Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-06-30
IOATACk SPANS COAST
A Plan Being Informally Discussed
to Send Warships and lombard
Large Spanish Seaports.
PEACEFUL SIEGE OF HAVANA PROPOSED.
National Military Park-A Large Sup
ply of "Oncers' Warrants Being Sent
to Commanding Qnicers of Regiments
Travelling RatiOns" Being Received.


WASHINGTON, June 26.-The propo-
sition to attack the coast of Spain it
self, while not having progressed to
any definite stage, has not been aban-
doned by the administration. On the
contrary, it has been the subject of
some earnest discussion in administra-,
ton circles, though it has gained no
serious attention in the deliberations
of the cabinet as body. The plan.
as Informally discussed. looks to TAX
ing a number of our frst-class battle
ships, with sufficient fotilla of col
liers and. supply vessels. and making
war on the large cities along the
Spanish coast. In this connection the
statement of cabinet official to-day
that he favors an early ordering of
about ten of our vessels of the first
rating, with orders to carry what will
be needed in the course of SO long
journey, to be taken away from our
fleet in Cuba and sent direct on this
mission is significant. He said he
believed that until some such work as
that is done by our forces the govern
ment of Spain will fail to appreciate
the resources of the government with
which she is at war. 1t should be dis
there is no semblance of a conclusion
as yet to take any such step in the fu-
ture and, while earnestly discussed,
no project of this nature has been laid
before the official family of the presi-
dent. This action. if it were taken at
all, would involve the view that the
vessels could easily be spared from the
Cuban waters and some members of
the administration have no hesitation
in saying that they might be easily
spared before long without detri-
ment to our campaign in Cuba.
With reference to Havana it has
been suggested that our troops
surround the city and take possession
of the highlands SO as to cover every
point of approach and conduct a peace
full siege. The plan is yet tentative.
1t would do away ordinarily with the
large fatalities that must necessarily
follow an attempted immediate cap
ture of the Spanish citadel, and also
would locate our troops in healthful
regions. Probably not less than rs, 600
men would be needed should this plan
be adopted. While the administration
has not over much confidence in get
ting great assistance from the Cuban
forces, they could be counted on to
some extent.
Sham Battle Fought.
CHICkAMAUGA, Chattanooga Nation
al Military Park, June 20. The event of
Saturday at Camp Thomas, practically
the event of the week, was the second
demonstration of Gen. Fred Grants
now noted battle problem. AS early
as four o'clock the regiments compos-
ing the Third division of the First
corps, Gen. Grants command, were
astir, and by $50 all the men had had
their breakfast and were in line. The
first column composed of the First
Vermont. Eighth New York and the
Third Tennessee, under the COM
mand of Col. o. d. Clark, after
considerable maneuvering secured
possession of the observation tower at
the northeastern corner of the park
and prepared to hold it. The second
column composed of the Fourteenth
New York, Second Nebraska and First
Missouri, commanded by Col. Charles
]. Bills, arrived a short time after and
be gan a vigorous attack. The attack
was a superb one. the most skillful
tactics being employed. The first
column, in possession of the tower
held its possession we'll, however. and
the attacking column failed to dis
lodge it. The firing was continuous
and the battle had very much the ap-
pearance of the real thing. Gen.
Grant expressed himself as well pleased
with the work done. Thousands OF
soldiers and civilians watched the con-
, test.
3 The war department at Washington
! is now sending here large supply OF
Officers warrants" These documents
are sent direct to the commanding off,
GERS of the various regiments and are
to be made out as com missions for the
non-commissioned officers. The war
rants are in the shape of a regular
commission and give non-commissioned
officers the authority to command in
the event their superior officers are
killed or disabled while in battle. The
colonel of each regiment determined
the rank of each non-commissioned
officer according to length of service.
There are number of nQp-commis-
stoned officers in each regiment. the
date of their appointment is taken in to
consideration. For instance, if an OFF,
Ger was appointed January 1 and an
other on January 2, the first appointed
would take rank and command in
event of an emergency.
Mai. Nye, comissary of subsistence
of the Chattanooga depot. received Il
cars of provisions to-day from Chicago.
In this train there were ten cars OF
canned corn beef, two cars of canned
salmon, one car of rice and one car OF
beans. The canned goods constitute
what is known as travelling rationss
of the kind that will be used extern
sively by the troops while en- route t.
Cuba
A DIstiliery struck by Lightning.