Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-26
MANY SHORTCOMINGS
Much Work Said to Be Necessary to
Put the Nation in Fighting Shape.
ARMY EQUIPMENTS SADLY LACKING.
All S0rta Of etOrles Aflpat ~ to the Where.
ab0uta Of the Firets and thu Immi-
nencs Of AN Engagement-r Troops
from livery Direction.

from Every Direction.
WASHINGTON, May 20-With every
disposition on the part OF the execu.
tive to make the present war short,
sharp and decisive, it is beginning to
be realized that the shortcomings Of
our military service are SO many that
delays are inevitable, and that much
work will be necessary to put the ma
ton in efficient fighting shape. Every
day brings forth some weak spot that
has to be strengthened, or some hidden
defect such as the discovery, at this
late moment, that every regular
army officer who accepted VOL
unteer appointment would forfeit
his commission in the regulars and
so be liable to be let out OF the
service entirely at the end OF the war.
Few officers cared to risk the future in
that way, SO rush was made towards
congress to secure the necessary cor
receive legislation. Again, 1t has been
found that the equipment OF the army,
small as it is in comparison with the
great army of the rebellion, is sadly
lacking Nearly month after the
formal declaration of war, the war de-
partment purchased number OF
shelter tents, and it has just secured
the hamlnocks that experts say are
essential tc existence in Cuba These
preparations involve delay, SO that 1t
is not remarkable that, in spite Of the
herculean efforts Of the officers OF the
army, no positive start has yet been
made toward Its goal by the army of
occupation. Probably it is this fact,
rather than any unreadiness on the
part OF the navy, that causes the cam
paign to drag IN its inception, for the
navy department has announced that
it stood ready at any moment to fur
nish conveys for the troops, provided
they were started from one point,
To maintain the army Of zoo, 900 men
for six months will cost $50, 1000. 900, ac-
cording to estimates prepared by Pay
master General Stanton, and the lead
ing officials are beginning to fear that
hostilities may run along beyond this
period. The reason Is the growing
conviction on the part OF some OF the
officers that they must not reckon on
any substantial assistance from the
Cuban rebels in the campaign, and,
moreover, must meet the Spaniards in
Cuba in their strongest sphere, that Of
the defensive.
The absence Of official news Of any
character from the fleets of the navy
department yesterday gave the widest
field for speculation, and all sorts OF
stories were afoat as to the where's
abouts of vessels and the imminence of
an engagement. The report that
came from Madrid of the lombard
ment Of Santiago received some cred
ence, inasmuch as it seemed to show
that Gen. Greedy, the chief signal
officer, has set in motion the ma
chinery Of the navy to carry out his
declared purpose Of cutting the cables
that afford the last connection be-
tween Havana and the outside world
and thus isolate Blanco. 1t is not be-
lieved that the bombardment amount
ed to anything more than this,
TROOPS FROM EVERY DIRECTION.
WASHINGTON, May 2O.-Morc than 80
regiments Of the volunteer army either
have started for or reached the mobi-
lizing points to which they were d.
rected to proceed by the secretary Of
war. Fifteen or 30 other regiments
have announced their readiness to
start for such points. In order to
avoid confusion at the camps and any
congestion in the railroad traffic, the
war department officials are giving or
ders for number of volunteer regi.
ments to start. The volunteers mus
tered to date number $500 men. All
the regiments which were directed to
go to San Francisco, except those from
North and South Dakota, have left
their rendezvousing points for the
Golden Gate city. The greater portion
OF the men composing these organiza-
tons are destined for the Philippines.