The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-11
The Way is Now Clear For the Invasion Of Cuba by
the United States ForcesTime Will Be Great
Factor Unnecessary Maneuvering Will Not be In
dMgsd in by the Army Confession Of Impotence
By the Spanish Ministry Martial Law at Barcelona

Washington. May ll.--It 10 hard 70 tell
whether the naval sff1oials were relieved
or disappoiritea w the news that the
spaaish fiyins squadron haa arrived at
Cadis. Spain. The safety ef the Oregon
from attack n now eennlstsly assured,
and the vay 10 sisaf fer sanitary sDsra-
items In Cuba without runnins she risk
sf having sAs eceupyins assnys lime OF
tcsmMunicatson cus on. On the other
hand II n tslievel that Ne snduring
peace can ~ secured until the Spanish
navy has been destroyed. and 1t now
appears that 10 10 this eur sailors must
make up their minds to 60 after the
spaniNr6s. . task very much more dif-
ficuit than that Of meeting them near our
own shores.
II was susgestsd BY some OF the menu
bers Of the war beard that there was
tust possibility that the Spanish squad
ron might make = ~uick passage Into
the Pacific through the Suez canal rad
attack Dewey at Manila. tits said that
contrary to ths ccmrnen understandings,
the Sues canal II open TO warships Of
beliigerent pewerS. % that ~ the Spanish
choose 20 take this course. they would
have long start Of any pursuing feet
from our side Of the Atlantic. 1t 10
scarcely believed. however. that the
Spanish are willing TO take the great
risk Of exposing to our attack their own
home pofts by tho withdrawal OF SO con-
siderable q portion Of their naval
strength as would be required 70 over
match Dewey.
One eject Of the retreat Of the Span
isn flees hAA been to hasten even more
the rrsparations already under head
way for the dispatchtng OF military ex-
peditions 10 Cuba. 1t also has caused
O complete change In the concentration
plans. Time n now believed to be the
great factor. There Is no longer op-
portunity to indulge in extensive drill
lng and pr ,ctice mansuvering. The regu-
lar troops do not need these, and are to
be thrown at once into the fray. Many
OF the regiments Of the national guard
which are entering the volunteer service
are felt to be sunioisntly trained from
q military point of view 20 follow the
regulars Immediately. and the depart
ment Indicates its purpose OF dispatch
ing these volunteers directly to the gulf
coast for shipment instead Of sending
them to Chickamauga. This disposi-
ton was shown by the changes in the
new orders issued to the troops. although
Shere yet may be q return to the original
program Of concentration IL the plans
show signs Of weakness as they develop
The quartermaster general has already
gotten under charter 81 merchant steam
ers FOR the transport OF troops, and,
roughly speaking. these should carry
about 1000 men. Others ere being pro-
cured as rapidly as possible. The plan
of the war department n 70 have these
vessels assemble ut the different gulf
pofts--Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans and
Valveston--to take on troops which will
De sent there. The navy department Ii
expected to furnish conveys for these
transports, which would be absolutely
helpless against Spanish attack. At this
point there are signs Of friction First
the transports will be obliged to await
Admiral Sampson's return In order to
secure proper convoy. and secondly, the
navy objects very decidedly to under
taking the task Of conveying number
OF transports. 1t insists that to assure
the safety Of the convoy Of the troops
ell OF the transports should be gathered
in one fleet to start from Tampa, and the
navy IL likely to prevail in this.
Major General sewell has been as
signed to command the concentration
camp near Falls Church, Va. This n
taken ~ an indication that the general
has concluded to accept his military
command. risking his tenure Of ONCE as
a senator thereby.
None Of the corps commanders has yet
been assigned finally, although the en-
tire list OF commands has been proposed.
The three civilian major generals are
not to receive such commands, but are
assigned to divisions. Generals Lee,
Wilson and wheeler 90 TO Chattanooga
for duty under General Brooke, who viii
undoubtedly command one Of the army
corps. The war department officials ad-
nit that ali the regular troops now at
Chickamauga had been ordered away,
but refuse TO tell their destination. The
volunteers will take up the camps sban-
doned by the regulars In Chlckamauga
park Just as soon az they can be gotten
there. Mine Of the new bricanier gen.
erals have been assigned to duty under
Major oonsral Brooke and will HEX tho
raw recruits into shape 1T Camp George
H. Thomas.
lsf Roosevelt said farewell yesterday
20 the officers and clerks Of the navy de-
psrtmrnt. The AFFAIR lacked that per-
functory character which 90 often at
tsches to ceremonies of the kind Some
Of the employees OF the department united