The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-06-02
WASHINGTON LETTER,
From our regular Correspondent !

fl IRON our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 3O.-War news
is just now eIasperatingly contingent in
its importance upon offs" If Commo-
dore Schlev has that Spanish feet bottled
up in the harbor of Santigo de Cuba, as
the administration confidently believes
that he has, the invasion of Cuba can be
proceeded with, as it has been definitely
decided and officially announced that the
invasion is not to he postponed a minute
longer than is cOnsdefed absolutely
necessary TO ensure the safety from cap.
ture by Spanish warships Of the trans
ports that will carry our soldiers. The
transports to carry $4,000 or 10000 men
are ready and waiting, and that many men
thoroughly equipped for service are at the
points of cnb ,rkation ready to start |
But, if the Spanish fleet is not bottled up.
and there are doubters in high circles,
the country is in for another period of
vexatious uncertainty and guessing.
1t is commended by Gen Miles and others
that nothing will he gained by invading
Cuba until we can send at least 100000
men. Because it will he useless TO make
an attack upon Havana with a land force ,
much smaller than that Although moth
ing olhcIal has been or will he given out :
on this subject, there is excellent author y
ty for saying that it will require at least a
hree or four more weeks TO eouip enouob |
u The volunteers to make up that number.
extra efforts were put forth to
make good showing at Camp Alger when ,
he President went to review the volun- ii
GERS there, the lack of equipment was
lade painfully apparent by the fact that
My two-thirds of the 10000 men in camp
ould take part in the parade, and the
luipment OF m0ny that were in line is Go
tterly worthless for fighting purposes.
The same condition exists at all the Sc
oDiIizing points. The men are ready ~
I'd anxious to fight, but they are not yet Ia,
operly prepared to do so. But the work
preparing them is not being allowed TO he
g. ar
That Americans are tolerant is well
iown. 1t is also well known that the we
ntiment of the country was overwbelm- 0"'
ely III favor OF the annexation of =
Iwaii, even before it had been declared o
the administration to be A military "a
'esSity. Should the pressure of Europ- g
governments compel Hawaii to declare g
ltrality and to refuse TO allow our sbips 81
ma to and from the Philippine Islands ~
coal at Honolulu, while the question of 81
'ex'nS Hawaii is hung up in Congress 81
a combination of the power of the g,
ar trust lobby, personal spite, and gS
teal spleen, not even the babipal az
rance of Americans will prevent tLo 81
iIcal punishment Of those responsible OF
uld no trouble arise on account of Tho S(
orlty hold up in Congress that is now gS
Tue parts played by individuals in tbe o.
I-up viii soon be forgotten by tbe &
'le' Notwithstanding the present use &
ich words as "traitors" and "treasor - o.
amendment to the war revenue lin S1
'uIhg Tor annexation has been offered g1
'n''or Lodge. 1t will be pushed or q
according to what Speaker Reed does az
allows the House to vote on the an. ~
ZION resoluiion-he has partly prom. 9S
10 do so-ihe amendment will be G
Ira"n; It not, it will be pushed 70 ~
regardless OF the delay it NAV cause g
posing ot The war revenue bin q
ieht Mckinley has intimated very * 9
mat unless Congress acts at once & r
'ehds to seize Hawaii as war 81 r
re- Ihere are precedents for such az :
''Or Teller always has positive 81
49, ana they are interesting. CT 900