Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-07-09
TO SAVE OUR SOLDIERS
The Capture of Santiago viii Not
Be Unduly fastened.
TO RUSH wATsoN's SQUADRON.


After Camara's Elusive Fleet-Gov-
eminent Employs Nyreckers to Re-
cover spanish ships.
Washington. July THE general
tendency Of the official bulletins post
ed yesterday show that no forward
movement on Santiago is in absolutely
immediate contemplation. Deep con-
Germ is felt here at the deprivations
and sufferings Of our troops lying in
trenches and in field hospitals sur
rounding Santiago. and there is every
where a disposition TO insist that here
after haste shall be made slowly, and
that the equipment of our soldiers.
their commissary and quartermasters'
supplies, their ammunition and their
hospital stores. shall be complete in
every respect before they advance fur
Their. This is likely to be the rule even
at the expense of time.
Confidence is felt that there viii be
no friction between the army and navy
commanders, and that the conference
between them will result in an agree
ment upon joint plan for the prose-
cution of the campaign. In the event
that this belief should be not well
founded the president is prepared to
act himself by orders from first hand.
There is much of force in the naval
argument that If Sampson is obliged to
enter Santiago harbor before the forts
are captured he will jeopardize the
safety of the whole of the ironclad
fleet under his command, since by the
sinking of one of these ships in the
narrow channel through Spanish
mine or shell the fleet would be left
helpless and exposed to destruction
under the guns of the forts, to which
they could make no reply, owing to the
elevation of the latter. On the other
hand. the army officers seem to be
justified in avoiding the tremendous
sacrifice of life that would be involved
in again throwing our soldiers upon
the Spanish defenses until they have
been materially reinforced in numbers
and strengthened by artillery.
The fact that several of the vessels
selected for Watsons fleet were in the
thick of the engagement of July 3
promises to somewhat delay the de-
parture of the eastern squadron for the
shores of Spain. The vessels have con-
sumed a good deal of coal, and with
out doubt have expended large guam
tity of their highest grade Of ammuni-
ton in the furious attack on the steel
warships of the Spaniards. 1t will be
necessary to replenish these stores be-
fore the long European voyage is be-
gun. However, Secretary Long has
given rush orders for the preparation
of this squadron, and 1t will certainly
be off in the course of few days.
The movements of the CadiZ fleet
are very puzzling to our experts here.
Weakened as it is by the sending back
of the torpedo boat destroyers, the
Spanish squadron bound for the Phil
ippines seems destined to go to as sure
destruction as did Cervera's unlucky
ships when they headed westward
from the Cape Verde islands. The
Spaniards without doubt are fully
aware of the inferiority of their feet
and why they persist in sending it to
be sunk in the Philippines is a mys-
terry. The navy department was adj
vised yesterday that the squadron was
passing through the Suez canal and as
the vessels must have paid the heavy
toll required in advance the indications
are now regarded as conclusive that
the ships are actually bound for the
Philippines. This belief stimulates the
preparations here for Watson's sailing.
He will strike straight after Camara,
who in the end is doomed to be caught
between Watson and Dewey.
Secretary Long is quite hopeful that
several of the Spanish ships of the
Cervera squadron can be saved, in part
at least, if not as a whole. Assistant
Secretary Allen shares in this belief,
and thinks that the Cristobal Colon can
be gotten off the rocks as an entirety,
and that the hull, upper works and
guns can be made available. She was
the best armored cruiser in the Span
ish navy, and if she can be hoated and
repaired will make valuable acquisi
ton to the American navy. Mr.. Allen
is hopeful that the Vizcaya and Oquen-
do can be saved in part. Information
has reached the department that the
hulls are not badly damaged. A con-
tract has been made with the Merritt
Wrecking company, which may be can
celed at any time if the government
finds the salvage is not progressing
satisfactorily.