Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-04-22


there were not five rounds of ammu-
milton in a fortified place in the
country, and the ships did not have
ammunition enough to fight any
thing. We we're simply ready in an
amateurish manner. The President
was shocked when he learned the
full facts. A knowledge of these
facts had as much to do with making
him cautious as a desire to avoid
war. Had this country been forced
into war three weeks ago, we might
have gotten the worst of things for
awhile. think we are now about
ready and can give an account of
ourselves" These words should be
considered by the hair-trigger indi-
viduals who blame the President
for not rushing into war weeks ago.
Just when hostilities will begin
is still a matter of some doubt, al.
though it must necessarily be soon.
The House is to-day considering the
intervention resolution adopted by
the Senate, which recognizes the
independence Of the present govern
ment of Cuba and otherwise differs
from that adopted by the House. 1t
is expected chat an agreement will
be reached sometime to-day, or to-
morrow at the outside and the res
olution be sent to the President, al
though there is some talk of the pos
sibility of a deadlock between the
House and Senate. Nothing official
has been said about the programme
that will be followed after the res
olution reaches the President, but
the statement is made upon good
authority that the President will
make demand upon Spain to evac-
uate Cuba and will grant one or two
days for the answer This will be
largely for form sake, as it is already
practically certain that Spain will
refuse, and will probably accom-
pany the refusal with message of
defiance. Then the naval forces of
the country will be put in motion
and the first steps taken towards
driving the Spaniards out of Cuba,
while the troops now being hurried
as fast as steam can carry them to-
wards convenient points of embark.
alton will be got in shape to be rush
ed over to Cuba just as soon as the
feet has captured a desirable loca-
tion on the island for them to be
landed, Once landed the war will
be pushed to a speedy and victorious
end both on land and on water.
Naval officials smile at sensational
predictions of damage that will be
done to our commerce by Spanish
privateers. Instead of having any
fears on that score, they think that
we shall have 80 many fast and for
midable auxiliary cruisers on the
seas that any Spanish privateer that
gets far trombone will be extremely
fortunate if it escapes destruction OF
capture by some of them. The
Spanish are not ignorant of our
preparation in this line, and they
are not likely to go as extensively
into the privateering business in re-
atty as our sensationalists have
made them go in imagination.
The massing of practically three
fourths of the regular army-about
$4,000 men-at Chickamauga Park.
New Orleans, Mobile, and Tampa,
is the first open move towards the
military occupation of Cuba. The
plan Of campaign is all made out,
but so well has the secret been kept
that no person, not an official, can
positively say whether these reg
ulars will have militia assistance in
their invasion of Cuba or not. The
general impression is, however that
they will, and that a call for volun-
teers from the militia will be issue
by President Mckinley within Al
hours of the moment his signature
is attached TO the joint resolution
authorizing forcible Intervention in
Cuba. It is understood, but not
officially, that the President has de-
cided to adopt the plan of calling
for volunteer militiamen rather
than one calling upon each state tc
furnish its quota Of the number oi
men desired, and that the organ
izations which volunteer first are tc
be accepted regardless of the state:
from which they come. According
to estimates made by War Depart
ment officials, more than 1000, ,OOG
volunteers have been offered to the
government, which is about twenty
times more men than anyone expects
TO be needed.