Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-22
THE DEPARTMENTS
At Washington Have Assumed Their
Normal Aspect.
ONLY A FEW CLERKS WERE ON
DUTY YEsTERDAY-THE TERMS
OF THE CAPITuLATIoN OF MAN
LA a TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION.
THE PRESIDENT SATISFIED
WITH THE TERMS MADE By
DEWEY AND MERRITT.

Washington, August 21.-Conditions
about the great State. War and Navy
buildings have pracucally assumed
their normal aspect. Only few clerks
4 were on duty in the principal bureaus
to-day. and they did only few hours
work
Acting Secretary OF the Navy Allen
said this evening that this had been
the quietest day in his department since
| the destruction of the Maine. Not
word was received during the day from
Admiral Dewey, notwithstanding the
cable communication with Manila had
! again been opened.
/ Among the war officials the terms
of the capitulation of Manila, as cabled
by General Merritt, was topic of dis
cussion. No light has been thrown
upon the terms by General Merritt. He
cabled the terms themselves, expect
ing, probably to forward by mail the
CONSTRUCTION PLACED UPON
THEM
by the American and Spanich officers
at Manila.
Unofficial advices from Manila, re-
ceived previous to tie arrival of the
text of the terms, indicated that the
capituation of the city included the
surrender of the Philippines and that
archipelago was temporarily, at least,
at an end This view is not sustained
by the conditions of the surrender. as
cabled by General Merritt, and 1t may
be said it is not the view taken by
the best informed officials of the admin
| istration.
1t can be said authoritatively tina,
the President is quite satisfied with
the terms as made by General Merritt
lions afforded them considerable lati-
tude for individuality Of action, the
President feeling confident that they
would secure
ATHE BEST POSSIBLE TERMS
inkIiYumstances, llt they have.
done 50 ne yscrtaYH. II IS pointed
out that the terms of the capitulation
of Manila can have but little effect
upon the action of the Paris peace
commission in any event The proto-
col assigned by the accredited repre-
sntatives of the governments OF the
United States and Spain provides for
the cession of the city, bay and harbor
of Manila 10 tn Unltd States, and
leaves to the peace commission to deter
mine the disposition and government Of
the Philippine islands. Whether, there
fore, Spain is to retain her sovereignty
over the islands Is question to be de-
cided by the Paris commission.
Rear Admiral Sampson and Rear
Admiral Schley are expected to arrive
In Washington some time tomorrow.
The appointment OF the two admirals
re pectively on the Cuban and Porto
Rcan commissions necessarily will
cause them to be detached temporarily
from their present commands. The
detachment, it Is said by the naval
authorities. will only be temporarily.
During the day few Of the officials
Of the War Department were at theif
desks for longer than an hour or two
A light routine business was trans
acted. but the officials generally wert
taking a long needed rest. Early !.
the afternoon Adjutant General Corbi:
received the following:
Manila, August Il. 1898.
"Acjutant General, Washington:
Major General Otis. with steamer
Peru and City Of Pueblo has arrived
all well. no casualties.
(Signed) MERRITT
This was the scond dispatch receive
from General Merritt since the openin
Of cable between Manila and Hon
Kong, the first received late last nigl
announcing simply that cable COMM
1 .tao.;or bod baan reefnrpd