The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-11

washington, May l0.-lt is hard to
tell whether the naval officers are re-
lieved or disappointed by the news that
came late this afternoon to both the
navy and state department to the ef-
feet that the Spanish flying squadron
had arrived at Cadiz. Spain. The
safety of the Oregon from attack is
now completely assured. and the way
is clear for military operations I'm
Cuba without running the risk of hav-
ing the occupying army line of COM
munication cut off. On the other hand,
it is believed that no enduring peace
has been destroyed. and 1t now appears
that to do this our sailors must make
up their minds to go after the Spanish.
a task very much more difftcult than
that of meeting them near our own
shores. 1t is suggested by some of the
members of the war board that there
was just a possibility that the Spanish
squadron might take a quick passage
into the Pacific through the Suez ca
nal and attack Dewey at Manila. IT
In so3ortha contrary to the common
understanding the Suez canal Is open
to warships Of beIligerent powers. so
that IL the Spanish choose to take this
course they would have a long start OF
any pursuing fleet from our side OF the
Atlantic.
II is scarcely believed. however. that
the Spanish are willing to take the
great risk of exposing to our attack
their own home ports by the withdrawal
of so considerable a proportion of their
naval strength as would be required to
overmatch Dewey.
Nothing was heard from Sampson
tation that interesting news Will be
coming from his squadron within the
next "a hours. Whether this means an
attack on Porto Rico or not cannot be
learned.
One effect of the retreat of the Span
ish fleet has been to hasten even more
the preparations already under fun
headway for the dispatching OF mill
tary expeditions to Cuba. 1t also has
caused a complete change in the con-
centration plans. Time Is now believed
to be the great factor. There Is no
longer opportunity to indulge in exten-
sive drilling and practice maneuvering:
The regular army troops do not need
these, and are to be thrown at once
into the fray.
Many of the regiments of the nation
al guard which are entering the volun-
teer service are felt to be sufficiently
trained from a military point OF view
the department indicated its purpose to-
day Of dispatching these volunteer
troops directly to the ..ulf coast for
shipment instead Of sending them to
Chickamauga. This disposition was
shown by the changes in the new orders
issued to the troops. although there
may yet be a return 10 the original
programme Of concentration, as the
plans show sign of weakness as they
develop. The quartermaster general
has already gotten under charter "a
merchant steamers for the transporta-
ton Of troops. and, roughly speaking,
these should carry about 10000 men.
Others are being procured as rapidly
as possible.
The plan of the war department Is
to have these vessels assemble at the
different gulf ports. Tampa. Mobile.
New Orleans and Galveston. to take on
troops which will be sent there. The
navy department Is expected to furn-
ish a convoy for the transports, which
would be absolutely helpless against
Spanish attacks. At this point there are
signs Of friction. First, the transports
will be obliged to await Admiral Samp-
sons return in order to secure proper
! conveys. and second. the navy objects
very decidedly to undertaking the task
| OF conveying a number OF transports.
1t insists that to assure the safe con-
voy Of the troops all the transports
! should be gathered in one feet to start
| from Tampa. and the navy is likely to
prevail i'm this.
Major General Sewell has been as
| signed to command the concentration
camp at Falls Church. Preparations
i are being rushed to put the grounds
there into shape for the reception of the
volunteers.