The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-04-22
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
Cuba Will Probably Soon Be In
vaded by Our Troops.
THE MOBILIZATION OF THE ARMY.
All Arrangements for Transporting Troops
Completed-spain's Coal Ports to lie
Attacked-The Campaign Ex-
pected to BE Brief.

|
WASHINGTON, April 10. When will
war break out and where? Will Spain
or the United States strike the first
blow? These are questions of prime
importance which congress is discuss
ing. The general belief is that ut
least ten days will elapse before the
| first gun is fired. Although to all in
tents and purposes war between Spain
and this country now exists by the
action of the lower house of con-
gress Wednesday, it may be some
time before the fleet and the army
have their work cut out for them.
After the president gets the joint res
olution adopted by congress he will,
unless there is an overt act. demand
that Spain withdraw her military
forces from Cuba. At least "a hours
will be allowed for an answer. AS
Stunning that the president may get
the dictum of congress by Saturday it
will be the latter part of next week
before aggressive action may be looked
for. Members of congress do not agree
as to when war is expected or where
it will break out, although they do
agree as to certainty of hostilities.
Everything here indicates that the
island of Cuba will be invaded by
United States troops. The plan is to
attack the Spanish forces in Cuba by
both land and sea. Orders were sent
out from the war department yester-
day to send regular troops to Key
West at once. This order was first
sent to the commander of the Twenty
fifth United States infantry, which
passed through Chicago Wednesday en-
route to Chickamauga. This regiment
is the colored regulars from Missoula,
Mont, and their first orders were to
encamp at Chickamauga park. Yes
terday's orders changed the original
plans of the army, and the regiment
was ordered to Key West, Fla. Two
companies are now on their way to the
coast and the others will follow to-
day
This sudden move on the part of the
United States is due to the warlike at
titude among the members of congress,
and the heads of the army believe that
formal declaration of war will soon
be suddenly announced Army officers
declare that delay only gives Spain an
opportunity to strengthen her posi-
ton. The shipment of coal from
Philadelphia to Cuban ports has some
what alarmed the navy and army Of
ficials, and, until war is declared the
shipment of fuel and supplies from
American ports to Havana and Porto
Rico cannot be stopped. The plans of
the navy and army are to attack the
ports where Spain has coal and sup
plies stored and to prevent merchant
vessels from giving further assistance
to the Spanish fleet
The navy department is now in
clned to believe that the Spanish tor
pedo hotilla il at the Cape Verde is
lands. Many naval officers believe the
destructive warships are in hiding
somewhere along the Cuban coast and
that they will suddenly appear when
least expected.
Secretary Alger has ordered an inn
mediate purchase of 1000 pack mules
TO be delivered at once at st. Louis,
for use in Cuba, on Gen. Lee assur-
ance that army wagons could not be
used there. Naval officers are impa-
tient over the delay in arranging to
transport troops and have telegraphed
that every day lost in landing
troops in Cuba will increase the diff
culties which the military occupation
of the island presents and Capt. Samp-
son has been advised that all arrange
ments for transporting troops will be
completed to-day. Arrangements for
the mobilization of the army went for
ward all night long at the war depart
ment, and the orders are expected to
receive the presidents approval to-
day, providing for the prompt concen-
tration of infantry, cavalry and light
artillery at Chickamauga, TO form
camp and await the arrival of
10000 national guard volunteers,
who will be called out the moment
the two branches of congress agree on
resolution. This force will be drilled
at Chickamauga during the few days
that must elapse before sufficient
transports are gathered at New Or
leans, Mobile, Pensacola and Tampa,
to make the invasion simultaneous
with the cooperation of the navy.
The conviction is expressed in both
services that the campaign will be
brief, and that no Spanish flag will
float in the western hemisphere by the
end of May.