Evening star., 1898-07-15
Peace Commissioners Are Supposed
to Be at Work;
THE YELLOW FEVER At TEE FRONT
Encouraging Reports to the War
Department.
CARE OF THE PRISON Ter S


in his dispatch of yesterday. Nothing fur
ther has been received from the general, SO
it is fair assumption that the commission
ers are still at work endeavoring to arrange
the details of the surrender These are
likely to be more complex than is generally
supposed, for aside from matters of actual
moment, such as the methods of transpor-
tation. the carriage of arms by troops, the
transportation of the surrendered Spanish
officers, there are many smaller matters to
be attended to. some of them growing out
of the fantastic Spanish notions of honor.
which are quite as troublesome to deal with
as matters of vital Importance.
The French cable shut down over night,
and that supposed at first to be the
reason why further reports were not forth
coming from Shafter or Miles. 1t was be-
level that the cable operators-Frerch-
men-had become worried from their Dro-
tracted labcrs and refused to continue at
work last night, recurring to the ole indo-
lent tropical rule in that respect. But
with the morning came renewal of cable
communication, though no messages from
Miles or Shafter were on file.
Many inquiries are coming to the War
Department as to the condition of the sick
and wounded American soldiers near San
iago. The appearance of yellow fever
among the troops was an additional cause
of apprehension and doubled the number
of inquiries. The War Department does
not deem it prudent just now to make any
detailed statement relative to the condi-
tions in the camp, but Adjt. Gen. Corbin
this morning stated that he could say that
so far as the yellow fever was concerned
the conditions at last report were certainly
better than they were two days ago
EncOuraSement as to Yellow Fever.
The War Department officials are great
ly encouraged over the latest reports in
regard to the yellow fever situation with
the army at the front They were fearful
lest the statistics from there might show
increasing cases of fever, but were graft
fled extremely today when dispatch came
from Surgeon Greenleaf, a member of Gen.
Miles staff, saying that during the past
twenty-four hours there had been only
twenty-three new cases. This was in
marked contrast with the reports for the
previous twentyfour hours which showed
much greater number of cases, and. cou-
Piled with Surgeon GTeenleaf's significant
statement that the general character of
the disease is mild, leads the officials to
hope that its ravages will be limited, and
that they will lee able by strict attention
and closely guarding the exposed men to
stamp out the disease Surgeon GreenleafS
dispatch is as follows;
''SIBONEY, July 15.-Only % new cases
of yellow fever and 8 deaths report
ed in the last twenty-four hours. Cen
eral tyre Of the disease mild. Camp site
moved whenever practical. Hay. taken
vigorous sanitary precautions to check the
spread OF the disease
Deportation of the Spanish
Col. Hecker, who is in charge of the
trar Taf Of ho
ment. is now busy trying to arrange for
the conveyance home to Spain of the Span
ish soldiers, who surrendered in Santiago.
There is disposition to appeal directly to
the great steamship transportation lines to
make bids to carry these people The
adoption of such course would relieve the
government of a great responsibility. 1t
would put the Spaniards under a neutral
flag, which would insure their reception
without difficulty alone, and it would re-
neVe our government OF the necessity of
sending with the prisoners the heavy guard
that would be required if they We're con-
veyed on United States transports. Econ
omically it was thought that the PROPOSE
tlon was a sound one. Assuming that the
companies charged the usual passenger
rates for soldiers, the transfer could be af-
fected at cost not to exceed $500, 900,
sum which is probably less than would be
the cost of the service If undertaken di-
rectly by our government. But a disa-
greeable complication has arisen from the
fact that reports indicate that yellow fever
exists among the Spanish troops, well as
among our own, and it is feared that If
these reports are well founded it may be
difficult to induce transportation companies
to undertake the task of conveying sick
soldiers, and soldiers who had been ex-
posed to infection. There is also doubt
whether the Spanish authorities would al
low the men to land on Spanish soil.
Rations for the Spanish.
The. War Department showed its fore
handedress by preparing in advance to
care fer the Spanish soldiers when they
surrendered. .Adjutant General Corbin said
that all the necessary rations had been
secured and were now in place for imme-
date delivery at Santiago. 1t is presumed
that the quartermaster's officers will avoid
the enormous undertaking of transporting
these supplies over the mountain trails to
the troops by the route followed by the
American army. This would involve send
ing these supplies by vessel up to the har-
Dor to the city of Santiago itself. This, 1t
is believed. can be safely done now as the
terms of surrender will doubtless require
the Spanish to indicate the location of the
mines in the harbor. 1t is expected that
the sreat body of refugees that fed from
the town on the threat of bombardment
VIII now return and great distress Is ex-
pected TO result from the lack of food SUD-
plies for them. General Shafter has been
allowed 10 exercise his full discretion in
dealing with these refugees. and. while
he VIII not assume the responsibility for
their maintenance he will without doubt
spare as many rations as possible from his
own stores to aid these unfortunate people
Supplies for the Army,
The commissary department at Santiago
1t Is said here, is fully equal to meet ali
the demands which the new conditions at
that place call for. Commissary General
Eagen says there are now three months,
supplies for the army at that place. Cen
eral Shafter has full discretion and an.
thority conferred upon him to feed the ref
ugees and the Spanish prisoners which
have been turned over to him. In addition
10 the supplies now at Santiago the de-
partment is rushing additional careoes of
food to that place with all possible sneed
Inc transport 1roquois. loaded to her full
est capacity with stores. will leave Tamna
tomorrow with subsistence supplies of ali
kinds The Mississippi is expected to de-
part from the same place today with a
cargo OF 100000 pounds of fresh beef and
the Port Victor, which has been loading
at New York with food, will stop at Porf
fampa in about two days and take on an
additional cargo of 100000 pounds Of re-
frigerated beef. She now has aboard 500
tons or subsistence suppifaS ON