The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-19
INVASION OF CUBA.
Much Time Is Likely to EIapsc Be-
fore 1t Is Undertaken.
RECRUITS MUST BE WELL PREPARED.
1t Is Very important 1t Should lie
Begun. However.
KErONCENTRADOS STARVING
And Many Insurgents Are Liable to
KEcONcENTRADos STARVING
And Many Insurgents Are Liable to
the Same Fate.
MORE DIFFICULT IF LONGER DELAYED
iRc1ulnrs Could he Moved Over md
Provide "a Bnsc of supplies for
the disbursements.
Third Edit,on)


lNfw York May IA Times special
ft9m Washington says; The plans for the
invasion of Cuba by the United States
forco remain unchanged, The elusive
performances ol tha Spanish squadron have
postpor d the execution OF part at least
of the programme. but 1t has been altered
in no important particular.
The determination to dispatch TO the
island as soon as practicable an army OF
not less than $4,000 men competent to meet
aud cope with the forces of Blanco still
stands. But the time has not yet come
when It is practicable TO do this. for tho
simple reason that the army is not ready
to be sCut to Cuba
The $1,000 regulars massed at Tampa are
prepared 10 so anywhere at any time
The majority OF the volunteers gather
ing at Tampa. New Orleans. Mobile and
Chickamauga are not prepared to 20 any
whore aud will not be until they are uni
formed. armed, equipped and have some
training in the art of war. All this Will
take time.
The best judgment of military experts
is that II will require not less than a
lioNlu, uIitT inc Hlukl lhNOTtult GIEum-
s;autts, TO put $4,000 volunteers in cond-
ton to reinforce the regulars for the army
OF Cuban invasion. II is thought by many
trained officers that more time than that
ought to and is likely TO be taken.
1t is recalled that Genzral Scott spent
six months training and drilling his army
before he invaded Mexico. and 1t is not
contended that the invasion of Cuba is
any less formidable undertaking than the
conquest of Mexico
The inglorous experience OF Bull Run Is
favorite illustration Of the unwisdom OF
putting he recruits to the serious business
| Of war TOO soon.
There Is one portion of the Cuban pro-
gramme, however. which may not be de-
! layed much longer. That is the dispatch
ing of an expedition. made up almost, II
not entirely, of regulars from the Tampa
camp. TO make landing on the Cuban
coast throw up fortncations aud clear
the way for the coming of the army prop
er later on.
II is not settled that this Will be done,
but strong arguments are being used in
favor of his project 1t is urged that we
went into this war largely b, save the re-
ntiados from starving, but that as
result OF our present campaign We are
making their starvation sure and rendering
It likely that many of the insurgents Will
suffer something akin to the same ills.
force OF 5000 regulars, landed at an
| available spot on the coast OF Cuba would
it la contendod, be able to do something
toward relieving this suffering by estab-
lishing depot OF supplies which could be
drawn on by the insurgents. Further, 1t
Is urged in favor OF the seizure OF land
ing place without delay that the under
| taking is becoming more difficult every
| day, and that the regulars could not be
better employed than in providing forth
| ficntions 10 protect the debarkatlon OF tho
main army when it is ready to move
The longer the occupation Of landing
place is delayed, It is pointed out, the more
| time Blanco has for throwing up fortifica-
tons and mounting batteries along the
coast. which will cause trouble when the
real invasion begins. The advocates OF
| this movement believe it would be easy
for force of the strength mentioned to
hold its own with the protection the
blockadng squadron will afford.
There is no prospect. however, that even
q preliminary movement of this nature Is
likely to be undertaken Immediately. For
the present, at least. all military move
ments will await the result of the manouv-
ering OF the squadron in West Indian
waters.