The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-23
NO NERVOUS STRAIN.
The Country Enjoying a Rest Be-
tween Exciting Events.
But The DEPARTMENTS ARE BUSY.
Both War and Naval Officials Engaged In
Making Preparations for the Dis
patch of the Porto Rlcsn INT
Eastern Expeditions.

WASHINGTON, July 21.-The war and
navy departments are now engaged IN
making all arrangements for the dis
patch of the Porto Rican expedition
and Watson's eastern squadron. Their
has occurred one of those natural
pauses N the progress of the campaign
incident to the completion of m set
OF operations and the initial on of
another.
There being no possibility of the re-
ccipt of news of a great battle or of a
surrender, there was less excitement
than for weeks past.
Gen. Miles Departure Again Deferred.
Gen. Miles expected departure was
a;ain deferred. The explanation given
was that there was difficulty expe-
+ cnced at Santiago in securing the
naval convoy for the expedition. 1t is
known, however, in addition, that the
president himself has restrained Gen.
Miles 10 the extrnt of adjuring him in
earnest terms not to commit the folly
of starting for Porto Rico without the
most complete preparation.
The Government Has PrOhted by the
Lessons Taught
BY the Santiago expedition. Aside
from the actual loss Of life that might
be expected to result from a badly
calculated start, it is realized that our
relations with some of the eastern
powers would be in Il small measure,
at least, impaired by the adverse moral
effect created by anything approaching
a defeat for the American arms at this
stage of the war. Therefore it Is Ger
tain that, SO far as the department "a
! prevent. Cen. Miles soldiers will not
run short of food. nor of tents to pro-
tect them from the tropical rains, nor
of the means of transportation that
WAS 50 deficient at the beginning of
the Santiago movement.
Ten Transports with Gen. Miles.
ten. Miles reported yesterday after
nou that he had with him ten trans
ports, which, it ; presumed, have
atuard several Thousand soldiers, al
t:."ugh at least two OF them are filed
VITA equipment.
he me! al GARD snip are suffering
!: n delay, pr, ciSciv as dii the sO.-
L. - VINO ny ii Tampa bay before the
departure OF the Shh:tcr expedition.
GO Wuch Latitude Allowed sampson.
inquiry made ut the navy depart
Mcnt i ascertain where the delay had
ARISEN III securing conveys, was met
with he statement that the orders to
A. ui"d! Sampson IN this matter were
vrry General He WAS simply directed
by he department to furnish a convoy,
All. il Vas assumed that he would con-
frr with Gen. Miles as to the number
an;i character of vessels required for
that purpose. As the campaign. from d
naval point of view, is to be principally
ii land movement, the naval officers do
not believe a very extensive convoy is
necessary.
MEASUREMENTS Thought 10 Have Reached
Dewey.
According TO the calculations at tine
navy department, Admiral Dcwcy's
fleet ut Cavite should now be rein
forced by the coast-defensc vessel Mon
terey, which. with her tender and col
licr. the BrutuS, has now been about
y days out from Honolulu. With the
addition of this fine and powerful
monitor, Dewey will be amply able to
to take care of himself as long IA, the
naval force, in the Philippines main
tain the relative proportion they now
occupy. However the disclosure by
the state department OF the lack of
foundation for the sensational stories
OF strained relations with Germany has
largely abated the anxiety entertained
al the navy department as to Dewev's
position at Manila.
An Agreeable Surprise.
The war department was ~agrceably
surprised at the number of bids re-
ccived in answer to its proposals for
transporting the Spaniards now at
Santiago to Cadiz. The terms offered
by some of the companies were also
regarded as very reasonable, and as it
is desirable to terminate the present
condition of affairs at Santiago at the
earliest possible moment, it is ex-
pecied the award will be made i'm
mediately. '
The Sid from the Spanish Steamship COM
pany
Il surprise to the department Of
t~icials, and at least one oTthcm thought
that ii might be good policy for the
government to avail itself of this offer.
DR.. Grcenleaf's last report to Secrc-
tary Alger from the American camp at
Santiago came yesterday afternoon. (
and was to the effect tina while the
fever was widely spreading
among the troops, it was very mild in
type.
Gen. Dutfield. who has been suffer
ing ron the disease. was reported to
be improving.
The Cuban Junta is Satisfied.
The open statement from the Cuban
here yesterday. made to the
war department officials, that they
were prepared to accept as proper the
programme laid down by Gen. Shafter
for the government of affairs at San
is but the prelude, it is hoped,
to instructions from that body to the
Cuban generals in the field, Garcia,
Gomez and others, that will tend to
prevent n repetition of the conduct
that has jeopardized the relations be-
the American and Cuban SOL
More Gold Seekers Coming Home.
SE Attic Wash Julv . -The