The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-17
A DULL DAY

Among the Government o nlciais at Wash.
incton-As Contemplated Movement OF
Troops-Gen. Miles to Confer with tho
President md Secretary Aig-r.
WASHINGTON. D. G., June 16.-In
the'way Of actual events there was 1T
tie to record to-day;no word came from
Sampson at Santiago or. from Dewey. at
Manila. This absence OF affirmative
news from. the respective seats OF war
gave rise to no apprehension. The Noifi-,
cials are resting secure In the belief
that the marines at Guantanamo can
easily maintain themselves until the
troops arrive and the worst that can be
feared at Manila Is not harm to Dewey
but to the Spaniards In the city. The
officials OF the war department do not
care to give out any specific Informa-
tion as to when General Shafter with
his troops will land In Cuba, but from
certain signs Of restlessness exhibited
By them. 1t is evident that they would
not be surprised to have some very i'm
portant news within the next twenty
four hours or thirty-si1 hours.
The naval officials are confident
Sampson will have established cable
connection within that time SO that
news OF the arrival OF the American
troop transports of Santiago should not
be longer delayed than the time requir-
ed for dispatch boat to make the run
OF forty miles eastward along the coast
to the shores of Guantanamo harbor,
where the cable will be working under
the protection OF Colonel HuntIngtons
marines. .i5, s55 J
There was nm exhibition OF feverlsh
activity at the war department to-day,
so pronounced as to attract attention
even in these stirring times. It was
apparent that renewed efforts were
making to complete the equipment OF
the troops already gathered at the con-,
centratlng points 5and that prepara-l
tlons are In progress to move a num-,
ber Of troops. So far, however, It Is
stated that no orders have gone out for
the actual movement and what has
been and is being done in that direc-
tion' is merely preparatory.
Very likely definite action will follow
conference which Secretary Alger
and the President will have with Gen.
eral Miles when he arrives here to-
IlOIiOW ue cultural lS
better aware OF the exact state. OF flt-
ness OF the troops at the southern rem
devious points than any one else here,
and Secretary Alger in all probability
will be bound by what he has to say In
troops. If General Miles, as is thought
to be probable, recommends further
concentration of troops on the southern
seahoard, the new camp at Fernandina,
Fla, will be made ready for the recep-
tlon OF the additional troops. The off,
clals have been forehanded as to this
camp, profiting by the experience gain.
ed In the establishment OF the two
great camps at Chickomauga and Camp
AlGer.
The President has not yet decided
what measure OF reward shall be meted
out to Hobson for his brave achieve
ment. The men he led have been taken
care OF; Secretary Long attended to
that himself. because II was a matter
entirely within his authority, and they
have been made warrant officers, the
ideal OF sailors ambition. Hobson Is
to be advanced, that Is settled. The
department called upon Sampson for. q
recommendation in this case, but in nd
vance OF its arrival had about decided
to advance Hobson ten numbersJ which
would have placed him Just below Con-
structor Linnard. when, n doubt arose
as to whether the young man would not
prefer transfer to the line. His rela-
t!vcs were consulted, among them his
uncle, Representative Pearson. OF North
Carolina, and 1t was decided to allow
Hobson to make his choice as between
the line and staff. Steps accordingly
have been taken TO ncqualnt him with
the departments purpose and ask his
pleasure In the matter.
The navy department has sent the
battleship Massachusetts, o complete
new breech mechanism for one OF the
big thIrtcen-inch guns of that ship. This
was due to report reaching the de-
partmcnt about week ago that the
breech Of one OF the guns was out OF or
der. The new mechanism will be dellv-
cred in day or two and can be readily
substituted for the old breech. The
condition OF this thlrteen-inch gun gave
rise to rumors to-day that tho Massa-
chusetts had suffered rather severely
during the first action of Santiago and
that two Of the big guns were disabled
and gunner killed. There was no ba-
sis for the rumor beyond the disordered
breech mechanism referred to-