The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-25
UNCLE SAM Is TIRED
of Entertaining Spanish Prisoners
and May Set Them to Work.


New York, Aug. 25.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says;
The presidents magnanimous offer to
SPAIN through the good offices of the
British ambassador at Madrid, in the first
week of August, just after the initiation
of peace negotiations, to release all of
the Spanish naval prisoners on parole for
prompt repatriation which was declined
by Senor Sagasta at the time, has had
the indirect result of alternating most of
the ordinary prisoners, as well as many
of the officers, from their mother coun-
try The navy department may event
uaIly be compelled to abandon the COM
paratively luxurious treatment 1t has ac-
corded these men and put them to work
There are 600 prisoners at SeaVey ISL
and in the Kittery (FMe.) navy yard, in
cluding nearly all the ordinary seamen
and petty officers who were saved when
Cervera's feet was annihilated. At the
naval hospital near Norfolk, va, the
seriously wounded, 200 in number, have
been under treatment and most OF them
fficers. numbering SO. have been quartered
in Annapolis in buildings which VIII be
needed in a few weeks for the ofhcerS
and professors attached to the naval
The men at Norfolk are great burden
upon the naval medical authorities, but
the navy department IS principally con-
cerned about the great 1orce OF men men az
Seavey island. They are quartered IN
comfortable but temporary wooden struct-
ures which do very Wen IoF summer, put
which will cause great suffering soon on
account of the approaching cold weather,
to which the Spaniards are wholly unac-
customed Some of the Spanish officers
have written home that they hope that
the war Will continue another year IN or
der that they may continue TO ENJOY the
treatment they have been receiving, Dut
others, notably Captain COncas, who has
been in this country longer than many of
his colleagues, have recently caused con-
chiefly political, to be brought to bear
upon the navy department to consent to
the return of the officers to Spain
Naval officials make no cOncealment OF
their anxiety to get rid of Captain COncaS
and all the other officers at Annapolis
and Norfolk who are now on limited pa
role but there is no intention to release
the officers until Spain makes some pro-
reply to the presidents original OFFER to
surrender all the prisoners on parole was
follows:
to the effect that any Spanish sailor ac-
cepting a parole in order to procure his
release is liable to punishment the gov
ernment is unable to act upon the sug-
gestion of the United States and remove
the prisoners captured by the destruction
of Admiral Cerveras fleet to Spain"
1t is the impression IN the navy de-
about prohibiting ordinary seamen to ac-
cept parole than she is in the case of the
superior officers, that some Interior mo-
tive must be at the bottom of the mat
returned home the Spanish government
would take no further interest in these
sailors, but leave them as paupers de-
pendent upon the charity of the United
officers will remain under restraint as
long as the men are confined. and if Spain
continues to be Indifferent it is possible
that some of the luxuries will be taken
from the officers and that they will be
made to feel in a certain measure that
they are in fact prisoners of war.