Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-16

t&ko&S 80 US1AH1A @eA4y 0~YRtSsS>ee 80
from matters ~ actual moment, such
as the methods Of transportation, the
carriage Of arms by troops. and the
transportation of the surrendered
Spanish officers, there are many small
er matters to be attended to, some OF
them growing out OF the fantastic
Spanish notions OF honor which are
quite as troublesome to deal with as
matters of vital importance.
The French cable shut down over
night and that was supposed at first to
be the reason why further reports were
net forthcoming from Shafter or Miles.
1t was believed that the cable opera
tors, Frenchmen, had become wearied
from their protracted labors and refus-
ed to continue at work last night. But
with morning came renewal of cable
communication though no messages
from Shafter we're on file.
Many inquiries are coming to the
War Department as to the condition of
the sick and wounded American SOL
diers near Santiago. The appearance
of yellow fever among the troops was
an additional cause Of apprehension
and doubled the number of queries.
The War Department does not deem it
prudent just now to make any detailed
statement relative to the conditions in
the camp, but Adjutant General Cor
bin stated that he could say that so
far as the yellow fever was concerned
the conditions at last report were GER
tainly better than they were two days
ago.
Col Hecker, who is in charge of the
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
of the War Department, is now busy
trying to arrange for the conveyance
home to Spain of the Spanish soldiers
who surrendered in Santiago There
is disposition to appeal directly to
the great steamship transportation
lines to make bids to carry these peo-
pie. The adoption of such a course
would relieve the government of a great
responsibility 1t would put the Span
iards under a neutral flag which would
insure their reception without difficulty
at hcr,e and it would relieve our gov
eminent Of the necessity of sending
with the prisoners the heavy guard that
would be required if they were convey
ed on United States transports. Eco
nomicalfy it was thought that the prop
osition was sound one. Assuming
that the companies charged the usual
passenger rates for soldiers, the trans
fer could be effected at a cost not to
exceed $500, 900, a sum which is prob
ably less than would be the cost OF
the service If undertaken directly by
our government But a disagreeable
complication has arisen from the fact
that reports indicate that yellow fever
exists among the Spanish troops as
we'll as among cur own. and it is feared
that if these reports are we'll founded
1t may be difficult to induce transpor-
taticn companies to undertake the task
of conveying sick soldiers and those
who had been exposed to Infection.
There is also doubt whether the Span
ish authorities would allow the men TO
land on Spanish soil.
Cn,kin cpj6 that
all the necessary rations to care for
the Spanish soldiers when they sur
rendered had been secured and were
now in place for immediate delivery
at Santiago 1t is presumed that the
QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICERS
will avoid the enormous undertaking
of transporting these supplies over the
mountain trails by sending them in
vessels into the harbor to the city of
Santiago. This, it is believed, can be
done safely, as the terms CT surrender
will doubtless require the Spanish to
indicate the location of the mines in
the harbor. 1t is expected that the
great body of refugees that fled from
the town on the threat Of bombardment
will now return, and great distress is
expected to result from the lack of
food supplies. Gen. Shafter has been
allowed to exercise his full discretion
in dealing with these refugees, and,
while he will not assume the respon-
sibility for their maintenance he will
without doubt spare as many rations
as possible from his own stores to
aid these unfortunate people.
With all of our disposition to be on
friendly terms with the British, our
naval officers are quick to resent the
allegations made to the effect that Dew
ey owed his marvellous success at Ma
Mia to the employment of English gun
ners, whom he had engaged at fabu-
lous wages at Hong Kong before he
sailed for Manila. Such a statement
as this was made by Cunningham, an
ex-member of parliament, in a COM
munication to some Of the British
newspapers, which has aroused a good
deal Of discussion. Capt Crowninshield,
the chief of the navigation bureau, is