Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-06
WORD FROM DEWEY
Consul Wildman eaid to Have Been Directed
to Charter Steamer.
It IL Expected to Bring Back 1nfor-
nation From Aanfla by
Tomorrow,

It Is asserted on credible authority that
as soon rs 1t was discovered that eommuni-
| cation with Manila was cut OF. a telegram
| was SAINT to Consul whitman directing him
| to procure by charter or purchase imme-
diately the fastest steamer to be had at
| Hong Kong. and to send 1t to Manila to
convey dispatches to Commodore Dewey
| and return with such as he might desire to
communicate. This was done as precau-
tionary measure. it Is said. without waiting
| to know whether a dispatch boat had been
sent by him.
According to this authority, a reply was
| received from W1ldman, stating that he
had succeeded in securing the steamer and
that it had sailed for Manila. If no other
means of communication is established it
| is expected that the information through
this source will pe received no later than
tomorrow.
1t has been understood here for some days
that there was difference Of opinion b.
| tween Secretary Alger and General Miles
as to the plan Of campaign to be pursued in
Cuba.
The proposition to establish a permanent
base Of supplies protected by Notifications
and a small army was advocated by the
Secretary of War. and the preparations up
to this time have been in line with this
p!an in the expectation that it would be
carried ont this week. Under the pressure
Of recent developments this plan has spread
into a proposition to send to Cuba at this
time n considerably larger force than was
contemplated in the original plan.
Series Of Expeditions.
Today there comes from the same source
from which this information was obtained
statement that the scheme of furnishing
the Gomez army with supplies and NUM-
lions of war is likely to resolve itself into
series Of dlibustering expeditions, or
what amounts to the same thing, and In
stead of establishing the permanent base
of supplies the government will send a
number of expeditions conveying arms and
ammunition and volunteer recruits for the
Gomez army. to be received by the Cubans
at designated places as they can be reach
ed, the expeditions to be similar TO the
one reported yesterday.
This is more in accordance with the idea
Of General Miles, which contemplates the
postponement of an invasion until such
time as a large army can be safely sent to
Cuba to make the occupation complete.
A Matter Of Doubt.
Whether this statement is true or Is
merely given out for the purpose of mis-
leading so as to cover the operations which
were contemplated Immediately, Is a mat
ter Of doubt.
1t Is not expected that the department
would encourage reports which accurately
outlined the contemplated movements, or
that, If false impression prevailed, an eff
fort would be made to correct 1t. The
statement however. has the sanction of
the report Of operations having already
been begun under the plan which is de-
scribed.
In this connection it is asserted that the
forces which will be sent with these various
expeditions will be those which have volun-
tered for that particular purpose, and that
the army of occupation sent later under
the enlarged plan of General Miles will be
composed very largely of the volunteers
mustered in under the call for 125 ,0OO and
that the army would be so large AS to en-
tirely possess the island within a very short
time after landing.
The prospects are that if this plan should
be followed the war will be over before the
grand army of occupation" moves upon
Cuba.
Would End the War.
If Admiral SIMPSONS fleet succeeds in
finding the Spanish fleet the chances are
that an engagement between them will re
suit in the destruction of the Spanish ma
val force and the war be brought to
conclusion very soon thereafter. The de-
struction of the Spanish naval force and
the capture of Porto Rico would put end
to the resources of Spain and leave the
Spanish in Cuba to feed upon their own
vitals.