Evening star., 1898-05-24

when the fitting opportunity arrived"
Now, Secretary Long is member of the
war board; at least, he is frequently with
1t during its sessions, and he says that the
view above expressed by the Times as to
the proper functions of a war council en-
presses exactly the functions conferred
upon the naval war board and exercised by
it. 1t has worked ceaselessly and intelli-
gently, he says, to learn the movements of
the enemy and the enemy's plans and to
gather all kinds of information that would
be of value to the United States naval COM
manders now at sea. 1t has not under
taken to hamper them with unnecessary in
structions, but supplying them with all in
formation obtainable that might assist, has
kept ever in mind the principle that the
commander on the spot is the person best
qualified to act. 1.-The board has not made
single mistake since the beginning of the
war the tribute that Secretary Long
paid to it. Just how little it interferes with
our naval commanders is shown in the epi-
grammatic message to Dewey at Hong
Kong:
Commence operations at once, particu-
lariy against the Spanish fleet. You must
capture vessels or destroy
There was no suggestion there of un-
necessary instructions. And again at San
Juan. according to Secretary Long, all that
the board did was to authorize Admiral
Sampson to proceed as he did and attack
the place. He likewise had vexatious
limitations passed upon him.
Secretary Long has returned to Washing
ton and resumed his duties at the depart
ment this morning, where he was lmmedi-
ately made the object of attack by a num-
Der of congressman. who are seeking all
ind rff f1,- fI Lo;-
Delay in Getting Transports.
Disappointed at the attitude of some of
the American transpaciic stea mship COM
panies in holding out for large prices for
chartering their vessels to the government
for use as transports. Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn of the War Department is con-
Steering the advisability of recommending
that the ships be Impressed into the United
States service or asking Congress to grant
an American register to the ships of the
Northerl Pacific Steamship Company, a
foreign corporation, SO that they may be
rsed for transport purposes. He has not
yet reached final decision in regard to
either of these matters. The delay of the
authorities in chartering more vessels for
the Philippine expedition has caused con-
siderable comment here, for it has been
cured some time must be spent in preparing
them for the trip. The reason for the de-
lay nov seems apparent. and was no doubt
due to the inability of the government and
the steamship companies to reach satisfac
tory terms.
Today Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn an
nounceG that negotiations were in progress
with a view to chart ering the China and
Colon of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.,
but the terms have not yet been agreed
upon. At the same time he said that the
Northern Pacific Steamship Co. had offered
their ships to the government on condition
that an Americln registry be given to them.
The vessels of this company, six in num-
Der, the agents say. can be delivered "a
Tacoma, Wash, approximately as follows:
Steamer Tacoma, by May %; Victoria, June
3; Arizona, Columbia ard Olympia, on June
Il, and Argyll, at Portland, June 10.
The Tacoma is now in port, scheduled to
sail for Japan on Thursday; the Columbia
is on her way to Japan, where she could
discharge her passengers ard return to
Tacoma at full speed the Arizona is at
Hong Kong; the Victoria is coming from
Yokohama to Tacoma, and the Olympia is
In Japan.
The department officials say there has
been no difficulty in getting ships on the
Atlantic and gulf coasts for transport uses
for the army in Cuba. There has been no
suggestion or intention of impressing any
of the vessels on these coasts for the ser
vice of the government. The department
now has ample accommOda tion for the Ship
ment of 5000 men to Cuba.