Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-02

washington, May rs. - Secretary
Long said Mt the close of office hours
yesterday that no word had come
from any of the scouting vessels, 50
numerous in West Indian waters, con-
corning the Spanish flying squadron
wherefore he concluded that Cervera
was still in Santiago harbor. Sup
posedly Schley is lying outside waiting
to prevent the egress of the Spanish
vessels, but, while there is evidence of
certain kind on that fact. there has
been no official confirmation of it.
This is little remarkable in view of
the fact that it is only days run for
one Of Schley's swift torpedo boats
from Santiago to a cable port in Haiti.
There is also curious lack of infor-
nation from newspaper dispatch boats
on this point. 1t was supposed that
the censors might have excised from
any reference to the fleets, but this
would apply, according to statements
Of navy department officials here, only
to that part of the dispatches that
might relate to the movements and
whereabouts Of the United States
forces, and the censors' rules would
not exclude reference to the Spanish
squadron. Notwithstanding the Of
fcials' mistaken confidence in their
original belief that the Spanish squad
ron
Is Securely Bottled
up in Santiago harbOr, there is no con-
cealment by them of an intense desire
to secure some absolutely trustworthy
information on that point. 1t is not to
be doubted that with the question still
open. the beginning of the military
operations is retarded, for so long as
there exists possibility of the Span
ish naval force being at large there is
an indisposition to start the troops
transports for Cuba. Probably it was
this uncertain state of affairs that in
dused the president to call consulta-
ton ut the White House between Sec
retaries Alger and Long and Gen.
Miles and the members Of the naval
board, Admiral Sicard, Capt. Crownin-
shield and Capt. Mahan. AS stated by
one of the members Of the conference,
the purpose was to go over the whole
situation, from the Philippines to Cuba
and Puerto Rico, and decide just how
far the plans already laid should be
This involved q discussion of such i'm
portant points as the propriety of the
immediate advance Of the military
forces upon Cuba; the credibility of
the advices so far had touching the To-
cation of the Spanish squadron; the
policy of preceding
The Cuban Expedition,
or accompanying it, with one directed
against Puerto Rico, and, finally, the
extent of the military assistance to be
sent to Admiral Dewey at Manila. AS
already indicated, the proceedings
were rather in the nature of con-
sultation than of war council, where
q full discussion is demanded at once,
so it is not probable all Of these i'm
portant questions were disposed of at
the council. None Of the members OF
the council felt authorized to tell what
had taken place, but there are thought
to he patent indications Of a decision to
embark a military expedition in the
course of the next few days, whether
for Cuba or Puerto Rico can only be
conjectured. There was lack Of
news from Admiral Dewey, and this
convinced the naval authorities that
there could be little credence placed In
the Madrid report Of an accident to the
Baltimore. In the rush of military
preparations the war department Of
ticials have not been able to give much
attention to the regulations for the
procurement Of the 100000 addl-
tional volunteers called for by the