Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1898 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From oar regular correspondent.) No visitor to Washington since the war opened has received a more cordial welcome from everybody, that Lt. Hobson, the Merrimac hero, who came to hurry up the work at this end of the line of saving some of the wrecked ships of Cervera’s fleet He thinks three of them can be saved if no time is lost unless there comes a severe storm before the ships can be got afloat. * Nearly a week ago it was officially announced that Gen. Shafter had been ordered to forward to Washington a complete list of the soldiers who had yellow fever and of those who had died with it, but as yet he has only partially complied with the order. Adjutant General Corbin says there is yellow fever in every regiment of Shafter’s army, and that’s why none of them were allowed to go with Miles to Porto Rico.

The administration is showing a disposition to make Gen. Shafter bear all the blame for the break with Gen. Garcia and his army of Cuban insurgents, although it is not denied that, as a whole, what J&arcia complained of was the restyt.okShafter’s carrying out orders given in Washington. It is claimed that he should have jollied Garcia sufficiently to have made him believe that he was at least being consulted about what was being done. The plain truth is, that the administration doesn’t want to quarrel with the insurgents, although it has been fully determined that the government of Cuba shall not be turned over to them at the close of the war, unless they can get a majority of the residents of Cuba, to declare by their votes in their favor. It is willing to feed and clothe the insurgents and keep them supplied with arms and ammunition without being to exacting as to the military duties they shall perform, but to go no further. ♦ ft *

There is no other officer in our army who has profited to So great an extent personally as Gen. Leonard Wood, now military Governor of Santiago. When the Maine was blown up he was a Surgeon in the regular army, with the rank of Captain, stationed in Washington, performing among other duties those of family physician to Mr. McKinley. When “Teddy” Roosevelt conceived the idea of enlisting the regiment of Rough Riders, ana had it approved by Mr. McKinley, he asked that Dr. Wood be made Col. of the regiment. It was done He was made a Brigadier General for gallantry in the field, being strongly recommended for the promotion by his immediate superior, Gen. Wheeler, “fighting Joe.” trust why he succeeded McKibbin, who was first named as military Governor of Santiago, by Gen. Shafter, is not so dear, but it was probably because he was the President’s friend and doctor, and wanted the dace. A jump from Captain to Brigadier General is certainly extraordinary, even when one is as brave as Gen. Wood has proved himself to be and is the President’s doctor and friend. If the recently officially announced intention to send Commodore Watson’s fleet to Spain was not a bluff, why in the name of common sense is the official announcement no# made that the sending of the fleet to Spain has

been indefinitely postponed? Only a small portion of the powerful fleet we now have in Cuban waters will be needed in the campaign against Porto Rico, which was opened by the landing of Gen. Miles and the troops with him on Porto Rican soil, news of which has just reached Washington. At no time since the war started, could so many of our strongest fighting ships be spared to go to Spain as right now, This was acknowledged by Secretary Long in conversation with a friend who was trying to find out why the fleet had not gone to Spain. A Senator who is very friendly with Mr. McKinley said on the subject; “The official announcement of the orders to Commodore Watson, several weeks ago was unquestionably made to bluff Spain into begging for peace, and now that Mr. McKinley has information that the bluff had served its purpose, he has caused it to be publicly announced that the sailing of the fleet had been postponed, in order that Spain may act.” “But,” said another Senator, “suppose that Spain doesn’t ask for peace, what then?” “Then,” said the first Senator laughingly, “I suppose the bluff will be repeated.” “ Well,” answered Senator No. 2 “that sort of thing is a little too Spanish to suit me; I believe that it is the duty of the administration to fight this war to a close at the earhest possible moment. In trickery, we can never hope to equal the Spaniards, and I should be ashamed to be an American, if we could. We can lick them every day in the week, when it comes to fighting, and the sooner we send the fleet over there to fight them at home, the sooner we shall have peace.”