Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-25
CUTTING EXPENSES.
Retrenchment in All Branches Fol-
lowing Cessation Of Hostilities.
DISPOSITION OF war PRISONERS.
Not Alarmed About Yellow Fever-NO
More Troops Nseded-NO Extra Sea.
aion Of ths Senate - Tariff
Rates for Porto Rico.

Washington, Aug. 90. -Retrench.
ment in nearly all branches OF the
army is following close upon the ces.
saton of hostilities. Notably is this
the case in the ordnance, quartermas-
ter and engineer bureaus where the
need for the supplies required and the
men employed for the exigencies OF
war no longer exists. In the ordnance
bureau the force at the various arse.
mails is to be reduced in all cases where
this can be accomplished without Diet.
riment to the service The Rock Island
arsenal probably will be affected more
than any other. There before the war
about $40 men were employed. When
the peace protocol was signed there
were approximately 1900 men en-
gagged, and orders have been issued
which will reduce this number two
thirds. Before and during the war
large numbers of contracts were made
with ordnance firms for supplying ma.
terial. In many cases these were
made conditional, SO they could be
terminated within a few days after
the cessation of hostilities, and the
department has in every case availed
itself of this privilege.
DISPOSITION OF WAR PRISONERS.
Washington, Aug 20 -Ordcrs were
issued by the war department yester-
day for the disposition of the 20 Span
ish prisoners and six alleged spies who
have been confined for some time at
Fort Mcpherson, Atlanta. The Span
iards will be sent to Portsmouth, N.
H., where greater number OF the
crews Of Admiral Cervera's fleet are
now detained. Five of the alleged
spies, among whom is the man Mellor,
who, 1T is said, was identified with the
operations Of Lieut.. Carranza, are to
be given their freedom. The sixth, a
man by the name of Elmhurst, said to
be an American citizen, and who, it is
charged, enlisted in the American
army for the purpose Of acting as q
spy for the Spanish government, will
be sent to his regiment for trial by
court.martial.
NOT ALARMED ABOUT YELLOW FEVER.
Washington, Aug. 2O.--The war de-
partment authorities are not alarmed
about yellow fever among the troops
In the United States, but close watch
is being kept at all points where there
Is the least danger. The three cases
at Key West, Fla, are the only ones
reported In the south and no additional
cases have been reported in the last
three or four days. At Montauk point
there are several suspicious cases, but
If it is yellow fever it is a very mild
type.
NO MORE TROOPS NEEDED.
Washington, Aug. 20. ten. Shafter
has informed the war department that
it will not be necessary TO send any
more troops to Santiago for the pre-
servation Of peace and good will. This
statement Is made with the under
standing that the present military
force will shortly be reinforced by the
arrival Of the Fifth regular infantry
and the Twenty.third Kansas volun-
teers.
NO EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE.
Washington, Aug. Ex-senator Can
non, of Utah, who has been in Wash
ington since congress adjourned, has
received positive assurance that there
will be no extra session OF the senate
this fall. Senator Cannon believes
that an extra session will follow ad-
journment on March A.
TARIFF RATES FOR PORTO RICO.
Washington, Aug 2O.-The war de-
partment to-day promulgated the
tariff rates for Porto Rico. The rate
is the Spanish minimum tariff rates
heretofore enforced in the island. The
tobacco schedule is the same as that
for Cuba.
---------
Third Missourians Want to Quit