The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-10
Spends Five Hours Discussing
the Situation.
OFFICERS ARE EXAMINED
A Simultaneous Movement VIII BE
Made Against the Colonies of
Spain-The Peninsula May Itself
De Visited by Oar Warships and
Cities Bonn bartied.

from noon until after 5 o'clock. when
nearly everybody else had left the Navy
Department. 1t was an executive session
and the utmost secrecy was maintained
as to the nature of the plans decided on.
They were war plans, however and they
were plans for immediate action. plans
dealing with early days next week. The
meeting may very properly be spoken of
as the most important yet held.
The full board was present and there
were before it number of Army and
Navy officers to whom special work has
been given. and to whom the board has
referred for advice. The meeting was in
the room next to that of Secretary Roose-
welt. Rear Admiral Walker, retired; Lieut..
Commander Wainwright and Capt. Good
rich. the president of the War College.
called in, among others.
Plans are Empirical.
There have been so many guesses at the
moves to be made by the Army and Navy
next week when the message of the Pres
ident has been acted on by Congress that
if the detailed plans could be given they
would have no weight in particular
among the mass of suppositions. And
more than that. it is very probable that
by the time action is at hand the plans
Of this week may have to be modified ma
teriaIly. Advance plans of war boards
must be to a certain extent empirical
and are very likely to be disarranged by
the very different ideas of the enemy.
There are few of the newspaper men
who have had hints and suggestions as
TO general steps under consideration, but
they have been given with the under
standing that they are to be treated as
confidential, and used, If at all, only as
guides as to what viii not happen.
Simultaneous Movement.
There are some matters, however, that
may be given publicity without hurting
plans or helping the enemy. Already it
has been decided that simultaneous
movement will be made on Havana, Porto
Rico and the Philippines. A part of the
Key West fleet, If not the entire force,
win make demonstration off Havana i'm
mediately.
1t is sincerely hoped by the Administra-
ton that this will be sufficient, and than
before any guns have been fired WORD
will come from Spain that the victory
is won and Cuba is free. The War Board
has not depended on this happy solution,
| however. Havana will be bonlbarded, if
necessary, and the feet viii prevent sup
plies from getting into the island.
An army will also be landed on the
island, If necessary, 10 cooperate with
the insurgents. This will take Havana
from the rear.
Porto Rico will be taken by a portion
of the Key West fleet, also, it is said.
The Pacific squadron will not attempt to
take the Philippines. 1t will make an
active demonstration and stop communI-
cation with the outside world.
An Attack on Spain Discussed.
| 1t has not yet been decided that any
| immediate move will be made against
| Spain herself. Later. if there is any sec
| ond chapter TO the war a fleet may be
! sent to shell Cadiz and Barcelona. But
| the War Board does not expect any such
| trouble in convincing Spain that the
United States is right in its belief that
Cuba should have the independence it has
| gained.
| The flying squadron is to guard the
| American coast, with the help OF the
Notifications and the harbor mines and
| the torepdo defenses.
1t Is in this part of the program that
| much latitude must be given TO provide
against the moves of Spain. There are
members of the board that believe a
| strong demonstrations will be made by the
| combined fleets of Spain against the coast
| cities. They interpret the moves of the
| various branches of the Spanish navy tc
! mean this. Havana has been deserted
! by the two most formidable vessels thai
were in its harbor as if there were ne
| intention of making any strong effort Il
| hide it. The two formidable fleets on tn,
| other side OF the Atlantic-one at Cadi;
and one at the Verde Islands-arc neal
to each other and could combine quickly
Accompanied by coal barges, the entlr
fleet might then make most eff
fective attack on several of the weake
American coast cities. especially If it wer,
fortunate enought to get across withou
running into either of the American fleets
For this plan time is not material. Tn
fleet might take a week or a month. Ha
| vana would be taken, and the Unite,
States would have nothing to do but walt
1t might wait and then not prevent Sc
rious damage being done before it coul
arrive at the scene of attack.
Sentiment of the Hoard.
1t IS asserted that some members of til
T war board at least were in favor of prt
venting the sailing of the Vizcaya an
the Oquendo from Havana last week rea
izing that every move in the direction ,
a combination of the Spanish naval fore
! is a serious menace 10 this country
} is also believed by some of the naval off
, GERS for the same reason that the Unite
States should have recognized a state
war two weeks ago if not on the da
} the Maine was blown up.
1t is understood that the signal sta
tons along the coast will many of the
be guarded by the national guard II
cruits to the volunteer army and IL
naval reserves. The plans for the sign
stations We're discussed fully at the NEE
ing yesterday. Captain Goodrich Ia
been making arrangements for a con
plete system of Geographic communic'
lions between them. He detailed them
the board. The President has appo
1