The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-06-02
Military Expedition soon.

Washington, May 2S. - Secretary
Long said at the close of Office hours
yesterday that no word had come
from any of the scouting vessels, so
numerous in West Indian waters, con-
corning the Spanish flying squadron,
wherefore he concluded that Cervera
was still in Santiago harbOr. Sup
pOsedly Schley is lying outside waiting
TO prevent the egress of the Spanish
vessels but, while there is evidence of
a certain kind on that fact, there has
been no official confirmation of it.
This is little remarkable in view OF
the fact that it is only a days run for
| one of Schley'S swift torpedo boats
from Santiago to n cable port in Haiti.
There is also curious lack of infor-
nation from newspaper dispatch boats
on this point. IT was supposed that
| the cenSors might have eXcised from
| the dispatches of the newspaper men
| any reference TO the fleets, but this
would apply, according 10 statements
of navy department officials here, only
| to that part of the dispatches that
| might relate to the movements and
whereabouts of the United States
| forces, and the censors' rules would
| not exclude reference to the Spanish
squadron. Notwithstanding the Of
| ficialS' mistaken confidence in their
original belief that the Spanish squad
ron
| Is Securely Bottled
UP in Santiago harbor, there is no con-
| ccalment 10y them of an intense desire
to secure some absolutely trustworthy
information en- that point. 1t is not TO
be doubted that with the question still
| open. the beginning of the military
operatO is retarded, for so long as
| there exists a possibility of the Span
| iSh naval force being at large there is
an indispOsitiOn to start the troops
| transports for Cuba. Probably 1t was
| this uncertain state of affairs that in
| duScd the president TO call cOnSulta-
ton ut the White House between Sec
rctarieS Alger and Long and Gen
| Miles and the members of the nava!
| board. Admiral Sicard, Capt. CroWnln-
| shield and Capt. Mahan. As stated by
one of the members of the conference,
the purpose was to 60 over the whole
situation from the Philippines to Cuba
and Puerto Rico. and decide just how
far the plans already laid should be
modified TO meet existing conditions.
| This involved discussion of such inn
portant points as the propriety of the
immediate advance of the military
| forces upon Cuba; the crcdibility or
the adviceS so far had touching the To-
| cation of the Spanish squadron; the
| policy of preceding
The Cuban Expedition,
| or accompanying it. with one directed
against Puerto Rico. and, finally, the
| extent of the military assistance 10 be
sent to ADMIRAL Dewey at Manila. AS
already indicated, the proceedings
! were rather in the nature OF con
| sultatiOn than of a war council, where
| n full discussion Is demanded at once.
so il is not probable all of these I'M
portant questions were disposed OF at
| the council None of the mcmt@rS or
| the council felt authorized 10 tell what
| had taken place. but there are thought
| to be patent indications of decision 10
| embark a military expedition in the
| course of the next few days, whether
| for Cuba or Puerto Rico can only De
| onjectured. There was lack or
| news from Admiral Dewey, and this
convinced the naval authorities that
there could be little credence placed In
the Madrid report Of an accident to the
baltimore. In the rush OF military
preparatiOns the war department OF.
ficIals have not been able to give much
attention to the regulations for the
procurement Of the 75,OOO.OOO addi-
tional volunteers called TOT py the