The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-05-26
Washington Letter.
(From Our Regular Correspondent

The landing of an army in Cuba,
which would have been an accom-
plished fact before now had not
the movement been held up with
the expectation that the Spanish
fleet, now somewhere in West In
dian waters, had crossed the At.
lantic with the intention of seek
ing a fight with our warships, is
to go ahead regardless of the
movements of the Spanish fleet,
it having become apparent that
the Spanish feet is seeking to
avoid rather than to fight our
fleets. Owing to the desire of
President Mckinley to keep the
news of the movements of our
army and navy from reaching the
Spaniards, as it has heretofore
done, more specific statement
cannot be made in advance. But
it can be stated without violating
any confidence, and without CIV
ing the enemy any pointers, that
the fastest ships in both Admiral
SIMPSONS and Commodore Sch
ley's fleets are going to chase that
Spanish feet around until it is
found and destroyed, and that the
invasion of Cuba is going to be
pushed without waiting for the
Spanish fleet to be whipped.
Our naval strength in Cuban
waters has been increased by the
safe arrival of the battleship Ore
gon, the Marietta, and the dyna-
mite cruiser Buffalo, which the
Spaniards had been trying to in
tercept in their long voyage.
Up to this time General Blanco
has had free cable communication
with Madrid, as we'll as with the
admiral of the Spanish fleet, but
he will not have it mnch longer.
In fact, it is doubtful whether he
has at this time. There are five
cable lines from Cuba, two to the
United States, two to Jamaica, and
one to Haiti. Orders have b< en-
given to cut the three last named.
That will break Blanco's commu-
nication; as he cannot send mes
sages over the two cables to this
country, both being now under
government supervision. Gen.
Greeley, chief U. S. Signal officer,
has advocated cutting these cables
from the first as war measure.
It is the desire of President Nc
Kinley and Secretary Long that
the medals voted to the officers
and mon of Admiral Dewey's
squadron by Congress, in COM
memoration of the great victory
won by them in Manila harbor,
shall be of the very best design
that can be obtained from the best
American artists. Assistant Sec-
rotary Allen, of the Navy Depart
ment, has been chosen to be chair
man of the commission charged
with the honor of selecting the de-
sign for the medal. It is likely
that all American artists will be
invited to submit designs.
The majority report from the
House committee on Foreign At
fairs, in favor of the joint resolu-
ton providing for the annexation
of Hawaii, is one of the strongest
documents of it's kind ever pre-
scented to the House. It says of
the proposed annexation: "There
is no undue pressure on the part
of the United States as a greater
power; no surprise of any one; no
possibility of objections by other
governments. It is simply the
OF vions result of the natural
course of events through a long
period of years thus completed
with the cordial consent of the
sovereign powers of both govern
ments The only question involv-
ed is whether the proposed pos
session of the Hawaiian Islands
would be advantageous to the
United States, The report con-
cludes by saying: "The acquisi-
ton of these islands does not con-
travene our national policy or ira
ditions. It carries out the Mon
roe doctrine, which excludes Euro
pean powers from interfering in
the American continent and out
lying islands, but does not limit
the United States; and this doc