Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-15
WASHINGTON LETTER .
WARRINGTON, July II, '9s

Of bne surrender OF the SD0nlnrdS at
Santiago shall Interfere with his
plans. If the obstruction Of Cerve-
ra's sfleet and the Spanish defeats at
Santiago have convinced Spain that
it is time to beg for peace, she must
say so. She con accomplish nothing
by talking peace unofficially, nor
through the Intervention of other
powers. This country does not in
tend TO allow any other country to
have any hand either in obtaining
peace for Spain or in arranging the
terms of peace. Spain can have the
terms of pence whenever she chooses
TO ask for them, and they will not
be deviated from, nor will they be
offered until they are asked for
Meanwhile the war is going to be
pushed. 1t is expected at the Navy
Department that Commodore Wat.
sons fleet, which is going to the coast
of Spain, will get started this week,
and that, by the first of Aug. it will
be heard from by Spain and the ex
pedition against Porto Rico is to
be prosecuted with Santiago as a
base of supplies. Gen Miles has
gone. 70 Cuba to take command of
the campaign.
The war and Post Office depart
ments have adopted system for the
Improvement of the mail service
to the soldiers Under this system
the quartermaster's department of
the army will transport all mail
within camp to and from the point
of arrival and departure, and batall-
ion and regimental adiutants will he
held responsible for the correct dis
tribution of mail Every military
post or camp established will be Civ
en- Il post Office Immediately, with
postal superintendent in charge.
IN short nothing will be left undone
that will aid in quick and constant
communication between the soldiers
and their relatives and friends.
Just a plain statement of what
was done at the session of Congress
just ended, without one word of ar
gument should be amply sufficient
to bring about an increase of the
republican majority in the next
House. 1t was a business session
as well as war session. Aside
from the important war legislation
which has mot every need of the ad-
ministration and prepared, so far
as possible for its needs for the next
six months, and the regular appro.
priation bills, a just and equitable
National bankrupt law was enacted Z;
Hawaii was annexed, and number
of other important laws placed upon
the statute books. The total amount
appropriated by Congress at the the
session was 1892, 527 991, of which
1861, 7SS, O95 was to meet the expen-
ses of conducting the war against
Spain.
As a special favor to those who
are here in attendance upon the an
nual convention of the National Ed
ucational Association, Secretary
Long instructed the Commandant of
the Washington Navy Yard, which
had been closed to visitors since the
war started, TO admit members of
the Association TO the yards and
shops. Another unusual courtesy
extended to the Association was the
opening of the Congressional Lii
brary building at night by Librar-
ian Young. This was the first time
that the handsome building has
been open to visitors at night.
Secretary Long gives the follow
ing reasons for the success of the
navy in the war-a success never
equaled in any war by any navy,
involving besides individual ships
captured or destroyed, the complete
destruction of two Spanish fleets,
chat of Admiral Cervera having sew
eral warships that were as fine as
any of their class aaoat: First, the
skill and mechanical genius of our
people in building the best ships !;
Second, the high personnel of the
navy Third, the foresight of our
Naval authorities in literally spend
ing money for ammunition to be
used in target practice Fourth, the
help the Secretary of the Navy had
from the Assistant Secretary ana
the bureau chiefs. II will be re-
membered that Theodore Roosevelt,
who has just been promoted from
Lieut.. Col to Col. for gallantry in
action before Santiago, was Assis-
tant Secretary of the Navy until
after the fighting began. Secretary
Long said of his Bureau Chiefs
"When the Navy Department saw
that war was approaching, the Bur-
eau Chiefs were called together and