The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-05-26
He Becomes Impatient and
Weary Of Delay,
Cuba to Be Promptly Invaded in
Force no Matter Where the
Phantom Spanish Fleets May
Be.
CALL OFFICE, Rroes House, I
WASHINGTON, May 49,

cided on q vigorous prosecution Of
the war. The President, tired OF the
dilatory tactics Of the so.called
Naval Strategy Board, and the
failure to definitely locate or over
take the Spanish vanishing squad
ROM has instructed Secretary of
War Alger to prepare for the imme-
date invasion OF Cuba without wait
ing for tho Spanish feet to show
itself.
Great activity was apparent at the
War Department TO- day. The mem
bers OF General Miles staff we're
again ordered TO hold themselves in
readiness to 60 south on short
notice.
1t is understood that this sudden
change in policy was brought about
by the President himself, who since
Sunday last has been very much dis
turbsd over reports from Havana
that only a remnant of the recon
centrados survived and that these
were on the verge OF starvation. In.
asmuch as the relief Of these wretch
ed people was the very reason for
our armed intervention in Cuban
affairs, the President is keenly sensi-
tive to the criticism which points
out that the very object Of the war
with Spain is being defeated by the
present dilatory tactics Il both army
and navy.
White President Mckinley was at
first anxious to avoid Smelling Cuba's
capitsl, attended as it will be by the
destruction OF innocent lives to say
nothing OF the sacrifice OF many of
our soldiers, who are to invade Cuba,
he now realizes that the longer it is
delayed the more difficult will be
the capture OF Havana. Blanco is
not only taking advantage of our de-
lay to throw up serviceable earth
works along the north coast, but
there appears to be fair prospect
that Admiral Cervera's fact on this
side Of tho Atlantic will soon be re-
inforced by the powerful ba;tleship
Pelayo, the cruisers Emperador
Carlos V, Alfonso XIII and several
mere torpedo. boats.
He realizes that a mistake was
made in not following up the Ma
Mia victory with the reduction OF
Havana's batteries and lombard
ment OF the city instead of sending
Sampson on wild goose chase to San
Juan, where little was accomplished
beyond damaging its principal forti
J fcations, But it is not yet too late
} to recover from this lost opportuni
ty, and it was said to-day that the
, President had determined to send
, 100000 men to Cuba If necessary.
Secretary Long gave out the vel
, come information to-day that the
, battleship Oregon, the second
} largest craft in the American navy
) had successfully completed her lone
, trip from San Francisco, making the
Il. entire circle OF South America, anC
was now safe. Whether or not sh,
has joined Admiral SIMPSONS flee
the Secretary would not say. Thu
rigid secrecy of the Navy Depart
ment was relaxed only enough t.
=. make known the best news the Nav,
Department had received since tn
> battle OF Manila, as it meant no
, only that the Oregon was out o
harms way from a concerted attacl
, on this one ship by the Who'll
|, Spanish squadron now in southern
,, waters, but also that her great fight
} ing strength would be added to AID
j. miral SIMPSONS force in the nea
/ future, if, indeed, it had not alread
1, augmented the admiral's strength.
n In all the trip covered more tina
q 1900 miles. The last stretch, fror
!" Bahia to the Windward Islands, ha
n been followed with anxiety to navs
officials, for, by strange coin