The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-27
THE WAR FLEETSPGZZLB
Washington Has No Information to
Give Out.
MILITARY OPERATIONS DELAYED

BY the Uncertainty Regarding Ger
vera's Fleet-A Movement of Troops
May BE Looked For, However, With
ina Few Days-No News From Dewey
Washington, May 27.-Secretary Long
said at the close of office hours yester-
day that no word had come from any
of the scouting vessels so numerous
in West Indian waters concerning the
Spanish flying squadron wherefore he
concluded that Cervera was still in
Santiago harbor Supposedly Schley
Is lying outside, watching the entrance
20 prevent the eEress of the Spanish
vessels, but. while there is evidence Of
a certain kind on that fact, there has
been no official confirmation of It. This
is a little remarkable, in view Of the
fact that it Is only a days run for one
of Schley's swift torpedo boats from
Santiago to a cable port in Hayti.
There is also a curious lack of infoT-
nation from the newspaper dispatch
boats on this point. 1t was supposed
that the censors might have eXcised
from the dispatches of the newspaper
men any reference to the fleets, but
this would apply according to the
statement Of the navy department Of
ficials here, only to that part Of the
dispatches that might relate to the
movements and whereabouts Of the
United States forces, and the censors'
rules would not exclude reference to
the Spanish squadron.
Notwithstanding the officials profess
mistaken confidence in their original
belief that the Spanish squadron is
securely bottled up in Santiago harbor,
there is no concealment by them Of an
intense desire to secure some abso-
lutely trustworthy information on that
point. 1t is not to be doubted that,
with the question still open, the begin
ming of the military operations is re-
tarded, for as long as there exists a
possibility Of the Spanish naval force
being at large there is an indisposition
to start the troop transports for Cuba.
Probably 1t was this uncertain state
of affairs that induced the president to
call a consultation at the White House
yesterday between Secretaries Alger
and Long, General Miles and the mem
bers Of the naval war board, Admiral
Sicard, Captain Crowninshield and Cap
tain Mahan. None of the members of
the conference felt authorized to tell
what had taken place, but there are
thought to be patent indications of a
decision to embark military expedi-
tions, whether for Cuba or Porto Rico
can. only be conjectured in the course
of the next few days
There was a lack Of news from Ad-
miral Dewey, and this convinced the
naval authorities that there could be
little credence placed in the Madrid re-
port of an accident to the Baltimore.
In the rush of military preparations
the war department officials have not
been able to give much attention to
preparation of the regulations for the
procurement of the $4,000 additional vol
unteers called for Wednesday by the
president. 1t is still uncertain just how
far the national authorities will go to-
wards recruiting these forces them
selves, nor is it positively known that
Independent organizations, companies
battalions and regiments raised by in
dividuals will be accepted, if by so do
ing the department is required to ac-
cept the officers with the men. Indeed,
it is now questioned whether under the
law the department could, if it would,
accept the services Of officers under
such conditions, as the governors of the
states appear to be the only persons
authorized to issue commissions below
a regimental grade.