Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-14

Tic uOSpildlS ucdI CdulldSO.
On the 18th of July a telegram
was received from Lieut.. Col. Pope,
chief surgeon of Skaters army,
informing the surgeon general that
there were fourteen cases of yellow
fever in. the field hospital which
had been established for the care
of such cases. Since that time in
formation has been received that
a number of additional cases have
occurred. Every effort will be
made 70 arrest the progress of the
disease by the establishment Of
isolation hospitals in which the
sick will be treated by immune
surgeons and cared for by immune
nurses.
Washington, July 13.-The War
Department received dispatches to-
day from Gen. Miles and Gen. Shat
ter. At the same time the Navy
Department received dispatches
from the fleet Off Santiago. They
had the effect of arousing officials,
both military and naval, to I'M
usual activity, and coupled with
this was an undercurrent of appar-
ent anxiety throughout official
quarters. The advices speedily led
to a war council at the White
House, at which Secretaries Long
and Alger and the members of the
war board, Admiral Sicard, Capt.
Mahan and Capt. Crowninshield,
was present. AGjutant General
Corbin also was at the White
House. Before Secretary Alger
went to the White House he had
conference with Surgeon General.
Sternberg, who also had received
dispatches from the surgical corps
near Santiago.
Those in position to speak in
diligently said that any anxiety
which might exist was not due to
a meterial change in the military
situation, but rather to the severe
condition surrounding our soldiers
as a result of the rainy season and
the terrific storms of the last few
days.
Much anxiety had been created
at the Var Department by a press
report to the effect that Brig. Geu.
Dufield was sick in the hospital
Gen. Duffield is a fellow townsman
of Secretary Alger and one of his
closest personal associates. The
dispatches Of Generals Miles and
Shafter made no reference what
ever to Gen. Duffield's being in the
hospital, so that the press report
was unaccountable, as it was felt
that both Miles and Shafter would
speedily report if Gen. Duffield was
lncapacitated by wounds or illness.
While the war council was in
progress all the usual centers of
information at the war and the
navy departments were closed
against inquiry. A number of pub
lie men called and to them the Off
Gals conveyed the general impress
ion that the military situation
stands substantially unchanged,
with no fighting and no surrender,
but that the chief attention for the
moment was being directed to the
health and hygienic conditions q
our troops.
The medical officers of the army
decline to make any statement re-
specting the health of the troops
at Santiago, especially in response
TO questions whether fever prevails
to any great extent among them.
The surgeon general has received
several dispatches from the chief
surgeon in charge of the medical
department of Skaters army. but
If they relate to fever he will not
say. 1t is known, however, that
the surgeon general is engaging
the services of immune doctors and
nurses for work in the hospitals.
Before the expedition to Santiago
was made up and sailed from
Tampa, DR.. Sternberg had sent a
number of these immune physi-
clans to Tampa and they accom-
panied Gen. Shafter to Cuba. Gen.
Sternberg thinks it unwise to dis
cuss questions relating. to the
health of the troops, as this may
only give rise to concern, In many
cases unwarranted.
Surgeon General Van Reypan,
Of the navy, distinctly stated dur
ing the day, that no reports have
come as to any cases of fever
among the naval forces at or near
Santiago. The marine garrison at
Guantanamo is about the only land
force coming Immediately under
DR.. Van Reypan's supervision and
as to this force, the reports are en-
tirely satisfactory up to date. The
surgeon general received word that
the naval hospital ship Solace
sailed yesterday for Newport News