Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-13
UNEASINESS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Suspicious Gases Of Fever Among Employees
of Quartermaster's Department Causes
Apprehension Men Isolated.

Washington, july l3. "A special
meeting of the cabinet has been called
A war conference, with Secretaries Day.
Alger and Long and Admiral Sicard and
Captain Mahan participating, has been
in continuous session all the forenoon
and important dispatches are being CON
sidored. Rumors of disquieting news
from General Miles are current, and a
feeling of depression seems to pervade
the White house. 1t was definitely
learned that there are IA suspicious
cases of fever among the employees of
the quartermaster's department near
Santiago. Pending the determination
of the exact character of the fever
these men have been isolated in val
ley near Siboney and placed under the
care of immune doct nrs and nurses.
1t was nearly 3 O'clock when the war
conference at the White house broke up.
Members of the cabinet, when questioned
said the meeting was called to discuss
the general situation at Santiago.
General Shafter and his advisers have
come to the conclusion that the enemy
has no idea of coming. to our terms, and
the repeated hosting of a flag of truce
is done with the silegn purpose of delay
ing a decisive engagement. 1t is
believed that at today's conference it
was decided that orders should be sent
to General Miles and General Shafter to
make a general assault upon the enemy's
work so soon as the weather permits.
1t is understood that this assault must
necessarily cost many lives, but 1t
seems equally certain that to keep the
men much longer in the trenches under
present weather conditions would be
almost as disastrous to our forces as a
general engagement. 1t is also believed
that without material improvement In
climatic conditions, the fall of Santiago
and the surrender Of the Spanish army
there will be the close of the campaign
in Cuba until the rainy season shall have
passed. The presumption is that with
the fall of Santiago the army will be re-
embarked on the transports and sent to
the United States where the troops will
remain until October or even later,
before making general movement on
Puerto Rico or Havana. Meanwhile
our fleets would maintain strong
blockade off all Cuban ports and thus
render further occupation much easier
than now.
Severe Conditions for Troops.
Dispatches were received today from
General Miles, General Shafter and
Admiral Sampson, which caused some
anxiety and much activity in official
quarters. Although no word of any of
the dispatches have been given out,
those in position to speak intelligently |
of them, said the anxiety was not due to
a material change in the military situa-
tion, but rather to the severe condi-
tions surrounding our soldiers as the re-
suit of the terrific storms the last few
days.
TO what extent the troops were af-
fected the authority would not disclose.
1t was stated definitely that no fighting
was in progress up to the last report
1t was also stated that the fears that
the enemy might secretly draw off |
some of the forces to the mountains
north Of Santiago had not been
realized. The city was still surrounded
,rnd there appeared to be no apprehen-
sions on the p..rt ot shc officers II com
mand that the enemy might get away. |
Much anxiety has been created at the
war department by press reports that
Brigadier General Duffield was sick in
the hospital. Dispatches contained
nothing concerning him.