The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-23


world to suspend commercial intercourse
with the Cuban communities and it is no
tice to the Spanish army on the island that
communication with the mother country
has been suspended. There are in the
neighborhood of sixty Spanish gunboats
and small craft of Spanish ownership in
Cuban and Porto Ricsn waters under direc-
tion of the Spanish naval authorities, be-
sides the old battle ship Alfonso XII and
two serviceable arnored cruisers of about
$500 tons displacement each. 1t would be
strange if collision between some of these
boats and the United States feet did not
occur within the next twenty-four hours.
The blockade along the northern coast ex-
tends for distance of about 125 miles, with
Havana nearly in the middle. Only one
port is named specifically on the south coast
as being under blockade, namely. Cienfue-
gos. This city is located about 125 miles
southeast of Havana, and is the richest
community on the island. 1t is the Boston
of Cuba, and is a strongly Spanish place
The province around about Cienfuegos is
very rich. and is populated almost entirely
by loyal Spanish subjects The revolution
has never been able to gain foothold
there.
AS before stated in these dispatches it
is the purpose of this government to estab-
lish at Matanzas base of relief and mill
tary supplies. Communication will be
opened there with the insurgents, and arms
and ammunition for their use will be for
warded Immediately.
The President was expected to issue his
call for 100 900 volunteers this afternoon. He
had the paper prepared at the War Depart
ment but the amendments to the original
House necessitated many changes in the
phraseology, and the issuing of the call was
therefore, postponed until tomorrow The
civilian sodiery, who are expecting to go
to the front to the number of 100000 will be
interested to know that if General Miles
carries out his plans, as outlined this after
noon, the officers of the regular army will
have the first call on the choice positions
leaving for the outsiders only such places
as cannot be filled by the regulars. On
basis Of 100000 the new law will provide for
twelve to fourteen major generals and be-
tween thirty and thirty-five brigadier gen.
erals. 1t is General Miles's intention to
promote the six brigadier generals of the
regular army as it is at present constituted
the roster of the regular army This will
leave probably four major generals to be
appointed from the civilian soldiery. Twen-
ty-five regular army colonels are to be pro-
NOTED to brigadier generals, leaving a beg
carly eight or ten positions of that rank
to be filled from the volunteer forces All
the regimental officers of the volunteers will
be appointed by Governors of States.
The plan of campaign for the army is still
somewhat indefinite, and is subject to i'm
portant changes. The land forces cannot
be in readiness for active operations within
two or three weeks at the shortest, and by
that time naval operations may put an en-
tirely new complexion the war, thereby
necessitating an entirely new reconstruction
of the half-formed plans under discussion at
the War Department 1t has not yet been
definitely decided whether to try to make
quick, sharp work of the war by prompt
invasion, or to let the navy and the Cuban
insurgents bear the brunt of the fighting
until the end of the approaching
rainy season. By the time the 125, 900
men composing the regular and volun-
teer troops are concentrated and ready for
action sufficient progress will have been
made to enable the President and his mill
t&ry advisers TO know what policy should be
pursued. =
Wall street started wild rumor early in
the day that Spain had ceded Cuba to Aus
tria and formed an alliance with that coun-
try, whereby the armies and navies of the
two nations would combine against the
United States. Doubtless Spain would be
very glad to cede Cuba to any country with
which she could form. such an alliance, but
it is impossible to believe that any Euro
pean nation is so eagar for war as to ac-
cept SO dubious an asset The report never
theless gained wide circulation and caused
considerable uneasiness in governmental
circles for time. 1t gave rise to all sorts
of statesmanlike arguments showing the APP
plication of the Monroe doctrine to such a
situation. $*
The Post this morning printed a very sig
nificant editorial demanding the resignation
of Secretary Sherman, and bluntly stating
that the step is necessary in this emergency
and that the aged secretary of state has
outlived his usefulness.
General Carnahan, of Indianapolis and
Brig. Gen. William Mckee are being vigor-
ously pressed for appointment as major
generals. General Carnahan has been in
the field for appointment ever since the
Maine explosion. He has the backing of
$4,000 Knights of Pythias His claims have
been strongly presented to Secretary of War
Ager, and he is being induentially urged.
General Mckee has primarily the indorse-
ment of the state militia of Indiana.
Mr.. Roscoe Q. Hawkins, of indianapolis,
is spending a day or two in this city. He
escorted Mrs. Senator Fairbanks from In
dianapolis to the national capital He will:
go to New York from here before returning
home.
The memorial signed by Governor Mount
and large number of prominent citizens of
Indiana asking the President to make his
first call for 100000 volunteers, was laid be-
for a. -.