The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-26
NO FAULT AT WASHINGTON.
Army and Navy Departments Have
Shown Wisdom in All Affairs.

Army and Navy Departments Have
Shown Wisdom in All Affairs.
Washington, May 25.-At the close of
the day at the navy department. the stu
alton as to the fleets, both American and
| Spanish, was precisely as it 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 Cervera' S
squadron is lying in the Santiago harbor.
In this hope and belief the officials found
great comfort, knowing the abilities of
the American naval commanders in Gu
ban waters to keep the Spanish admiral
bottled up in his narrow neck harbor un-
I'll he shall surrender or be starved out.
If Cervera is actually at bay the officials
feel not the slightest apprehension of any
relief coming to him from the outside
in the shape of another Spanish squadron
from Cadiz.-
The. reason for this belief is their I'M
questioned ability to hold Cervera in check
with only a few vessels, perhaps a couple
of monitors and torpedo boats, thus leav-
ing the remainder of the big armOred fleet
to take care of any relnforcements that
Cervera's aid. The force that could be
spared for this service without endanger-
Ing the integrity of the blockade at Ha-
vana, or permitting the escape of Ger
vera, would sbe much larger than the en-
tire Spanish naval force now in Spanish
waters capable Of crossing the Atlantic
Within the past few weeks, or in fact,
ever since the determination was positive
ly 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 of the invasion, was attriDu-
table to the navy. 1t can be stated on the
highest authority that the impression thus
created is wholly without warrant and
unjust 10 the navy. The naval officers,
one and all take special pride in the de-
gree of readiness in which the navy was
found at the outbreak of hostihties and
there never has been moment even
when SIMPSONS forces were at Porto
Rico when the navy was not prepared
on instant notice to aid the army in ef-
fecting a landing in Cuba. Nor on the
other hand has the army been at fault
in this matter.
1t was at first, as is now, well known
proposed to throw a small force of men,
about 10000, into Cuba Immediately and
allow the remainder of the army. Of occu-
patton to wait until next fan before going
over. There were various reasons for
abandoning this plan, such as the discov-
cry Of the insufficient support that could
be rendered the first army by the insurg-
ents; the fact that was brought out with
appalling force that 10 delay the campaign
meant the absolute determination Of the
starving reconcentrados, and there We're
besides international reasons for making
haste. These considerations caused a COM
plete change in the army plans and that
involved delay. TO equip an army Of 100-
600 men In thirty days and put them in
condition TO fight trained veteran soldiers
on their own soil was no small undertake
ing so that in the opinion OF some of the
highest officers of the administration there
is no reasonable ground for passing the
criticism that there is or has been, undue |
delay in beginning the military campaign !
either on the part Of the army or navy.
Reports were current to-day that an |
army OF invasion was about 20 start for |
Cuba and Porto Rico. 1t was based oh
the conjecture which has been current Of |
late, but officials IN authority gave Il no |
as II was manlfestly contrary |
CONTINUED 2n Sixth PageJ