The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-24
No TILE NEAR.
Washington Authorities Ex-
pect Nothing in the
Near Future.
THE POLICY OF DAWDLING
General Miles Defends the
Method of Going Slow in
Invading Cuba.
CERvERA is 4 PUzzLER.
Many People. Think the
Spanish Admiral Has
Sailed for Home.
NO CALL FOR TROOPS NOW
Alger Denies a Yellow Paper
Fake--woIseley on the Cam
paign--Spain Brace
ing Up.
NO CALL FOR TROOPS NOW

WASHINGTON. May "a. 1seS.-After the
Cabinet meeting today it was stated that
no news of any Importance had been re-
ceived from any quarter. The rumor cur
rent in London that the American and
Spanish fleets had come together and that
the Spaniards had been destroyed is not
credited by members of the Cabinet, who
apparently have no reason to expect an
early engagement.
The fact however, that the Govern
ment has no knowledge of present
whereabouts of Admiral Cervera.s fleet
feayes the question of The time when the
SpaMard may be overhauled a matter of
doubt. News is eagerly awaited, and some
irritation is expressed that some one of
the comparatively large number of swift
scouts which we have in the Southern
waters has not been able to locate the
enemy and so bring about collision be-
tween the fleets.
Bids were opened today for supplying
the ar1nor for the three batteships IL
linois, Alabama and Wisconsin now in
course of construction at the Union Iron
Works, Newport News and Cramps. This
is the second time that the Government
has endeavored to secure bids for sup
plying the armcrl for these ships The
first effort made about a year ago, was
unsuccessful because Congress had made
the minimum cost per ton for the armor
at figure below the cost of produc-
ton.
The present naval appropriation bill
having increased the price allowed to $400
per ton, today's efforts was successful.
For the Illinois the two armor companies,
Bethlehem and Carnegie, divided their
bids. one taking the lighter armor and
the other theheavier. For the Alabama
the Bethlehem company bid s1,022, ,504,
while the Carnegie company did not bid.
For the Wisconsin the Carnegie Conn
pany bid sl623, ,504. The rate in each case
was s400 per ton fiat for belts and armor
the maximum amount allowed by Con-
gress The Bethlehem Company under
takes to begin deliveries of the armor
within seven months after contract and
to supply 300 tons monthly. The Carnegie
Company will begin December next and
supply the same amount monthly.
Unless the improbable happens, there
is no immediate prospect of naval en-
gagement of any magnitude, in the opin-
ion of the Navy Department officials The
unanimity with which the best Informed
express the views almost warrants the
conclusion that it is based upon knowl-
edge that the hostile fleets are again far
apart Indeed, there is no certainty that
Admiral Cervera is not already bound
homeward providing he has succeeded in
securing a supply of coal.
There are signs in Madrid that have
been noted here seeming to warrant the
supposition that there has been a COM
plete change in the Spanish plan of con-
ducting the war Indications are believ-
ed to point to a relaxation If not a total
abandonment of the efforts to conduct
the campaign in Cuba and the West In
dian waters.
The natural consequences, if this prem
ise is well founded. would be that the
Spaniards are going to concentrate their
entire energy to the defence of the
Philippines with the view to retaining
them in the event peace is forced upon
them, by virtue of the principal Of inter-
national law which limits victorious
nation in indemnifying herself from the
vanauished to the territory she actually
occupies when pease is declared.
Before the Cabinet meeting this morn
ing Secretary Alger was asked the direct
question as to whether the Government
was about to issue another call for troops.
He replied promptly that so far as he
was concerned he had not considered the
matter.
In view of the fact that all the neces-
sary equipment has not been secured for
the first levy of troops it is believed that
no consideration will be given to the td-
visibility of another call at this time.
1t is of course APPARENT, however, that
inasmuch as the number of troops re-
ouired for the Philippines is far in ex-
cess Of any demand that was foreseen
when the original call was issued, there
may later on develop necessity for
more.
with regard to the invasion Of Cuba, :
said Major General Miles, at the War
Department today, T have nothing to
say except that the United States will in
due time bring Cuba under its control, by
jutiicious methods and without useless
waste Of life. The United States IS too
great, TOO strong and too powerful to
commit any foolish act IN connection with
the proposed invasion.
..As for myself, ! have only e say that