Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-30

army of 5000 men. inue'u' We "''''V'
,hov arc ready TO pledge @'WV but the
~outborities al Washington would be well
so,,ssed with 25.0co. And these we should
ro,.o 90 furnish with better rifles than
~, have now. and we should also have
90 sunnlv their deficiency In artillery.
Thcy are said 10 be In sad need OF nell
and Siege guns. and %gunners az we'll
WIN a good port available and our
shins in its harbor: with a Cuban force
Of ., 800 at hand ready to serve us In
land and with Habana closely block
AIDED our operations in cuba could be-
said TO be I'm good condition. And later
on. we should be able to pour into Cuba
as many volunteers as could be used TO
advantage there.
II the regulars should be the first
,roops sent to Cuba. a large number Of
volunteers would be required 10 take
their places and man the various forts
along our coast, while all the other
volunteers could BIZ modified in the
South, so as to become gradually accli-
mated for duty in Cuba, should their
presence there be required.
The present prospects are that the first
great conflict will take place In the
Philippine isles. Our feet is there, or near
" there. by this time, and any hour we
may hear that IA battle has been fought.
The odds are supposed to be all in our
favor. If results should support that
theory, and our ships should be crown
ed with victory. Manila will be ours, II
with II a number of Spanish gunboats.
Then, after providing for the maintenance
Of order at that place. our ships could
join the Atlantic squadron before Ha-
bana-provided they should not be pre-
vented from so doing by the Spanish
feet. which has left Cape Verde for some
quarter TO us now unknown. So far. the
Spaniards have kept their ships well out
Of our way; but it may be we shall
hear from them soon.
70 sun up-we should say unless Spain
has a fleet which can break our block
ade of Habana, that city will be starved
into a surrender before many weeks nave
past. But, meanwhile, if the landing or
American troops in Cuba Is intended.
regulars will probably comprise the main
body of our army formed for that pur-
pose. If the Cubans should fail 10 fur
nish us with the troops they promise,
then our volunteers would have TO be
hurried over in great numbers TO rein
force the regulars.
We have the men right at hand,
aad it would be folly not to use them,
so soon as We may safely do so, having
in view the climate of Cuba and the I'M
portant fact that thousands OF our Voluh-
teers are not only unacclimated to not
southern suns, out are unused to any
sort Of open-air life. The rainy season
begins on the island in May or June, and
ends in November, when the cold or
dry" season commences. The most ram
falls in September and October. In the
eastern department it halls frequently
between February and July.
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Sun, who has proved himself
TO be a well-informed nan on Cuban al
fairs, says:
"The invading force will leave the
southern coast Of Florida, perhaps Tam
pa. I'm about a week. The landing force
will consist of 5000 men-infantry, artil-
lerv. and cavalry-and they will carry q
large supply Of rifles, cartridges, ana
general munitions OF war for the troops
of Gomez and Garcia.
'In case the first expedition to cuba
shall encounter Spanish opposition, pre-
cipitating a general campaign in the IS
land, the government will not hesitate
to send a large force of regular and vol
unteer troops Immediately. With this
contingency in mind. the administration
is considering the ACCESSIBILITY OF enlist
ing several regiments of volunteers IN
the Southern States, composed of men
who have had yeilow-fever within the
wear or two, and who are, therefore,,
immune from the disease.
such troops would be especially Wen
fitted to endure a hard campaign III CUBA
during the rainy season.
"The first great purpose of the move
ment is to provide the Cuban army with
means TO fight Spain. The second object.
though the two PLAYS may not be carried
out in this order, is the humane project
of relieving the suffering among the Gu
ban inhabitants. who are shut up In
towns and obliged to starve by the edict
of the Spanish authorities. The firm es-
adjustment of a seat of government TOT
cuba under the new rule, which is eX-
pected to obtain henceforth in the is
land, is a matter which will be worked
out. it is believed, in due time.
There are many who believe that the
demonstration at Matanzas and the I'M
which the administration has
to go forth that that town is to
be made the landing place of a large
force with valuable arms and stores for
the Cubans is a clever strategic action
the part Of this government. Ii is by
no means certain hat Matanzas will be
the location of the proposed base, and
1t is undoubtedly the policy of the gov
rnmen to keep pain guessing to the
last moment in regard to the plans of
the army and navy"