Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-20
General Miles Has Long Conference
With Secretary Long.
PROBABLY REFERRING TO CONVOYS
Advocates Of Delaying the Expedi-
ton to Fall.
THE ARGUMENTS EMPLOY ED.

Creuetdl IulieS Hdd diiotHci AoiiS SpiiSN-Ne-
ton this morning with Secretary Long,
and these repeated meetings are construed
to mean that point has been reached in
the campaign where the army finds it nee
essary to call upon the navy for conveys
to take troops to Cuba. 1t is realized that
this work is extra hazardous at present.
Conveys are always exposed to destruction
at the hands of a determined enemy, and
with squadron of fleet Spanish cruisers
and torpedo gunboats of great speed lying
in wait somewhere near Cuba nothing but
the most formidable convoy, such would
be afforded by nearly all CT SaEnpson's and
Schleys ironclads, save the monitors.
would suffice to give full protection against
attack There are indications that the Gu
ban military expedition will make its real
start from Key West, unless the atmC-
sphere clears through the destruction or
disappearance from Cuban waters of the
Spanish fleet.
If the start is made from Port Tampa,
the ships. with their heavy loads of troops
and stores, will be exposed to attack al
most thirty hours, not to allow for the pos
sibility of spending much additional time
off the Cuban coast, waiting for oppor-
tunity to land. On the other hand, if the
start is made from Key West the final
stage of the journey will be reduced to the
daylight hours of one day at the most, thus
reducing to minimum the danger of at
tack upon the transports.
The Navy Department is congratulating
itself on the fact that recent experience has
shown that its stock of ammunition is not
materially depleted by the series of boms'
bardalents at San Juan, Cienfuegos, Carde-
mas and other points. Owing to the great
r1,oll
supply of powder, shot and shell might
not prove equal to any pressing demand
made upon 1t. 1t develops, however, that
the capacity of the factories furnishing pow
der and shells has not only kept abreast of
the recent demand, but has far exceeded 1t.
1t has shown, too, that the supply could
make up the demand caused by fast and
furious fighting for many days. 1t is said
that 1900 shells were thrown at Cienfuegos.
which would appear to make big hole in
the supply Of ammunition. This is fortu-
nately offset, however, by the fact that the
Navy Department Is receiving more than
5000 shells day. Accidents which have
occurred to powder factories at California
and Delaware have not touched those por-
ticns of the factories engaged in supplying
powder for the navy. The only possible
fear Of short ammunition is in the small
balls called Chicken feed" When the ma
chine guns grind out hundreds Of these
small balls against the Notifications 1t
makes rapid inroads upon the stock. Thus
far, however, there has been ample to sup
ply the machine and rapid-fre guns. and
only prolonged fighting could make any Sc
rious inroad on thu stock
Want the Invasion Delayed.
number Of prominent men are reiter-
ating ths old arguments in favor Of a post
ponement Of the invasion of Cuba until
fall. 1t is not known how much of this
argument has reached the President, but
during the last few days some of the men
favorable to a postponement have been at
the White House. They are also visitors
to the War Department. At the latter
place they give their views more freely
than at the White House.
The President Is always open to sug-
gestions made to him any subject by
his friends and advisers, but 1t is doubtful
whether the arguments for delay have
reached him with sufficient fcrce to cause
serious consideration.
They may be made with more force later
on. In fact, appearances are that the cam
paign for a postponement is just beginning
and will grow warmer with the weather
and with tho near approach Of the rainy
season in Cuba.
1t is claimed that General Miles stands
heartily with those who now favor a post
ponement.
The old arguments against an early cam
paign are being used. These are the great
dangers to American troops from disease
and the possibility that soldiers will be un-
able to operate In the seggy soil. It IL
claimed that cavalry win be absolutely use
less, viii heavy artillery pieces.
1t Is probable that the advocates of de-
hay will not lose much time in presenting
their arguments. in view of the present de-
termination of the administration to begin
the invasion almost Immediately.