The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-10
DIDN'T FIND TaEH.
Simpson Failed to Locate The
SpaRiardS.

Washington, May 9.-There is the best
authority for the statement that today
having passed without a report from Ad
miral Sampson, the Navy Department
does not expect to hear from him within
several days. The authority for this
statement is fully acquainted with Ad-
mirai SIMPSONS plans and ths remark
would seem to indicate that the Admiral
having failed to find the enemy at the
place expected had tarned his attention
to the alternative project. What this is
cannot be ascsrtained. 1t is evident, how
ever, that the department is under no ap-
prehension as to the safety of the fleet nor
Of any vessel of the feet
The War Department today informed
the country through the press just where
the various state volunteer organizations
are to be concentrated. 1t is the first time
that any official statement has been made
as to the points of concentration them
selves, The order as published by the de-
partment is thought i'll some quarters to
warrant the assumption that it contem-
plates a speedy movement of the United
States military forces upon Cuba and in
much greater force than was originally
planned, The war department officials
refuse to say anything on this point. but
there is every evidence that they expected
Q Short sharp. conclusive and immediate
campaign, such as could not be wagered
by tive or len thousand soldiers 1t is al
SO to be noted that preparations made by
commissarys' department, SO far as dis
closed by actnal orders, indicate that
provisions is being made for Inobilizing,
transporting AMI feeding many thousands
Of men outside of the I'm TED States -s
With view TO systenatizing the work
Of mobilizing the forces and putting them
in service, the war department. has
planned scheme which, it is believed
VIII very much hasten the work of getting
the men together and equippiug them,
while avoiding any congestion of the rail
road traffic, instead Of allowing all the
troops called for from a partiensa state
to be assembled and broken in at the
,endezyous, the department is instruoting
its mastering officers to complete the or
possible, and as soon as one is organized
10 report the fact to the department.,
then that regiment will BIS ordersd at
once to the point selected or concentra-
ion. In this way the government will be
relieved greatly in the distribution of
stores, which will be called for only as
fast as they are needed. The men will
also he more amenable to discipline when
quickly transferred to the concentration
points outside their own states. 1t Is the
expectation that the first regiments or
ganized reported from the Southwest will
d sent to Chattanooga, thence going to
uba via Mobile, Tampa, New Orleans
fns Galveston, for expeditions will be
dispatched from each of these ports. The
Governor of state will have no hand in
The designation of the regiments to go to
particular concentration camps; the
destination will depend on tho prompt
ness with which the volunteers are organ
lied and are ready for transportation.
Probably about one-third of the entire
levy called for by the President of about
10000 troops, will constitute the force to
De sent South to take part in the first
Cuban service, following the regular
army forces. These troops will be the first
70 receive their equipment just as was de-
fined in General Miles's circular issued
today. I
When they are organized, equipped and
concentrated, the government will be
u.
namely the forces about equal to another
third of the total call, which will be as
signed to the defenses of the coast and
herbors, replacing the regular United
States troops Withdrawn from these posts
Thus it will be noted from study of the
concentration order that six regiments
and two troops of New York volunteers
are assigned to duty under command Of
the department of the east commanding
coast defenses and reserves which probably
win result in their employment in New
York harbor and along the shores of Long
Island sound. Likewise in the case Of
pennsylvania, i've regiments, two bat
talions and two troops are assigned to
duty in the department of the east which
will place them along the shores Of Della
ware bay and river, as coast guards to
protect the important shipping interests
of that section. When these are equipped,
the government will turn its attention to
the third class comprising the last third
OF The l25, 600 volunteers called for.
1t is he sincere hope OF the war depart.
ment that it will not be called upon to
fully equip these troops before hostilities
are st an end, but the work of preparation
is proceeding on the contrary assump-
ton. This third division will constitute
the second reserve to be drawn upon for
reinforcements whenever needed and il is
possible that the men will never be called
upon to leave their own state unless the
plans of the war department. miscarry
Out of the first class will come the
troops which will be sent to the Philip
pine islands. General Miles has prepared
"a scheme changing the boundaries of the
present department to facilitate thu
working out of this, and it is now before
Secretary Alger for improvement. The
response SO far received from the muster
ing officers continue to be very encourage
ing. The following telegram today from
Gov. Clough to Adjutant General Corbin
shows the state of feeling in the West.
State Camp, st. Paul, Mimi, May 9.
Troops all mustered in and believe we
have three regiments that are second to
none-the 18th, 18th and 18th regiments.
All anxiously waiting to go to the front.
Please do not overlook Minnesota, the