The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-05-21
ACTIVITY is URGED.
Pressure Brought to Bear to Has
ten the Cuban Campaign.
Plans for Invasion OF the Island May
He Resumed at Once-No Definite
News OF Either the American
or Spanish Fleets.

ton Of the plans Of the military lead
ers for the invasion of Cuba at the point
where they were suddenly suspended
by the announcement of the arrival OF
the Spanish flying squadron at Martin
ique. One sign Of this was the inclu-
sion in the regular army orders of di
rection TO Capt. Alger to go 10 Tampa
TO join Gen. Miles. At army headquar-
tiers there was no sign of immediate de-
parture, but after all, in view of the
fact that three times at least every
thing has been prepared for move
ment 10 Tampa, IL may be presumed
that everything is in train for de-
parture al short notice without open
manifestation OF preparations.
No News of the Fleets.
The official bulletin boards Tuesday
failed TO yield any news of the move
ments OF either of the three fleets,
SIMPSONS, Schley's and the Spanish
flying squadron, and there is reason to
believe that the department itself has
received no information on that point.
The department officials are beginning
TO show little sensitiveness TO criti-
cism in the matter of delay in bringing
the Spanish feet into action, conscious
as they are that they have made oil
dispatch compatible with due regard
for the safety of our own ports, as well
as of the lives OF the crews OF our war
ships. Every day there is talk Of a
change in the naval plans brought
about by some movement of the Span
lsh squadron, but what the latest phase
Of campaign is nobody outside of the
members Of the war board is compe-
tent 10 say.
The general impression is that no
particular effort Is to be made Just now
10 pursue the Spaniards, so long as they
keep within the confines OF the Gulf O,
Mexico and the Caribbean sea, but that
Sampson and Schley, in combination,
will encircle the island OF Cuba, main
tain the blockade, and convoy troops
across the Florida straits, IL necessary,
meanwhile simply keeping watch on
the Spanish flying squadron, to see that
il does not do mischief either 10 the
American fleet, or by escaping into the
Atlantic, TO the seaboard cities. BY
this plan the military and naval officials
might hope TO silence the rather Sc
we're criticisms that are being expressed
because OF delays in opening the mill
tary campaign in Cuba itself.
No Fear for Dewey.
The department processes TO feel no
apprehension that Admiral Dewey or
his men are In any wise endangered by
their occupation of Manila harbor on
the present basis, but this cannot be
said Of the unfortunate inhabitants OF
Manila IL the present situation is pro-
tracted unduly. 1t is no small matter
TO organize and transport an expedition
of 10000 or 10000 soldiers 5000 miles
across the sea at short notice, and the
indications are that within n week some
Of the soldiers at least will be on their
way from San Francisco, following the
Charleston, which Is expected to leave
at any moment with a few supplies
most urgently needed by Admiral
Dewey.
Gen. Mcrritt's suggestions Wise.
There are indications that the war
department has been brought TO see
the wisdom and fairness OF the slgges-
tions thrown out by Maj. Gen. Merritt
that his expedition should consist OF
not less than $4,000 men, and that at
least n third OF them should be sea-
soned troops from the regular army,
capable Of meeting on even terms the
veteran Spanish soldiers who garrison
Manila. To endeayor to overcome the
Spanish force with less than half their
number OF troops would seem TO be a
senseless proceeding in view of the fact
that there Is no necessity for such a
course. Gen. Merritt took occasion to
deny very emphatically the accuracy OF
certain newspaper interviews published
Tuesday morning which placed him In
the position Of refusing 10 obey an or
der 10 proceed 10 the Philippines be.
cause his force was insufficient. The
officials az the department upon seeing
these publications did not hesitate 10
express al once their belief that Gen.
Merritt was too good soldier TO refuse
to obey an order although they adj
mitted that he might have suggested,
as he did Tuesday through Inspector
General Hughes, member OF bis stan,
the propriety of an increase in the mum
Der and a betterment in the quality OF
the soldiers TO be assigned TO his com
mand.
The Volunteer Army.
Washington, May 1s.-The volunteer
army is rapidly nearing completion.
Reports received by Adjt. Gen. Corbin
show that O2.5s0 men have been mus
tered In. Eighteen states have com
pleted their quota. as follows; Califor-
MIA. Georgia, Idaho. Indiana, Kansas,
Maine, Maryland. Minnesota, Massachu-
sets, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania. Vermont. Washington,
West Virginie. Wisconsin and Wyoming
In New England patent oil is vapor-
lied and the gas used with an mean
descent mantle for lighting purposes,
the reservoir being suspended at the