Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-07-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, July S7h, 1898.

Washington. July 97th, 1898.
On to Porto Rico! and on to Spain!
are now the twin watchwords of the
President and his administration
/ Commodore Watson's fleet will prob
ably be on the way to Spain before
this is printed, and the expedition
gainst Porto Rico will be started at
the earliest moment possible. Ha
vana is to be left alone for the time
| being, as the delay is daily weaken
ing the effectiveness of Blanco's
troops.
Gen. Skaters great victory in the
capture of Santiago and $4,000 Span
ish troops, with their arms and am
m unition, would have caused much
M ore rejoicing had it not been accom-
panied by the news that the yellow
fever had broken out in our army at
Sa ntiago. Everything that money
and science aud medical skill can do
to stamp out the disease is being done,
and the reports indicate that the fever
is SO far of mild type, but there will
be much uneasiness until the full ex-
tent of the infection becomes known.
The War Department is perfecting
arrangements to send the Spaniards,
who surrendered at Santiago, back to
Spain, under parole, in accordance
with the terms of surrender, and they
will be hurried off as soon as posi-
BILE. Sending them to Spain is the
best possible thing to do with them.
1t will be cheaper than feeding them
and keeping them as prisoners, either
in Cuba or in the U. S., and even if it
wasn't, it would still be the best way
to get rid of them.
Secretary Alger is very proud of
letter he has received from gentle
man who held high command in the
Union army during the civil war and
w no has a world wide reputation as
an authority on military matters. The
tenor of the letter may be judged
from this extract: "You have shown
the world what American staff de-
partments under a head of great ex-
ecutive ability can create in an emer-
gency. It is difficult to create an
army, equip it and move it, and it re-
quires peculiar kind of ability"
The total amount of subscriptions
to the war bonds was 81 1863, 200, 900,
and would doubtless have been twice
as large had not the certainty that
they would not get any prevented
many large financial concerns from
Offering to take big blocks of the
bonds. The meaning of this offer Of
our own citienzs to loan the govern
ment one billion, three hundred and
sixty-f five million dollars, at three
per cent interest, will be more fully
appreciated in Europe than. among
ourselves-we required no such proof
of the patriotism of our people. The
President is much pleased to know
that the entire issue of bonds will go |
to individuals, not one of whom will
get more than $4,000, and that almost |
half of the 5000, 900, 900 will 60 out in
lots of $500 or less. It is popular |
loan sure enough.
AS an additional proof that Ameri- |
cans always keep near the head of |
the procession, whether they are en-
gagged in fighting with deadly weap- /
ons or in the struggle for the almighty |
dollar, it may be mentioned that APP
piica tons for authority to establish |
National banks in the following places
have been filed at the Treasury De-
partment: Honolulu, Havana, San
Juan, Porto Rico and MANILA. i
KA Washington delegation of the Red
Cross Society made thorough per-
sonal investigation of the arrange
ment for the comfort of the sick and
wounded in the hospital at Fortress
Monroe and report all patients COM
fort ably provided for in the way of
accommodations To meet a need,
for contributions of delicacies for the
patients.
Gen. Miles added much to his pop
ularity by giving Gen. Shafter entire
or edit for the victorious campaign
against Santiago, in his official dis
patches to Secretary Alger, and prov
ed that he meant exactly what he
said when he went to Cuba, that he
was going to make observations, and
not to supercede Gen. Shafter.
It might be supposed from the tenor
Of the European cable news, that ne
gotiations FOR peace between the U.