The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-14
Desired by Every Citizen on the Island Who
Possesses Any Property.
WHEELER'S MISSION TO MANILA
Expert Strength of the Philip
pine to Any of
ships From Spain-General Woods Heroic
to Yellow Al Santiago
Secretary Alger-The
al tSuez

Washington, July 12.-Brigadier Gen
eral Rosser, who has just reached
Washington from Cuba, called at the
White house today. General Rosser has
been mustered out and is on his way
home to Virginia. When asked about
Cuban affairs he said: Many things
are moving along smoothly, but there
is almost universal complaint about
the enforcement of tariff rules and
laws at Havana. The trouble, of course,
is that military men have not been
trained in these matters. The differ
ent officials fix different duties on
goods
When asked about the sentiment for
annexation, General Rosser said: "Ev-
cry man on the island with a dollars
worth of property never wants to see
the United States flag pulled down.
They know it means anarchy, chaos
and oppression"
PAYMASTERS PROMOTED.
The President today appointed Colo
mel Alfred E. Bates, paymaster general
of the army, to succeed Asa B. Carry,
retired. The appointment of General
Bates has resulted in the promotion of
Lieutenant Colonel Charles 1. Wilson
to the rank Of colonel and the promo
ton of Major George w. Bird, to be
lieutenant colonel. These promotions
made vacancy in the list Of pay
masters with the rank of majors.
This vacancy was filled by the presi-
dent by the appointment Of Captain
John Murphy, Of the Fourteenth in
fantry, in recognition of his services
in hn nd at
quest Major Murphy was placed on
the retired list, his health having suf-
fered from hardships in the Philip
pines. The vacancy caused by his re-
tirement was filled by the appointment
Of Major Charles NewbOld, of the VOL
unteer pay department.
A STATEMENT FROM ALGER.
Secretary Alger today made to a
representative Of the Associated Press
his first personal statement concern
ing the reports that he is about to
resign from the cabinet. When asked
as to the truth Of the rumors the Sec
retary said: What do you mean ex-
actly?"
Il mean to ask whether or not the
stories that you are to retire from the
cabinet in the near future are true?"
There is nothing in these reports
but air. replied the secretary. Il shall
not retire this year certainly and can
HOl Sdy DIS W lIle luluIc MY private
business and the state of my health
will govern my future course. These
constant assaults and repeated base
less reports are, Of course, very annoy
ing to me and extremely distressing
to my family, but I have never yet re-
tired under fire and do not propose to
do so now. Nothing that l have ever
heard of or known of has been so cruel
as these attacks upon me. If my crit
les can point to one thing in my Off
cial career 1 have done that 1 ought not
to have done, or 1 have not done that
1 should have done, 1 shall be very
glad to surrender my present official
duties"
WILL NOT SELL CAPTURED SHIPS
An offer from a prominent firm of
shipbrokers, doing a large foreign bus
mess, TO purchase the Reina Mercedes
and any and all of the other war craft
captured during the late war, has
aroused a suspicion that Spain is try
ing in this indirect manner to obtain
possession of the vessels and thus re-
move the offense to Spanish pride
caused by the floating of the American
flag over her ships. The navy depart
ment Will not sell any of these vessels
and that answer will be returned to
the writer of the letter. Secretary
Long has decided that it will not pay
to attempt to renovate the Mercedes
and use her as warship. She will be
left as a show ship, like the old Con-
stitution, ito crafty the patriotism of
the American people.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN WOODRUFF.
The adjutant general today received
a dispatch from Colonel Comba, at
Bonjago, near Santiago, announcing
the death of Captain Thomas w. w.
Woodruff, adjutant of the Fifth in
fantry. He died of yellow fever last
night. Captain Woodruff was a West
Point graduate appointed from the
District of Columbia.
WHEELERs MISSION TO MANILA
Chicago, July 12-General JOS. Wheel
er passed through Chicago today bound
for the Philippines on an unknown
mission, as he put it himself:
Il am ordered merely to report to
General Otis and do not know what
1 shall have to do when get there. I
expect to return by December, when
congress meets. Being in the army /
felt that I had no right to remain idle
all summer and fall and asked TO De
sent on active service.
The only intimation General Wheeler
gave as the purpose Of his mission was
in reply to an inquiry as to what he
though of the situation in the island
acquisitions. He said 81 do not un-
derstand and no one in washington
seems to understand why it is that our
people over there seem to have no idea
of the forces to which they are posed.
General Otis makes no estimate, and
YOU will have observed that neither
General LaWton nor General MacAr-
thur makes mention of those forces in
his reports.
Asked if he were sent by President
D:~,Ia N nrf on