The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-05-26
COAST SIGNAL SERVICE.
A Comprehensive System for Giving
Notice of the Approach of
Hostile Fleet.
GEN. MILES READY TO INVADE CUBA.
one Landing Place East and Another West
OF Hayana-The President Confident
That Admiral Cervera's Fleet Cannot
Escape and News Is Hourly Expected
of Capture or Destruction of Squadron.

That Admiral IerVera's tIeet Cannot
Escape and News Is Hourly Expected
of Capture or Destruction of Squadron.
WASHINGTON, May 24.-After several
weeks of work along the entire stretch
of the Atlantic and gulf coasts the
navy department has completed the
most comprehensive and efficient sys-
tenn for observing the approach of a
hostile fleet that has ever been put in
to operation. A new bureau has been
created for this purpose, known as the
coast signal service, in charge of Capt.
Bartlett. who attends to this as well
as the work of the naval board of in
formation. The system has the serv-
ices of $500 men stretched along the
coast from Bar Harbor, Me, to Gal
weston, Tex. These are divided into
81 central stations about 60 to 100
miles apart along the coast. The sta
tions are in turn connected directly
by telegraph with the coast signal
office of the navy department, and
operators are on duty night and day
keeping the navy department in con-
slant Geographic touch with the
stretch of Atlantic and gulf coasts.
Secretary Long projected this plan 4
month ago and S75,0 900 was set aside to
establish the points of observation
along the coast. After selecting "a
central points from Maine to Texas,
rush orders were given to build obser-
walton towers. Naval militiamen, with
the rank of naval quartermasters, are
now on duty at each of these stations.
The towers are completed and also the
small houses for their living purposes.
There are now 233 of these militia
men now in thc service. The next
step was to have the lighthouse
service made an adjunct to this
coast observation. This was done
through the cooperation of the treas
ury department and the lighthouse
force of 200 men, scattered from Maine
to Texas, are assisting the work of OBJ
servation. The life-saving service was
brought into similar cooperation, so
that now LEGO life-savcrs are added to
the observation force The 81 central
stations with the numerous light
houses and life. saving stations make
complete chain of observation points,
all connected by telegraph or tele-
phone with one another and with the
navy department.
WAsHINGroN, May 24-Gen. Miles is
ready to invade Cuba. lie wants to
take between 1000 and 100, 900 men
and land at several different points.
AS that number cannot be made ready
for some little time, the general is
willing to send in 10000 as an ad-
vance guard, occupy u good healthy
position, fortify and hold it as base
where the other troops can be landed
as fast as they are ready. The general
thinks he has been misunderstood by
the country. He says he has not been
for postpouement until fall. but only
until the army could get ready. The
delays, he admits, have been trying,
but he believes the movement can be-
gin now. The first plan was to land
&, 600 or 1000 men and hold base
while arms and supplies were fur
nished the patriots. This, Gen. Miles |
says, he opposed because he thought |
the number was insufficient and might |
be overw helmed by a force sent out |
from Havana by Blanco. One of the |
landing places of the troops |
is east and another is west of Havana. |
They are about cqui-distant from the |
city. The first expedition may go to |
the vicinity of Matanzas and occupy |
the hills which are healthful and can |
be quickly put in condition for de- |
Tense against any force Blanco might |
send ont. This landing place would /
be within six or seven hours steaming /
Of Key West. Information reached /
the war department yesterday that
the patriots are already crOwding to-
ward the north coast to meet the /
American army. Unless the plans |
fail somewhere next Saturday night /
will see the regulars and perhaps some
volunteers landed in Cuba
Confident Cervera's Fleet Cannot Escape
WAsHINGToS, May 24.-Confidence
hat Ceryera's fleet cannot escape IS
The president discussed
The situation in the war room with his
council. The conclusion
cached was that it did not seem pos
'ible that Admiral Cervera's cruisers
Gould escape. The president and the
lew who have access TO all of the infor-
nation the government possesses have
waited all day in expectation of news
hat the fleet had been captured or de-
troyed. Delay did not cause anv
vavering in the belief that the fleet |
las been or will be destroyed or cap
ured.