The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-09

or perish. AS the army can be safely
moved now, the persons responsible for
preventing such a move will be re-
spOnsible for the unnecessary loss of
many thousands of lives.
Our opinions are the result of care
full personal observations and they
are also based on the unanimous opin-
ion Of our medical officers with the
army, who understand the situation
absolutely"
Major NJ. NJ. Wood, the chief sur
geOn of the First division, said: The
army must be moved north" and
added with emphasis, "'or it will be
unable to move itself"
General Ames has sem the follow
ing cable message to Washington:
The Hon. G. S. Allen, Assistant Sec
rotary of the Navy:
This army is incapable, because of
sickness, of marching anywhere ex-
cept to the transports. II it is ever to
return to the United States it must
do so at once"
To a correspondent of the Associat-
ed Press General Ames aid
IF 1 had the power, L would put
the men On the transports at once and
ship them north without further or
ders. l am confident such action
would ultimately be approved. A full
list of the sick men would mean a
copy Of the roster of every company
here"
Washington, August 4.-The presi-
lent today had a conference with Sec
rotary Alger, Secretary Long and AS
sistant Secretary Allen, which action
was taken for the prompt transporter
ton of General Skaters army from
Cuba to MOntauk Point
1t was concluded that there We're
sufficient vessels off the coast there
now for the purpose. When the meet
ing ended it was officially stated that
the lumber of vessels now there was
adequate for the removal of the army.
The dispatch of the troops home &C
cOrdingly will begin at Once.
Upon being informed of the formal
request mad by the commanding gen
erals of the American army at Santi-
ago to have their men removed imme-
diately to the United States, the war
department officials stated that this
request has been anticipated and that
the war department has been directing
the best part of it's energies to the re-
turn of General Skaters force to the
United States. It has already provid-
ed for their reception an ideal
camp at MOntauk Point, Long Island,
and orders were sent forward yester-
day to begin the hOmeward movement
by embarking at Santiago five cavalry
regiments Of Skaters force, including
ROOseVelt's ROugh-Riders. 1t was not
deemed possible nor desirable to bring
them all here at ~ time, not only
from the lack of Transports, but for
medical reasons, the physicians repre-
senting hat a sudden change in eli
mate would probably kill many of the
soldiers who have not passed the con-
valescent stage.
Washington, August 4.-The follow
ing correspondence has passed between
Colonel Roosevelt and Secretary Alger:
Santiago, July %, 1898.
MY Dear Secretary:
Il am writing with the knowledge
and approval of General Wheeler.
I'VE earnestly hope that you will
send us, most of the regulars and at
any rate the cavalry division, includ-
ing the ROugh-Riders, who are as good
as any regulars and three times as good
as any Estate troops, to Porto Rico.
There are 500 effective men in this di-
vision: if those who were left behind
| were Joined to them, we could land al
Porto Rico in this cavalry division
close to 4 900 men who would be worth,
easily, any 10000 national guards arm
ed with black powder, Springfield or
other archaeic weapons.
Very respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.'
The following reply was cabIed tC
Colonel Roosevelt today:
Your letter of 23rd is received. The
regular army, the volunteer army and
the Rough-Riders lave done we'll. but
I suggest that, unless o want tC
spoil the effects and glory of o u vic
tory you make no invidious compari-
sons. The Rough-Kiders are no better
than other volunteers. They had ar
advantage in their arms, for which
they ought to be very grateful.
"R. A. ALGER,
Secretary of War"