The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-27

por generals and about twenty-fon-
brigadier generals. The law auxiso-
rizes the president 10 appoint one urR-
jor general for each army corps ~<rus
one brigadier general for each hriExasx>-
Ii was stated at the war departnssrze
that the details for the work OF orgAra-
izing this new force would not he zc-
lively taken up for the present Juxs
now the adjutant generals office IL en-
gagged in completing the enlistment az
the 125,000 volunteers under the Ers=s
call. Ii will take some time TO CcE-a-
plete his work and not until then VII
the real work OF organizing the yo1un-
teer under the second begin.
GOSSIP AS TO THE FLEETS
At the close OF the day AT the navy
department the situation as TO thx,
fleets, both American and SpanfSss-
was precisely as il was this morning.
SO far as the officials know, the only
notable difference being an apparent
strengthening OF the confidence of the
officials in their belief that CerveraIS
squadron is lying in the Santiago hKr-
bor. In this hope and belief the or
ficials found great comfort, knowing
the abilities OF the American naval
commanders in Cuban waters To keer
the Spanish admiral bottled up I'm his
narrow necked harbor until they shall
surrender or be starved out:>~f Ger
vera is actually at bay the officials feea
not the slightest apprehension OF any
relief coming to him from the outside
in the shape Of another Spanish SQUAD
ron from CadiZ. The reason for tfiix
belief in their unquestioned ability tD
hold Cervera in check with only few
vessels, perhaps a couple of monitors
and torpedo boats, thus leaving the re-
mainder of the big armored feet to-
take care of any reinforcemen's that
might attempt to come from Spain To
Cervera's aid. The force that could be
fnr xxif h<.ss
dangering the integrity of the block
ade at Havana or permitting the e~-
cape of Cervera, would be much larger
than the entire Spanish naval force
now in Spanish waters capable or
crossing the Atlantic.
WHY THE DELAY OF INVASION
Within the past few weeks, in fact.
ever since the determination was pos
itively reached to invade Cuba before
the dry season next fall, there have
been published intimations that the
delay or what appeared to be the delay
in beginning the invasion was at
tributabe to the navy. II can hn
stated on the highest authority that
the impression thus created is wholly
unjust to the navy and without war-
rant in fact. The naval officers. onst
and all, take special pride in the de-
gree of readiness in which the navy
was found at the outbreak OF hOstiIs-
were at Porto Rico, when the navE
ties and there never has been n IND
ment, even when SIMPSONS furcr=z
was not prepared on instant orders
to aid the army. Neither has the ar1ry
been at fault in this matter. II was AZ
first proposed to throw n small force
of men, about 10000 into Cuba i'm
mediately and allow the remainder OF
the army Of occupation to wait urztfs
next fall before going over There were
various reasons for abandoning this
plan, such as the discovery OF the in
sufficient support that could be- rem
dered the American force by the In
surgents. The fact was brought our
with appalling force that to delay ttsc
campaign meant the absolute cxtsr-
mination Of the starving reconcentrH-
dos, and there were beside other seR-
sons for making haste. These con-
sderations caused complete change
in the army plans and that inyoiynl
delay.
To equip an army OF 200 men Sn
thirty days and put them In a couE7S-
tion to fight trained veteran soldLSx4
on their own soil was no small under
taking, so that in the opinion OF susrr7s
Of the highest officers OF the admirzs-
tration there is no reasonable grounds
for pressing the criticism that there ks
or has. been undue delay I'm beginnfrrc
the military campaign, either on tss-
part OF the army or navy.
Recommendation has been made
that contracts be awarded for supfsy-
ing armor for the three battleships yxs-
der construction as follows: To the.
Carnegie Company-1I53 tons for ttrs-
Illinois and 2,55s.76 tons for the Wis
consin. To the Bethlehem Company
LAOS tons for the Illinois and 2. SIS rnzEs
for the Alabama. all at $500 per tc1-