The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-07
American Wounded and Spanish Prisoners to
Be Transported North at Once.
Movements of Camaras Fleet Puzzle-Preparations
for Watson's Mission of Observation-Disclosures
for Schley Proposed in the Senate.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. July s-General Miles
win personally take charge of the future
operations of the American army at Santa
go. This decision has been finally and de-
cisively reached by the commander-in-chief
Of the william Mckinley headquarters in
the White House. General Miles will start
for the theater of action within the next
forty-eight hours. BY the time he reaches
Santiago, or very soon thereafter, rein
forcements to the number of 10000 men will
be there. The change in commanders is in
no sense a reflection on General Shafter,
but is in the nature of reluctant recogni-
ton of his physical inability to withstand
the privations of such campaign as he has
undertaken. In military circles there is a
disposition to criticise General Shafter
severely for what the strategists deem a
premature attack on the Notifications and
also for his apparent inability to keep his
men fed as they should be- although sup
plies in abundance have always been within
easy reach The President has paiG no at
tention to these criticisms and has looked
only to the heroic performances in front of
Santiago. No stain or stigma will attach
to General shafter when he gives way to
his superior officer, General Miles.
Military experts think that If General
Lnares should follow at once the example
set by Admiral Cervera he would meet with
better success. They say that Skaters
lines are 60 thin that it ought to be an easy
matter for the Spanish to break through
them into the interior. By the end of the
week this opportunity. such as it is, will be
gone and Linares will have either to sur
render or to fight it out where he is. The
trouble is Linares would probably be worse
of out Of Santiago than he is in it. Inside
he still has food and may make brave
though hopeless resistance. Outside he
would be in the mountains with only such
supplies as the men could carry in their
haversacks Their nearest place of refuge
would be Cardenas. Long before they
could reach there. with starvation and the
pursuing American army they would be de-
stroyed. Hence it is believed that Linares
will make no dash for liberty. even though
he might be satisfied he could break through
the lines, thin as they are now, and of their
thinness he must certainly know something
or at least have a suspicion. which he could
verify by an assault
The iull in spectacular operations at SAINT
iago has brought sharply into the fore
ground curious and undignifed condition
growing out Of the jealousy and ill-temper
OF officers in the army and navy at the
front, and among officers in these depart
ments in Washington. Circumstances have
conspired to create a widespread belief
that concerted effort in exceedingly infill-
entail quarters was being made to keep
Commodore Schley in the background and
to belittle his great achievement in destroy
ing Cerveras fleet. If there really was or is
such conspiracy afoot it's efforts have
tended to make Schley the grand popular
hero Of the hour. Incidentally, however,
lne uiScuSSlon OF the question or who is en-
titled to the credit of the victory has de-
veloped an unsavory situation, in which the
grievances and jealousies of various heroic
figures now prominent in the public eye ap-
pear meanly. The partisans of the various
generals and commodores and admirals and
captains are running to the President with
their stories, and they are also filling the
newspapers with their clamor, greatly to
the annoyance of the administration and of
those who are intrusted with the conduct
of the war in broad way. President Nc
Kinley is irritated beyond measure at the
publicity which has been given these in
trigues in high military and navy circles. and
1t is stated that in a very short time he will
take summary measures to restore harmony
in quarters where cordial cooperation is
necessary to success.
Now that Cervera's feet has been de-
stroyed. preparations will be hurried for
ward for the expedition against Spain. The
coast towns Of the peninsula are now at
the mercy of any American fleet which may
be sent against them. and there has been
no cooling in the Presidents purpose to
make the demonstration In that direction.
1t is considered altogether probable, how