The record-union., 1898-07-07
Needed Supplies Must First be
Furnished the Army,
Also Thought Advisable to Give Simpsons
Fleet a Chance to Clear the harhOr,
So a Combined Advance Can be
Made on the City.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-By compar-
ison with what has gone before, to-day
was very quiet at the War and Navy
Departments There We're bulletins
posted in the former department, but
there were none of more recent date
than yesterday, and, so far from indl-
eating an impending battle, the general
tendency of these bulletins was TO show
that no forward movement is in abso-
lutely Immediate contemplation. Deep
concern is felt here at the deprivatlonS
and sufferings of our troops lying in
trenches and field hospitals surround
ing Santiago, and there is everywhere
a disposition to insist that hereafter
haste shall be made slowly, and that
t. equipment of our soldiers, their
Commissary and Cuartermaster's sup
plies, their ammunition and their hos
pital stores shall be complete in every
respect before they advance further.
This is likely to be the rule, even at
the expense of time, and in the face
of the criticism of an element that has
been vehemently insisting upon rush
ing the campaign without regard to
cost in blood and money.
Confidence is felt that there will be
no friction between the army and navy
commanders, and that the conference
between them will result in an agree
ment on a joint plan for the prosecu-
tion of the campaign In the event
that this belief should not be we'll
founded, the President is prepared to
act himself by orders from first hand.
There is much force in the naval argu-
ment that if Sampson is obliged to
enter Santiago harbor before the forts
are captured he will ieopardize the
safety Of the whole of the ironclad
fleet under his command, since by the
sinking Of one of these ships in the
narrow channel, through a Spanish
mine or shell. the fleet would be left
helpless and exposed to destruction un
der the guns of the forts, to which
they could not make reply, owing to
the elevation of the latter
on the other hand. the army officers
seem to be justified in avoiding the
tremendous sacrifice Of life that would
be involved in again trying our sol
diers upon the Spanish defenses until
they have been materially reinforced
artillery
Sampson did not report to-day at the
Navy Department, but the War De-
partment sent over a very agreeable
message from Shafter announcing the
readiness of the Spaniards to exchange
Hobson and his men. 1t is believed
that this was accomplished some time
during the day, though notice of it has
not yet been received.
The fact that several Of the vessels
selected for Watson's fleet were in the
thick of the engagement of July Sd
promised 10 delay somewhat the de-
parture Of the Eastern squadron for
- the shores OF Spain. The vessels have
consumed a good deal of coal. and
doubtless have expended large guam
tity OF their highest grade of ammuni-
ton in the furious attack on the steel
VI lHt aHiiidlu 1t VIII De
necessary to replenish these stores be-
fore the long ocean voyage is begun.
However, Secretary Long has given
rush orders for the preparation cf this
squadron, and il certainly will be off
in the course of a few days.
The movements of the Cadiz fleet are
very puzzling to our experts here.
Weakened as it is by the sending back
of the torpedo boat destroyers. the
Spanish squadron bound for the Philip
pines seems destined TO go to sure
destruction. as did Ceryera's unlucky
ships when they headed westward from
the Cape Verde Islands. The Spaniards
are without doubt fully aware of the
inferiority of their fleet. and why they
persist in sending it to be sunk in the
Philippines is a mystery. The depart
ment was advised to-day that the
squadron was passing through the Suez
Canal, and as the vessels must have
paid the heavy toll required in advance,
the indications are now regarded as
conclusive that the ships are actually
bound for the Philippines. This belief
stimulates the preparations here FOR
,Watson's sailing. He will strike straigh.
after Camara. who in the end is doom