The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-18


General Miles to Washington from
Tampa had an inspiring effect on the
war preparations. The general has
been busy to-day calling on Secretary
Alger, consulting the chiefs of staff de-
partments and giving the department
the benefit of his observations at Tampa.
Secretary Alger said that he was ens
tirely satisfied with the condition Of the
troops, as reported by General Miles,
and wished that he had the means to
provide every one Of the voiun eer SOL
diers daily surf bath, such as was en-
joyed by the men at Tampa. General
Miles is yet to have a conf ,relce with
the president.
In the meantime the plans are NOV
ing steadily for sending further ey. I'd.
tions, both to Porto Rico and Cura.
There is little likelihood tnat ss,knd
expedition Of 5000 men to fesHYcite'
General Shafter at San-il,o VIII cave
within the next few Jays, as has been
reported. The necessity os sending these
additional forces is questioned hy fiEh
military officers and, moreover the
means of transporting such a force are
not available. The main consideration
just at present Is the equipment of an
expedition of greater dimensions than
any heretofore dispatched. with Porto
Rico is the objective point. A month
ago the military authorities were salts
fled that a small force would be sufii-
cient to occupy Porto Rico, as the Span
ish force there did not exceed 5000 or
5000 men. Now, however. the Spanish
garrisons have been so reinforced and
the defenses strengthened that II is be-
lieved much larger invading army will
be required. Moreover, the officials
were satisfied, on learning to-day that
the Cadiz fleet had sailed, that the ships
would go to Porto Rico. rather than to
Cuba. IL they crossed to this side. 1t
was pointed out that this move would
be the natural strategic one for the
Spanish commanders to take, as there
was still something left for them to save
in Porto Rico.
The naval officials are somewhat puz-
zled at the failure of the effort to ex-
change Hobson and his crew, Just an
nounced from Havana. OF course this
is not permanent. but simply means that
the Havana authorities as yet have not
been authorized to exchange prisoners.
The report that came from Madrid was
that the exchange had been authorized,
so 1t is surmised that the Spanish gov
ernment has not yet found means of
communicating its decision to General
Blanco at Havana.
Some Of the naval officers are pulling
Ions faces over the projected promotion
of Hobson to the rank of lieutenant
commander. Not that they object to
his reward, but they feel that il Is hard |
that some means could not be found to |
do this without practically injuring the |
go officers whom he will jump.
Dewey's report of June IL from Ca
vite was food for a good deal of dis
cussion to-day at the navy department.
Taken in connection with the press re-
ports. IL would seem to indicate that
Manila probably has fallen by this
time. One phrase used by the admiral.
that they do not intend to take the
city at the present time." warrants the
belief that he has reached a perfect
understanding with the insurgent lead
er, and that the town is not to be at
tackled until his own troops arrive. For
some reasons Ii is extremely desirable
that such should be the case. and that
Dewey should receive the surrender of
the town in person. rather than force
the Spaniards to surrender to the in
surgents and thereby AFFORD a possible
pretext for the interference of some of
the European powers. whose ships are
in suspiciously large num-
bers in Manila bay.
The Cadiz fleet is being narrowly
watched. although the naval view is
not similar to that taken by the army
The former. do not attach as
much Importance to the fleet as the
latter. and few Of the officers can be |
found to believe that the ships will
ever venture far from the Spanish
coast. much less attempt to cross the
or go to the Philippines. The
liz, of vessels in this fleet Is rather
in sound. but. as a matter
Of fact. IL includes not more than two
up-to-date war vessels. excepting the
small torpedo gunboats. 1t Is certainly
the opinion of naval officers here that
II Dewey had the Monterey with him
he would have no difficulty in repulsing
the whole Spanish force. while the Ca
diz feet could only AFFORD pastime for
Steel huiIdags 1