The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-26
WAR NOTES.

mission of Major eneral of Volunteers.
He wrote: b
Il take this step with great reluctance.
and only do so because advised that the
holding OF the comm SSion while occupying
a seat in the Senate Of the United States is
Incompatible with the provisions OF the
Constitution. | desire to express my
deepest gratitude for the honor and dis
tinction conferred by this appointment,
and regret exceedingly that | cannot enter
the field to serve the country, while hold
ing seat in the Senate, which ] would
not be justified in giving up under the
present circumstances. In this view my
Repu blican colleagues have expressed their
sentiments in a letter addressed to me,
suggesting that my duty is to remain IN
my present representative position"
Over forty cases of ammunition were
found on the Spanish steamer Argonauta
at Key West, captured in the first days of
the war. 1t was on board this steamer that
Lleut.-Col Cortijo Weyler's brOther-in-law,
was captured, with other Spanish soldiers,
now prisoners in Fort Mcpherson, Atlanta.
The discovery of the war supplies on the
Argonauta did not change the status of
her case before the prize court, as it had
already been decided before learning of the
find that the steamer was legitimately
prize of war, no claims having been filed
by the owners of the ship or cargo,
A like decision was rendered in the cases
SchOonerS Candidita, Mathilde and Sophia.
The only formality remaining tn make these
vessels the absolute property of the United
States is the confirmation by the Federal
court authorities of the findings OF the
prize commission.
Col Edward Morell of Philadelphia, a
personal friend of Vice President Hobart,
has been selected by President Mckinley
to fill the position of Second Assistant
Secretary OF War. Since the day on which
President Mckinley made the call for 125,-
coo volunteers, the War Department has
had great deal of trouble with railroad
companies III arranging for the tranSporta-
ton OF the troops to the points OF mobiliza-
ton. 1t IS the purpose of Secretary Alger
to turn all OF this work over to Col. Morrell.
The number of suspects believed to be
agents OF the Spanish Government in this
country has now reached more than 100,
and each is to be kept under careful sur
veillance by the Secret Service men and ar
rested as soon as sufficient evidence IS
obtained on which conviction can he made.
There is now in existence a Special Army
Secret Service Board, of which the Assistant
Secretary of War is President, and which
directs the work OF large corps of ex-
perienced detectives and Secret Service
men stationed throughout the country,
engaged in watching all suspicious per-
sons and others whose names have been
the business of gathering information for
the benefit of the Spanish authorities.
1t looks like stern business when the
Bospltaf Corps is sent to the front. The
first of those who will attend the wounded
on board ship have reached Key West on
the United States ambulance ship Solace.
The commander of the Solace is Andrew
Dunlap, n hearsy, genial naval officer. The
Surgeon is DIR. Thomas III. Streets, and DIR.
G. +. Stokes, Past Assistant Surgeon, is
the Chief Assistant. The other Surgeons
on the Solace RE DR.! G. T. Smith and DR..
f. S. Bogert. T'herela are eight nurses from
the Bellevue Sehool on board, and three
apothecaTics have been provided. There is
a ghaStly dera tment to- the floating am
section Of the ! 6at set aside for the care OF
the dead
The Surgeon Gent}al of the Army and
the Surgeon & eheral of the Navy have
turned over to he Daughters Of the Ameri
can Revolution III the District of Columbia
aH preliminary arrangements for the ap-
pointment Of nurses.
Nurses who receive appointments in the
army are paid rairoad fare to the place of
duty and $50 a month, with board; if prac
Iicable, lodging is also furnished. The
Daughters hospital corps also provide uni
3rms of dark-biue bingham dresses and
white aprons, but the applicants are ex-
pected at present 10 wear their own white
iresses and aprons. They are expected
also TO furnish their own caps. DIR. Anita
Newcomb McGee is ChairmaA of this Com
N ttee
"a plan is being prepared by the Civil
service Commission which will allow those
employees of the Government who wish To
70 TO war, but who are prevented from doing
20 by their sense Of duty to their dependent
elatives to go to~the front assured that in
4,
lren. rs the case may be, will be cared for.
The plan Of the Civil Service Commission
gill he approved by President Mckinley.
{ consists Of the suspension Of so much Of
he rules regarding substitute clerks,
arriers, etc, as will admit clerk or
arier who desires to go to war to put in
lis place Scme member of his family to
erve during his absence. 1t will be pro-
ided that the person taking the place of
ne clerk must sign an agreement to turn
ver to the clerks family the salary drawn
" him. There is To be no suspicion of
Individual profit in the deal, although in
ase the substitute is not already supported
" the clerk he may use enough of the
alary to support himself
A strict censorship has been established
It Tampa, Fla. and no unofficial dis
patches pertaining TO military or naval
movements from this port will be permitted
o be sent. An official bulletin Of such
news as the Army officials consider ad-
-isable will be provided. Ii is intimated
hat this censorship will continue until
.ftcr the firal movement OF troops to Cuba
las taken place, it being the purpose Of
he Government 10 keep the Spanish Gov
,rnment i'm ignorance, so far as possible, Of
,ur plans for the invasion OF Cuba
a passenger train on the Chattanooga
Rome St Southern Railroad last week ran
nto the thnd section OF the military train,
conveying the 1St Mo, near RoSSviile, Ga.
ieorge NJ Walker, Co. d. was killed. A.
MAYNARD Lane, Co. NJ; Howard Br0Iaski,
o. -, were painfully injured, and other
Of the train were slightly hurt
a prominent Spanish parer stated last
week that the Spanish Secretary for War,
Gen. Correa, has declared that Spain must
lot mind if a battleShip Is lost in an en-
sagement because it is natural conSe
Iucnce of war, but commanders Of vessels
must be ready to blow up their vessels be-
ore allowing them TO be captured bv the
American fleet, 50 that the Spanish flag
may not be lowered and the American flag
hOisted over the Spanish vessel.
A dispatch from the Secretary of the Navy
at Madrid to the Havana Admiral says
hat the Spanish feet at Cavte, Philippine
Islands, fought heroically against the
American fleet, which retreated with CON
siderable damage. The Havana naval
station has sent Il cablegram Of congratu-
Iation to the Philippine naval station and
the feet for the victory obtained against
the American flag"
have placed their vessels at the disposal
of their GovernhentJ Over six hundred
vessels are ready for service awaiting
All tbn nffiC=1.S from the SDapiSb