The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-08-15
WAR TO PEACE
Sudden Change Is Very Manifest
at Both War and Navy
Departments.
1t Now Only Remains to Bring
Matters Back to a Peace
Basis.
Our Vessels to Be Put in the
Best Condition for Possible,
Contingencies.
Large Reinfor ements Will Go
to Merritt, to Assist in Keep
ing Order.

proclaimed all OF the energies OF the
military and naval establishments are
directed into pacific channels. The
sudden changeIron war to peace was
manifest at the war and navy depart.
ments. There was no further expec.
fancy Of dramatic developments, of
battles, or Of new campaigns. The
orders given for the immediate cessa.
ton Of hosti!ities brought all military
and naval movements to halt, and it
now remained only to bring affairs
back to peace basis. In this, how.
ever. the authorities were acting on the
theory that the protocol was but the
first step toward peace and that not
until final and lasting peace was se.
cured could there be an entire return
to peace basis.
Naval Vessels to lie rhauled.
This was particularly true as to the
navy department.. In that branch it
was accepted that treaty would un.
doubtedly be made. But instead Of
stripping our vessels and placing them
In squadrons and returning them to
the old channels of peace. the navy
authorities acted on the principle that
the present armistice might result in a
resumption Of hostilit.es. For that
reason, four battleships and two ar.
mored cruisers, ordered north from
West Indian waters are to un.
derso . complete oyerhauling, with
q view to putting them III the
pink Of condition. For many
months they have been in tropical
waters; their bottoms are foul aud
their engines and machinery need care.
full overhauling. As soon as they reach
New York all work at the navy yard
will be subordinated to pushing the
complete overhauling Of the big battle.
ships and cruisers.
Meanwhile the smaller warships in
West Indian waters have been ordered
to safe harbors, as the West Indian
hurricane season is near at hand, while
sufficient ships for police patrol are
left along the Cuban and Porto Rican
coast.
The big unwieldy monitors will re.
main at Porto Rico and most Of the
blockading feet will center at Key
West under Commodore Watson. The
peace protocol will give breathing
spell and time for bringing every ship
back TO the highest state Of perfection.
American Occupation Of Manila.
1t is expected that the American 90.
cupation of Manila will occur imme.
diately after the receipt by Admiral
Dewey and General Merritt Of the or.
ders sent them. This may not be de-
ferred by the lack Of cable facilities. a
the American occupation OF Manila
probably will result in the opening OF
direct cable communication between
that city and the outside world. The
only difficulty thus far has been that
the cable company would not recognize
American control Of the cable sc
long as our forces we're not possession
OF the city. Tho orders sent Admiral
Dewey are much more specific thar
those sent other naval commanders, q:
tho occupation of Manila and the hold
ing Of the bay and harbor involve
more important consideration than the
nero cessation Of hostilitieA During
the early hours Of the day the war anG
navy departments received no acknowl
eduemcnts from the various naval anG
military commanders, but it was pre-
sumed that the orders suspending hos
tilities were being carried out in al
directions.
Rciuforceme for Merritt.
Arrangements have been made {.
send larger reinforcements to Genera
Merritt. With the troops already a
Manila and those which will arrive
within q very few days. General Mer
ritt will have $1,000 men.
The 1000 troops at San Francisc.
are to be sent rs rapidly as transports
can be obtained. These transports ar,
now on their way from Nagasaki t
San Francisco.
The war department Is cancellin{
the charters to the various vessels uset
for tho transportation Of troops
The government purchased Is vessel
and chartered about 50. Already tn,
charters of tho Lampassas and Louis
iann have been Cancelled, and order
have been issued canceling those Of tn
Concho and Lenora as soon as the!
arrive from Santiago. Ships will b.
retained ~ long as necessary to trans
mort troops, but as the necessity TO
rapid transportation has been removed
fewer transports will accommodate
the troops that are to be moved at sea