The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-18
SHAFTER WILL NOT
Be REINFORCED
Little Likelihood of a Second Ex-
pedition to Santiago.
NO NEED FOR MORE TROOPS
Main Consideration at Present is the
Expedition to Porto Rico.
SPANISH DEFENCEs STRENGTHENED
Larger Invading Army 3 Be Requir-
ed Than Firf ught.
+
oAD1z FLEET owrr WATCHED

Washington, June 17.-There is little likli-
hood that a second expedition of 5000 men
to reinforce General Shafter at Santiago
will leave within the next few days as has
been reported. The necessity of sending
these additional forces is questioned by
high military officials. The main consider
alton just at present is the equipment of
an expedition of greater dimensions than
any heretofore dispatched with Porto Rico
as the objective point.
A month ago military authorities were
satisfied a small force would be sufficient to
occupy Porto Rico as the Spanish force
there did not exceed 5000 or 5000 men. Now,
however the Spanish garrisons have been
so reinforced and the defenses strengthen
ed that it is believed a much large invading
army will be required. Moreover, the Off
cials were satisfied that If the Cadz fleet
had sailed it would go to Porto Rico rather
than to Cuba If they crossed to this side
1t was pointed out that this move would
be the natural strategic one for the Spanish
commanders to take, as there was some-
thing left for them to save in Porto Rico.
The naval officials are somewhat puz-
zled at the failure of the effort to exchange
Hobson and his crew just announced from
Havana. OF course, this is not permanent,
but simply means that the Havana authori-
ties as yet have not been authorized to eX-
change prisoners.
Hobsons Exchange Delayed
The report that came from Madrid was
that the exchange had been authorized so
1t is surmised that the Spanish govern
ment has not found means of commun-
eating its decision to Blanco at Havana.
Some of the naval officers are putting on
long faces over the projected promotion Of
Hobson to the rank of lieutenant COM
mander. Not that they object to his re-
ward, hut they feel that 1t Is hard that
some means could not be found to do with
out injuring $500 officers whom he will
jump.
Deweys report of June II from Cavite
was food for a good deal of discussion
today at the navy department. Taken in
connection with the press reports, it would
seem to indicate that Manila has probably
fallen by this time. One phrase used by
the admiral that they do not intend to
take the city at this time" warranted the
belief that he has reached a perfect un-
derstanding with the insurgent leader and
that the town is not to be attacked until
his own troops arrive. For some reason it
is extremely desirable that such should
be the case and that Dewey should receive
the surrender of the town in person rather
than force the Spaniards to surrender to
the insurgents and threby afford a possi-
BILE pretext for the interference of some
of the European powers whose ships are
gathering in suspiciously large numbers
in Manila bay.
The Cadiz Fleet
The Cadiz fleet is being narrowly watched.
although the naval view is not so con-
cerned as that taken by the army officers.
The former do not attach much importance
to this fleet as the latter, and few of the
officers can be found who believe that the
ships will ever venture far from the Span
ish coast, much less attempt to cross the
Atlantic or go to the Philippines. The list
of vessels in the fleet is rather formidable
in sound, but as a matter of fact 1t in
cludes not more than two up-to date
modern war vessels, excepting the small
torpedo gunboats. 1t is certainly the opin-
ion of the naval officers here that if Dewey
had the Monterey with him he would have
no difficulty in repulsing the whole Span
ish force, while the Cadiz feet would only
afford pastime for SIMPSONS steel bull
dogs.
Washington, June 17.-Army officers who
have been reading the recent news from
Cuba are discussing with great confidence
the prospect of an early encounter of the
United States troops with those of SPAIN
The superiority manifested by the United
States marines at Guantanamo in fighting
the soldiers of Pando's army confirms some
opinions that had been formed from reports
given by General Lee and other observers
of the Spanish soldiers
Three Different Glasses
The information at the war department
Is that three different classes of fighting
men will be met by the forces of the
United States. The most annoying and the
least numerous are the guerrillas, COM
posed almost exclusively of an outcast class
of blacks, fit for prison If they have not (
just been released TO do duty in the service
of the country that released them. They
are not likely to give or to look for quar-
ter, and may be expected to be guilty Of
atrocities to the dead or to prisoners in
battle. They never fight in bodies, but
scatter in the bushes and have some craft
Of the woods and the trail.
Another sort of soldier to be looked for is
the volunteer. He is Cuban attached 10
Spain, and he dislikes the insurgents in
tensely and will fight stubbornly but with
out great military skill These are not
looked for in great numbers at the east end
of the island, but in and about Havana
they are numerouz and well equipped. They
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