The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-19

&%AAN
dies is receiving earnest consideration
An official quarters, and at the White
house today the president saw a num-
Der of prominent callers IN connection
with this reconstruction in our new
insular dependencies. General F1tz-
hugh Lee spent some time with the
president, going over the condition or
Cuban affairs. While no announce
ment was made, the impression pre-
vailed that General Lee would be one
of the Cuban military commissioners
to be named within a few days. Ac-
ting Secretary Allen, Of the navy, also
saw the president concerning Cuban
affairs. 1t is probable that an Ameri-
can nava vessel will go to Havana
harbor before long, and at least two
naval vessels will be ordered to Ha-
vana when the military commission as
sembles there to determine upon the
details of Spanish evacuation.
Secretary Day also conferred with
the president, and later determined
the peace terms being matured, to take
a weeks vacation. He will leave either
tonight or tomorrow morning, going
probably to Canton. Assistant Secre-
tary Moore will be acting secretary of
state during Judge Days absence. The
s~ecretary's retirement from the head
of the department is likely to follow
soon after his return from Canton,
and indeed it may come during his
absence, although there was no out
ward evidence today that he was
about to close his connection with state
department affairs.
GRAND NAVAL REVIEW TO BE
HELD.
The navy department decided during
the day to yield, as far as practicable,
to the public desire at New York for
a naval review of the ships Of Admi-
raj SIMPSONS fleet. Accordingly Ac-
ting Secretary Allen issued the follow
ing order:
The department is much gratified
at the desire expressed to see a review
of the warships and cruisers recently
ordered home, and, so far as practi-
cable, is desirous of carrying out the
wishes of those citizens who wish to
see the ships; but neither the officers
nor the men of the fleet are in condi-
ton to participate in a street parade.
The department is taking the oppOr-
tunity of the armistice to put these
ships at once into the best possible
condition for such uses as may here
after be required of them. 1t is ex-
pected all other work will be suspend
ed and the entire available force of
the navy directed to this work, in or
der to secure greatest possible dis
patch.
THE department will direct, upon
the arrival in New York harbor, that
the fleet steam up the North river as
far as General Grants tomb, fire a
salute and steam back to the anchor
age. 1t is expected that the fleet will
reach New York on Saturday, the goth
instant
The plan is to have Admiral Samp-
son met off Sandy Hook with orders
for the procession up the North river.
1t is expected hat the fleet will be off
Sandy Hook some time Friday night,
but will lie outside the harbor until
Saturday morning.
TO REDUCE THE NAVAL RE-
SERVES.
The navy department is taking steps
to reduce the force of naval militia
men called into service from the sew
eral states. The Minneapolis is to
transfer part of her crew to the YO-
semitic, thus releasing the Michigan ma
val militiamen, who man the Yosemi-
tie. The Columbia is also to transfer
her crew to the Dixie and other aux
Hilary craft, thus allowing the naval
militiamen on these auxiliaries to go
home. In this way the naval service
will speedily be returned into the hands
VI III uld olilSCio olo SiS"S'
A LETTER FROM GENERAL SHAT
TER.
Secretary Alger today received a
letter from Gener Shafter, which is
in part as follows:
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
Santiago de Cuba, August 4, 1898.
Hon. r. A. Alger, Secretary of War,
Washington, D. c.:
M Dear General Alger: Your kind
letter of July 25th was handed me yes
terday by Major Sniffen. I thank you
you express in my ability to handle
the matters entrusted to me here.
FEVER BECOMING MORE VIRU-
LENT.
The number taken i'll in my COM
mand is very great, as you will - see,
though not very much greater than
those returned to duty; and the death
rate is not at present al
though it is steadily on the increase,
and the doctors tell me that the fe-
yer, malarial and otherwise, is con-
stantly presenting more virulent fea-
lures. Every effort possible is made
to guard ships bringing supplies to
h army, but it is almost impossible
to enforce it, when ships must be I'M
loaded and men necessarily must come
together in discharging and receiving
largo. The great trouble is that the
people themselves seem t" have no
fear of infection, and, unless lou have
a guard over every individual man, it
is almost impossible to keep them from
mingling.
The silver question has settled itself
and American silver is received the
same as American paper.
1.-The missing ave nearly all been &C
counted for. Not a single man was
captured, and the only men now miss
+k--@ ~ yny III IN ho
thick brush and whose bodies have
never been found. The country has
been secured faithfully for bodies. |
This was done a short time after the
battle. |
1.-THE camps now occupied are meas !
urably good. They certainly are on