The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-28
NO AGGRESSIVE MOVE
EITHER AGAINST CUBA OR PORTO RICO
Until Positive Information is Received at the
War Departmental Admiral CeNera's
Whereabouts.
Whereabouts.

Washington, May 27.-The military
situation as at present determined upon
by those in authority is to make no
forward movement of troops either upon
Porto Rico or Cuba until full and de-
finite information is received as to the
locntion of the Spanish squadron and
its possibilities as n factor in the az
gressive movement Of Spain.
For the last few days army circles
have shared public belief that the
Spanish ships were trapped in Santiago
harbor, and that has given impetus to
arrangements by which large bodies of
troops at Chickamauga and elsewhere
might be moved forward rapidly to
Tampa for embarkatiOn. The presence
of thirty or more transports i'm Florida
waters added to the conviction that 4
movement on n large scale was about to
occur. All this has been going on with
| the understanding that Admiral Ger
| vera's career as a possible menace i'm
! the rear of our troops had been cut
off by his being securely held in Santiago
| harbor, but in the absence Of positive
| information on this point there is no pur-
pose whatever on the part Of the war
| department to make an aggressive move
ment on Cuba or Porto Rico. This was
|
| ners and from an authoritative source.
| 1t can be again affirmed on the highest
authority, and knowing all rumors to fhe
contrary. that at the close Of the day the
/ department had nothing more than Il
belief founded upon unofficial adyices,
| that the Spanish squadron was lying in
| Santiago harbor and no news as to
| Commodore Schleys whereabouts.
/ ~ Of ~
| fcials of the naval department enter
tain no doubt that Cervera is within
! Santiago harbor. and they have sue
ceedcd in impresSing this belief upon the
| president and the members Of the ca
| binet. 1t was announced to-day that
Holland. the inventor Of the submarine
boat of that name, was expected he
| Tomorrow to discuss with Captain
| O'Neill. chief Of ordnance, the feasibility
of using the novel craft in an attack
| upon the Spanish squadron at
| Santiago if the vessels are there.
| The officials are disposed to re-
ceive in a kindly spirit any efforts that
| may prove valuable in this line, and they
will have a talk with Mr.. Holland over
the details Of his scheme. probably on
| the basis of n compensation to be paid
! to him for each Spanish vessel destroyed.
An important phase in the military pro-
gramme is not TO take up the details of
| organization Of the new force of $4,000
men for at least a week or ten days
| If the regiments under the first call are
to be brought mp to their maximum
strength it will take about 10000 men
| from the second call to complete the 125
regiments under the first call. This will
| leave $4,000 men to be organized in dis
| tinctly new regiments.
The war department is anxious to OBJ
| tain views Of the governors Of the states
and territories as to fling to the
maximum strength the regiments nj
ready furnished 10y them under the first
call of the president for 125,000 men,
and with this object in view Adjutant
General Corbin, Mt the instance of Sec
retary Alger, sent kilograms asking the
| several governors to make Recommended
| tons to the department on this subject