The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-10

of a number of expert electricians, now
students at Clemson college, South Car
olina. At the war department, 1t was
understood that the assignment as
corps commanders to the volunteer
army would be announced very soon.
President Palma, head of the Cuban
delegation arrived here this morning
from New York and is expecting i'm
portant advices direct from General
Gomez He received a dispatch last
night stating that a courier from Gen
Gomez camp had passed through Key
West and was now on his way to
Washington, with letters from Gomez.
The courier probably will not reach
here before tomorrow at the earliest. In
the meantime, Brigadier Nunez, who is
just back from heading a party which
made a juncture with Gomez, will ar
rive this afternoon to confer with Mr.
Palma. It is probable that the ad-
vices direct from the Cuban command
er in the field will bring about further
conferences between the Cuban auth
critics here and the Ofhc1alS OF the war
department.
Mr.. Palma today expressed his views
on the battle at Manila, saying it was
important, in that it furnished conclu-
sive proof of a fact he had long known,
that the Spanish navy was paper
navy and utterly incapable of conduct
ing modern naval warfare.
In the first place Admiral MOntejo'S
fleet was taken by SURPRISE" said he.
THAT is a whole lesson in itself. We
have heard much from Spanish sources
as to the lack of discipline and the
crudenesS in the American navy, but
here at the very first practical test
the Spanish feet committed the very
worst and most inexcusable offenSe Of
allowing itself to be taken by surprise.
And this occurred not only when war
was in progress but when Admiral
MontejO knew the American fleet was
nearing him. In the face of this, the
surprise and defeat of the Spanish fleet
shows a complete lack of discipline and
of that keen alertness which is the
first essential of a discipline which en-
SureS Defense.
Mr. Quesada, secretary of the Cuban
legation added the statement that the
wiping out of the Spanish ships like so
mank cookie shells, made plain the
fact, well known to those familiar
with Spain's naval resources that she
had a lot of old wooden craft, which
would suffice for dress parade in times
of peace and would give an outward
appearance of the possession of an act
uaI navy.
The Spanish naval officers, Mr.. Ques-
ada, said were about the best feature
of the Spanish service but they were
pOWerleSS as a result of corrupt ad-
ministration of naval affairs at Madrid.
The guns had none of the modern me-
chanism and the gunners were unprac-
ticed All this had served to place the
Spanish ships at the mercy of the
strong American fleet under Dewey.
Mr.. Quesada said the first reverse of
this paper navy" was simply a fore
cast of what would follow, when the
same class of worthless ships with
worthless guns and worthless gunnerS
met Admiral Sampson and other COM
manders of the American fleet. Changes
in the central mobilizing points of the
volunteers from those announced by
the war department yesterday already
have been made in number of cases.
These have been made necessary for
several reasons. The main one being
the decisions reached to begin at once
an active campaign in Cuba and to
send troops to the Philippines. Those
was at the war department this morn
ing, would be assigned to proceed
promptly to San Francisco, to take
passage for Manila. There is a regi-
ment fully equipped and ready for SER
vice. It is said also that the regiment
of infantry from Colorado in all prob
ability will be ordered to the Philip
Mr.. Russell Harrison, who has been
looking after the interests of the In
diana National guard for the war de-
partment received a dispatch from the
military secretary of Governor Mount
saying that two regiments of infantry
and two batteries We're fully equipped
and ready to move. Mr.. Harrison says
this is the best record shown by any
state From Governor Mount came a
dispatch saying: amy assignment of
any Indiana troops by the war depart
ment will have my approval. They are
willing to go and [ am willing they
should go where they can do the most
good. Our quota is in frst-class condi-
tiOn.''
Mr. Harrison says that the two reg
iments of Indiana troops and the light
battery which were ordered to Chicka-
mauga, will go instead to New Or
leans.