The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-27
COUNCIL AT WHITE HOUSE
The DuusRAuoNs Ase KEPT SECRET
Depsrbnea Has moi Had Time 10 Give Atten-
,ioa.to Regulations for The $4,000
Additional NoIaateerS,- Interest
Of Europeans il War

Washington. May rs. Secretary Long
said az the close OF office hours to-day
thar no word had come from any of the
scouting vessels so numerous in West
Indian waters, concerning the Spanish
flying squadron, wherefore he concluded
that Ccrvera was still in Santiago har-
Dor. Supposedly Schley is lying outside
Watching the entrance to prevent the
egress of the Spanish vessels; but while
there is evidence of certain kind of
that fact. there has been no Official con-
Grmation of it. This is little remark
able in view of the fact that it is only
Il DAVIS run for one of Schleys swift
torpedo boats from Santiago to n cable
port in Hayti. There is also Il curious
lack of information from the newspaper
dispatch boats OH this point. 1t was
supposed that the censors might have cut
out from the dispatches of the news
PAPER men any reference to the fleets,
but this would apply, according to the
statement of the navy department oftl-
Gals here, only to those parts of the dis
ments and Whereabouts of the United
States forces, and the censors rules
would not exclude reference to the Span
ish squadron. Notwithstanding the Of
.ticials profess mistaken confidence III
their original belief that the Spanish
squadron is securely bottled up IN San
tiago harbor, there is no concealment
by them of an intense desire to secure
some absolutely trustworthy informal
ton on that point. 1t is not to be doubt
ed that with the question still open the
beginning of military operations Is re-
tarded; for as long as there exists pos
sibility of the Spanish naval force beng
ut large. there is an indisposition to start
the troop transports for Cuba.
Probably it was this uncertain state
Of affairs that induced the president 10
call a consultation at the white house
today between Secretaries Alger ana
Long. General Miles and members of the
navy war board, Admiral Sicard anu
Superintendent Crowningshield. As
stated by one of the members OF the
conference the purpose was to so over
the whole situation from the Philippines
to Cuba and Porto Rico, and decide just
how far the plans already laid should be
modified to fit existing conditions. Tins
involved discussion of such important
points as the propriety of immediate adj
vance of military forces upon Cuba: the
crpditibility of adyices so far had touch
ing the location of the Spanish squadron;
the policy of preceding the Cuban eX-
pedition, or accompanying it, with one
directed against Porto 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 a conEulta-
ton than of war council, where full
decision is demanded at once, SO that 1t
is not probable all of these important
questions were disposed of at the coun-
ell. None of the members of the confer
ence felt authorized to tell what had
taken place, but there are thought to be
patent indications of a decision to en-
bark military expeditions, whether for
Cuba or Porto Rico can only be con-
iectured, in the course of the next few
days.
There was lack of news today from
Admiral Dewey. and this convinced the
naval authorities that there could he
little credence placed in the Madrid re-
port of an accident to the Baltimore.
In the rush of military preparations
the war department. officials have not
been able to give much attention to pre-
parations Of the regulations for the pro
curcment of the $4,000 additional yolnn-
teers called for yesterday by the presi-
dent 1t is still uncertain just how far
the national authorities will go toward
recruiting these forces themselves. nor is
it positively known that independent or
carnations, companies battalions and
regiments raised -hv individuals will he
accepted. if by so doing the department
is required to accept the officers with
the men; indeed. it is now questioned
whether under the law the department
could. if it would accept services of Of
ticerS under such conditions as the gov
errors of the states appear to be the
only persons authorized to issue commits
sions below the regimental grade There
are many other vexatious questions to be
settled before tho regulations can be
promulgated; but, fortunately. in the
Judgment Of the department. there is
no occasion for haste i'm deciding upon
details in view of the fact that the full
draft of men called for under the first
proclamation has not been secured The
department officials were engaged today
largely with the executions of new
law providing. for the organization of
certain independent forces. with the re-
suit that it was able to announce regu-
lations governing the examination of an
picants for commissions in the regiments
and organization for the immune regi-
ments.
An evidence of the growing interest of
European countries in the war was tho
appearance ut the state department 10
day of Captain A. Wester n newly an
pointed military attache to the legation
of Sweden and Norway. He came IA
the department with Minister Grip fol
the purpose Of securing permission tc
accompany the United States military
forces TO Cuba.