Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
GEN. MERRITT HERE
Speculation Rife Over the Purpose
of His Visit.
REPORT THAT BE WILL GO TO CUBA
He Declares Himself Unaware of
Such an Intention.
OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES

Maj Gen. Wesley Merritt, commanding
the Department of the Missouri with head
quarters at Chicago. arrived in Washington
last night accompanied by his aid, Lieut..
l.. H. Strother. first infantry. He is here
by appointment to talk with Secretary La
mont respecting the business of his depart
nient, and especially about the location of
certain posts in the northwest, and if, as
reported, his visit has any reference to the
state of affairs in Cuba, the general saws
he does not know 1t.
Gen. Merritt visited the War Department
this morning. but the Secretary of War
was In attendance at the cabinet meeting
at the time. He paid social calls on Gen.
Miles. Assistant Secretary Doe, and other
friends in the department., and arranged for
a meeting with Secretary Lamont later in
the day.
A Star reporter met him while he was at
TIE war department, but could not induce
nim TO say anything as to the purpose of
his visit to this city, except that he was
here to discuss the business of his depart
ment with the Secretary of War. He was
toid or the report that he was to be sent
TO Cuba to investigate the situation for the
peneit OF the President, and said that if
such was the case, it was news to him. He
showed ny his manner rather than by his
words that he did not take the matter SER
lousy. ~
ihere are numerous precedents for such
course, the most notable being the dis
patcn OF an army officer to Poland during
us struggle for freedom and the disnafcb
OF another officer to Cuba during GRANITE
administration to investigate and report on
the state of affairs.
President CIeveIand's Position.
oihcials, who would be apt to know ex-
press the belief that it is not contemplated
10 SEND Gen. Merritt or anybody else to
cuba on a special mission. The President
already has good means of obtaining full
ana reliable information in regard to the
progress OF events on the island, and NAV
Eot see any good purpose to be served by
sehdlns special commissioner to the seat
oi trouble. There may be reasons. how
ever why he should desire the Judgment Of
a military expert on the situation, and if
ne colciudeS TO send one, it is not unlikely
that Hen- Merritt will be selected for the
MISSION. he is cool, conservative officer
and has had unlimited experience in mill.
tary operations.
conference on Lake Defcnxes.
another story is that General Merritt
was summoned here to confer with the
Senate committee on coast defenses in 1e-
gard to the condition and needs of the
1ortiilcatfons on the lakes and along the
Canadian frontier in the military depart
ment OF the Missouri. This report has
an air of probability, inasmuch as that
committee is considering the question of
strengthening the defenses of the country
ana has recently consulted General Miles
General Flagler. chief of ordnance; General
Craishill. chief of engineers and other
oiilcers having special knowledge on the
subject.
Methods OF Mobilization.
1t is also possible that Gen. Merritt has
come here to consult with the officials of
the war Department to the best plan
OF modifying troops in the event of war
In view OF our strained relations with
Spain and Great Britain there is nothing
specially unreasonable in the statement
that this matter is receiving serious con-
sideration by the President and his ad-
Visers. Gen. Merritt is well known to the
President and stands high in his esteem as
an officer and man. He is the third
ranking officer of the army.
Ihat there is some significance in Gen.
Merritt's sudden journey from Chicago to
Washington is shown by the fact that il
was made in consequence of Geographic or
ders from the Secretary of War
Dr. Whnt Secretary Lamont Says
Secretary Lamont told a Star reporter
this afternoon that he hoped that no at
tempt would be made to make a sensation
out of Gen. Merritt's visit He is here"
said the Secretary, simply on department
business and nothing else whatever"