The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-20

WASHINGTON, May 19.-with every
disposition on the part Of tho executive
10 make the present war short, sharp
and decisive. It is beginning to be real
lied that the shortcomings OF our mill
uyy service are SO many that; delays
are Inevitable and that much work will
be necessary TO put the nation in efti-
e.at fighting shape.
Every day brings forth some weak
spot that has to be strengthened or some
hidden defect, such as the discovery at
this late moment that every regular
army officer who accepted a volunteer
appointment would forfeit his commits
sur IN the regulars and SO become liable
10 be left out OF the service entirely at
the end OF the war. Few officers cared
10 risk their future In that way, 60 q
rush was made towards Congress to se-
cure the necessary corrective legislation.
Again, Is has been found that the
equipment Of the army, small as 1t Is In
comparison with the great army " the
rebellion is sadly lacking. Nearly
month after the formal declaration OF
war the war department today pur-
chased number OF shelter tents and 1t
has Just secured hammocks that experts
say are esStntial to existence in Cuba.
These Preparations Involve delay, so
that It Is not remarkable that in spite
u the herculean efforts OF the, officers OF
the army. no positive start has yet been
made towards its goals by the army Of
occupation. ~ Z sE,A
Tho Navy Ia ncriy.
Probably It is this fact, rather than
any unreadiness on the part of the navy
that causes the campaign to drag in Its
Inception, for the navy department has
announced that It stood ready at any
moment to furnish conveys for the
troops transports, provided they were
started from one point. General Miles
had an interview this afternoon with
Captain Crowninshield, chief Of the nay.
i5atoa bureau, and II Is surmised that
ta!s very subject was under discussion.
Ihe rutnor was aGoat that General
Nile, with his: sta q, was 70 leayel WASH:
.rgtOa tonight for Tampa, but this
egain proved to be premature.
To maintain the army OF 100000 men
Tor six months will cost $40, coz, 900 ac-.
cording to the estimates prepared, and
me leading officials are beginning to
.ear that hostillties may run along be-
yohd this period. The reason Is the
growing conviction on the part OF some
Hthe officers that they must not reckon
on any substantial assistance from the
CUBAN rebels In this campaign, and
moreover, must meet the Spanlards IN
Suo3 IN their strongest sphere. that OF
the defensive, issfii2
Naval authorities are relieved OF a
s0ol deal OF embarrassment by the con-
sshl OF the French authorities at Mar
unique to allow the scouting vessel
harvard TO remain In St. Pierre until
asF repairs are completed. 1t was sup
posed at first that she would be allowed
only seven days, and at the end OF that
ume would be forced out to risk attack
a. me hands OF some ambushed Spanish
cruiser or torpedo boat.
hspniring Old Monitors.
Work on the three monitors Mahopac,
eahhoncus and Manhattan at League
Island have advanced so far that the
apartment expects to have them in ser.
nSeW'thina week or two. They have been
.Spp!ied With tubular boilers In place of
.as Fus'ed-out boilers they have carried
s,4ve the war. One very useful quality
VI ne new boiler was found to lie in the
,AsIo!i'y =, OF passing the small pieces
maich It is composed piece-meal
.avush the smoke pipe hole thus avoid
irs s Waflng up OF the decks and shorten
n.s ,ss tAe Tine required for the work fully
v"t v"s mar. These monitors will be val
sso!e addition TO tnecoast defence ships,
a a... N!olacS, late United States naval
.s'ache to Berlin and Rome, reported at
we navy department to-day and had
nsrJs,l s-Ie amusing stories to tell on his ex-
i.'.nces inr In every seaport OF Europe try
d. :" nuy ready-made navy in thirty
80 me department officials are very
,v ',l Pleased with the energy and ablli-
Ssnhwn snown by the young officer in the
S5ss S5salse or the important. duties con-
dn.u 20 MIN. He has been ordered to
~ ~ n ue watch md division officer on
fsS,, I iopeka, ono OF the ships that he
ed ~ 70 purchase in England.
c,. ,"e absence OF official news of any
.atacler r.a from the fleets at the navy de-
.uheht to-day gave the widest field
W.. WI speculation and all sorts OF stories
r..at We uhoat as to the whereabouts Of the
sasement. ''''r'" y '''A -. GU GU.
Merely an Incident.
Inc report that came from Madrid NJ
' commandment Of Santiago received
,S'ne eredence inasmuch as 1t seemed
,is N snow that General Greely. the chief
ISHal officer. has set In motion the ma
5ar"d VI thc navy to carry out his de-
srorJ tnE y, pose OF cutting the cables that
r,na .ue last connection between Ha-
,a ,g,toa and m the outside world and thus
,hs heian bianco. 1t ie not believed that
mora tihnparcment amounts to anything
pIs,s5s pIse Advocate rLemley to-day com.
chars,.he me circular defining the chief
toa, S,eri8'lcs So..8'lcs OF the sixteen torpedo
pmviIaaI iIaItoyera and twelve torpedo boats
n,v,I nNea Tor by Congress IN the present
Z en- n,a, aappfopriation bill. The destroy
7 tbarp p'"yided Tor. are to be OF larger type
hav. tahy vessel OF that kind we now
the 49,, ~ tne service, about 400 tons. hut
o.. Tho pnao nu noan will be about the size
: n,moi,, aserage torpedo boat now In use,
The y yII hooW l5o tons. Bidders nre left
!nal SN dug, liberty IN the matter OF orig
cred SS,,sns. but no bid will be consId-
ut le,,, eh t tails to guarantee a speed OF
tRanS ,t"ehty-elght knots for destroy
mora %"a ~ twen,y-six for torpedo boats No
fesnec,ihsh hh eighteen and thirteen months
,h1.SuEeiy Will be allowed 10 8cnp,p,ptn
cOngruc,ienn anu shortncas OF time OF
tHent in ',n. IIa VIII be an impsrtant cle-
F!emm.,. ue.erninlng the awards. fS5tS
6eltcteJ' va L. l., has been definitely
The ,roo,n.' 10 fendezvuusing point for
Middle ~" from tho New England and
iha, nlns.ascs ulscs section and It ls expected