The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-01
CONFIDENCE IN LEADERS
NAVY AND ARMY WILL NOT EE
FETTERED BY DEPARTMENT.
WILL GIVE ONLY GENERAL DIRECTIONS
The Department Realizes that Battles Cannot
be Fought in Advance on Paper
Help for The insurgents and
ReconcenIradoes,


Washington, May When. the cabi-
net meeting adjourned to-day il was
announced that the matters under dis
cussion were not Of vital Importance,
nor was there anything that could be
given to the public.
Ii is intimated from high sources that
the land expedition now cmbarking At
Key West may be divided and one di-
vision sent to cooperate with Sampson
against Porto Rico.
1t is believed that the government hats
a sufficient number Of regulars and sea-
soned volunteers to carry out both Of
these plans 70 Il successful issue.
Transports in sufficient numbers and
capacity, already have been secured and
it Is the opinion Of high officials That
one or both of these plans are now
being carried into execution.
General Miles, who left here last night
TO take command Of the military forces,
is known 10 have the entire confidence
Of the president, who in the course Of to-
days cabinet meeting, said that he had
the utmost confidence iii General Miles
ability as a soldier, and fully expected
that he would prove entirely worthy Of
his trust. Members Of the. administra-
tion are agreed that the war from this
time will be prosecuted nj all points with
the utmost Vigor
The president has begun TO prepare
20 help the families of tire insurgents.
and the reconeenlrados, who still q,
ont miserable existence The commits
sary general of the army has prepared
an estimate of S5,000,000 for the puT-
chase Of sufficient supplies to feed 1J0,-
600 reconcentrad0s for six months.
For the time being il is felt that the
real field of action is removed from
Washington and is centered with the
troops, now advancing under orders from
here, and with our ships. The time of
preparation has gone by, and it remains
only for preparations to be carried into
actual effect There will continue to be
much routine detail in the maintenance
of the large military and naval force,
but this is now in well established chan
nels The more vital feature Of the
campaign itself has been fully matured.
10 certain extent the military and
naval operations win be directed from
W
in the south, and Admiral Sampson and
Commodore Schley in Cuban waters,
they will have most to do with the time
and circumstances Of attacks. The
commander General Miles and naval
commanders. have been given wide lati-
tude as the authorities here fully appre-
ciate that battles cannot be fought in
advance ON paper.
The consular reports issued to-day con
tain some additional declarations of
neutrality, this time from Brazil, Japan,
British Guinea, st. Lucia, and Gibraltar
1t is noticeable that both Brazil and Ja-
pan 20 out Of the way of the usual
formal preamble to express regret at the
outbreak of hostihties between the Unit
ed States and Spain. Bermuda modities
her original proclamation Of April BIRD
so as to make the rule relative to sup
plying provisions subsistence and coal
to bellgerent ships conform closely to
the very severe rules on that subject
The japanese proclamation is rather re-
markable from the great exactness with
which it prescribes the rules that are
to govern Japanese subjects in their deal
ing with the belligerents and the treat
ment that will be accorded belIigerent
ships The proclamation evidently was
prepared with great care, and may scry
as a model for the guidance of diplomats
of all nations.
The board of naval bureau chiefs is
trying to hasten the work OF construc-
ton Of the battleships authorized by the
present naval appropriation bill. The
Illinois type, upon which the new vessels
are to be constructed, will occupy three
years in construction. After confer.
ence to-day the bureau chiefs prcsuma
bly, with knowledge Of the constructive
ability Of the American shipyards ca
pable Of undertaking this work. resolv-
ed to reduce the time allowed gor build
ing the new ships to a maximum Of
three months. The navy department
bought another yacht to-day, the IN
quirer, for use in the auxiliary fleet, by
the terms the mosquito fleet will be
designated in accordance with the terms
of the recently enacted act on the sub
iect.