamer passage would not
exceed $50 a head. This plan would
cost some money but ! think IL would
cost less than 10 do the work in any
otbo~ vrav o. New York sun