The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-18

" may
bulletin boards to-day failed to yield
any news of the movements of either
of the three fieets-Sampson's, Schley's
or the Spanish squadron-and there is
reason to believe that the department
itself has received no information on
that point. The department officials
are beginning to show little sensitive
ness to criticism in the matter of the
delay in bringing the Spanish fleet into
action, conscious as they are that they
have made all dispatch compatible with
due regard for the safety of our own
ports, as well as of the lives of the
crews of our warships. Every day
there is talk of a change in the naval
plans brought about by some movement
of the Spanish squadron, but what the
latest phase of the campaign is, no.
body outside of the members of the war
board is competent to say. The gen.
eral impression to-day is that no par
ticular effort is to be made just now to
pursue the Spaniards so long as they
keep within the confines of the Gulf of
Mexico and the Caribbean sea. but
that Sampson and Schley, in conjunc-
ton, will maintain the blockade and
convoy troops across the Florida straits
If necessary; meanwhile simply keeping
a watch on the Spanish flying squadron
to see that IL does not do mischief eth
er to the American fleet or by escaping
into the Atlantic to the seaboard cities.
By this plan the military and naval
officials might hope TO silence the rath-
er severe criticisms that are being ex-
pressed because of the delays in OPEN
ing the military campaign in Cuba it.
self.
Considerable pressure has come upon
the administration from congressional
quarters to have the campaign FASTENED
and there are thought to be signs of
resumption Of the plans of the military
leaders for the invasion of Cuba at the
point where they were suddenly sus-
pended by the announcement of the ar
rival of the Spanish flying squadron at
Martinique. One sign of his was the
inclusion ia the regular army orders of
a direction to Captain Alger to go to
Tampa to join General Miles.
The department processes to feel no
apprehension that Admiral Dewey or
his men are in any way endangered by
their occupation Of Manila harbor on
the present basis, but this cannot be
said of the unfortunate inhabitants of
Manila if the present situation is pro-
tracted unduly. 1t is no small matter
u VI SdHiEt anu t&ptultsOh
or $4,000 or $4,000 soldiers 1900 miles
across the sea at short notice. and the
indications are that within a week some
of the soldiers, at least, will be on their
way from San Francisco following the
Charleston, which is expected to leave
at any moment with a few supplies most
urgently needed by Admiral Dewey.
There are indications that the war
department has been brought to see
~ fas 1t
gestions thrown out by Major General
Merritt that his expedition should con-
sist of not less than 5000 men, and
that at least a third of them should be
seasoned troops from the regular army,
capable of meeting on equal terms the
veteran Spanish soldiers who garrison
Manila. To endeavor to overcome the
Spanish force with less than half their
number of troops would seem to be
senseless proceeding. in view of the
fact that there Is no necessity for such
course. General Merritt took occa-
sion to deny very emphatically the ac-
curacy of certain newspaper interviews
published this morning, which placed
him i'm the position of refusing to obey
an order to proceed to the Philippines
because his force was insufficient. The
officials at the department. upon seeing
these publications, did not hesitate to
express at once their belief that Gen.
eral Merritt was too good a soldier to
refuse to obey lawful order. although
they admitted that he might have. as
he did to-day, through Inspector Gem
eral Hughes. member of his staff.
suggested the propriety of an increased
number and a betterment of the quail
ity of the soldiers to be assigned to his
command.
Reports received from Key West show
that the condition of the torpedo boat
winslow is much worse than was sup
posed. and IL will be necessary in al
probs bility TO have her come to Nor
folk for repairs. One shell smashed her
low pressure starboard cylinder and
then traversed one of her boilers. IL
would be possible to get along under
one boiler and reduce the starboard en-
gine from a quadruple TO a triple ex-
pansion. but the efficiency of the boat
would be much lower.