The Portland daily press., 1898-05-21
THE oLAmon FOR MOVING ON CUBA.

THE CLAMOR FOR MOVING ON CUBA.
| The announcement that the army will
not be in suitable condition for an aggres.
| siye movement for some time to come
ought TO occasion no surprise When
this war opened we had about 20, 900 regu-
lar troops scattered all over the country
This was the extent of our army. II
was totally inadequate for the invasion OF
Cuba. At least an army of a hundred
and fifty thousand men would be needed,
and the task was therefore before us OF
enlisting, equipping, drilling. providing
with tents and camp equipage and the
thousand and one things an army enter.
ing on an aggressive campaign in the
field finds Indispensable over a hun
dred Thousand soldiers. That this
gigantic task has not been accomplished
in a month ought to surprise no one.
Unfortunately however, the ELUSIVE
speeches of our belligerent congressman
had fooled considerable part of the pub
lie into believing that the moment war
was declared an invincible army would
suddenly spring up, all armed and
equipped, and ready to invade Cuba. So
completely were many people cheated by the
f1orid eloquence of the congress ional war
riors that there was something like a gen.
eral expectation that we should be in
HAVANA in the course of ten days and the
war practically be over And not only were
they deceived in regard to the difficulties of
raising an army and putting it in fighting
condition. but they wore deceived also in
regard to the obstacles to be met and
overcome in Cuba. The notion had been
SO assiduously and successfully cultivated
that the Spanish troops in Cuba were
good for nothing, that they would not
fight against our troops, that they were
on the verge of revolt, and much of the
same kind, that there had grown up a
wide spread belief that the entertainments
of Havana were likely to fall down upon
our approach much as the walls of Jericho
collapsed at the sounding of the trumpets.
These ideas have now disappeared from
the minds of most people, and it is gener-
equipping an army and putting in q con,
dition to fight is complicated and severe
one, requiring much time and patience.
The gravity of the work before US in
Cuba is also beginning to be comprehend
ed. Hence thoughtful people are not
complaining because Cuba has not YET
been invaded.
There is, however, without doubt, a good
deal of olamor about the President S ears
for an immediate movr on Cuba. Ut comes
largely from the lingo statesmen who did
their level best to bring on the war, and
to accomplish their purpose. These peo-
pie, finding themselves thoroughly dis
credited, are now seeking for a hole to
crawl out of. They are 1aboring to
make 1t appear that the reason why their
predictions as to the length of the war are
not to be fulfilled, is that the administra-
ton has not prosecuted it with vigor.
That is really. the significance of the
clamor for an immediate advance on
Cuba. 1t will do no harm unless it Is
needed. But if it proves effective enough
to bring about the sending of troops to
Cuba before they are in proper condition
it may do great deal. The advance into
Virginia at the beginning of the civil
war which ended in the disastrous defeat
at Bull Run was brought about by just
snch clamor as is Eow seeking 10 hurry
the Invasion of Cuba. Soldiers of expert
ence were opposed to SO early movement
knowing that our troops were raw and
undisciplined and tn erefore liable to be
thrown into panic. But the ION to
Richmond" crowd triumphed and the
disastrous defeat at Bull Run followed.
A premature movement on Havana il
likely to have the same kind of an ending
We believe In prosecuting the war with
vigor, and making it short, sharp and
decisive But rashness is not vigor,
and the performance Of a task is
never shortened ny beginning it half pre-
pared. The men who should be consulted
in regard to the invasion of Cuba, and
whose opinion should control are the
officers of the army who comprehend Its
difficulties and appreciate the obstacles
that are to be met and overcome. Civil
ians ought not to be permitted to inter-
fere. If they are the chances are that we
shall meet with serious disaster.