The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-28

SITUATION, as at present 0ecloe0 upon
by those in authority, is to make no
forward movement of troops. either
upon Porto Rico or Cuba, until full
and definite information is received as
to the location of the Spanish squadron
and it's possibilities as a factor i'm the
aggressive movements of Spain. That
being the positive determination, there
is no present purpose to hurry forward
the troops now at the several points of
concentration, but the interval prior to
be employed in seasoning the men.
Steps have been taken to secure early
information as to whether Admiral
Cervera's squadron is inside Santiago
harbor and whether ,the American
squadron has such advantage of posi-
tion outside the harbor as to make the
escape of the Spaniards practically
impossible. In the absence of positive
information that the Spanish admiral
has been shut up in Santiago, together
with the certainty that he can be held
inside the harbor. there is no purpose
whatever on the part of the war de-
partment to make an aggressive for
ward movement on Cuba or Porto
hitO. ifS was to-uishl tHt
most positive manner and from an au-
thortative source.
Unless the navy department succeeds
in securing some direct and official in
formation respecting the Spanish and
the American fleets within the next -
hours through the aid of the West In
dian cables. il will resort to the use of
dispatch boats. 1t can be affirmed on
the highest authority that al the close
n the 6aN the dpna r had nnth-
ing more than belief, founded on un-
official advices, that the Spanish squa-
dron was lying in Santiago harbor and
no news of Commodore Schley's where
abouts.
However, the majority of the officials
of the navy department entertain no
doubt that Cervera is within Santiago
harbor and they have succeeded in inn
pressing this belief upon the president
and the members of the cabinet.
The reports of newspaper dispatch
boats as to the movements of Simpsons
and Schleys squadrons during the past
week are very mystifying, even to the
naval officials here. and one of them
called attention to a statement coming
from the West Indies to the effect that
IL war vessels were seen for short
time off Cienfuegos on Wednesday. This.
he thought. was Schley's squadron. and
in that case he could scarcely have COW
cred the distance between Cienfuegos
and Santiago with a slow-moving fleet
OF ironclads in less than two days. in
which case Schley would not be due off
Santiago de Cuba until some time to-
day. OF course. all this is speculative.
but IL shows that there is still an ele-
ment OF doubt in the departments cal
culations as to the whereabouts of the
fleet.
1t was announced to-day that Hol-
land, the inventor of the submarine boat
of that name. was expected here to-
morrow to discuss with Captain O'Neill.
chief of ordnance. the feasibility of us
ing that novel craft in an attack upon
the Spanish squadron at Santiago, IL the
vessels are still there. The officials are
disposed to receive in a kindly spirit
any suggestion that might prove to be
valuable in this line and they will talk
over with Mr.. Holland the details of his
scheme.
An important phase of the military
programme is a decision not to take up
the details of organizing the new force
OF $1,000 volunteers for at least a week
or ten days. At the cabinet meeting
to-day inquiry was made of Secretary
Alger as to what steps he proposed taxi
ing in the organization of this large
additional force of volunteers. His re-
ply was that he had not even consid-
cred the details of this question. and
that his plan was not to take up the
matter for a week or ten days. In the
meantime. no conclusion has been
reached as to whether a portion of the
$4,000 volunteers will be used to recruit
the regiments remaining unified under
the first call for 125.000 volunteers,
which would take about 40. 900 men from
the second call. This would leave 35.-
600 men to be organized in distinctly
new regiments. 1t would have the ad-
vantage OF filling every regiment in the
service. instead of leaving most of them
with a depleted organizat tion. On the
other hand. IL would destroy the integ-
rity OF this force Of 5000 volunteers
as a second reserve.
The war department is anxious to OBJ
tain the views of the governors of the
states and territories in regard to the
filling to their maximum strength the
regiments already furnished by them
under the first call OF the president. and
with this object in view Adtutant Gen
eral Corbin to-day sent kilograms ask
ing the several governors TO make rec
concentrations TO the department on
this subject.
A number Of minor points coming up
constantly in relation to the second call
for volunteers are being passed upon
in a general way at this time. For in
stance. the question arose to-day as 20
whether colored officers. as well as col
ored troops. would be taken as part
Of the organizations offered. General
Alger at once decided that IL a coiored
company had efficient. soldierly colored
officers. they were as much entitled "a