The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-22
Havana Not to be Attacked by Less
Than 1905 Men.

nal plans of campaign for the conduct
OF the war against Spain will be ad-
hered to, and will be pushed with
Yigor and energy. That decision was
reached at war council held at the
White House to day, at which were
present President Mckinley, Sccrc-
taries Algcr and Long, Gen Miles,
Assistant Secretary Mciklejohn, Ad-
miral Sicard and Capt. Mahan. Of
course there will be some slight modi-
fications made necessary by the
changes that have occurred since the
beginning of hostilities, but these,
after all, will not affect the general
plans of operations. Gen. Miles re-
turned from Florida with information
respecting the condition Of troops,
difficulties to be expected in the pro-
gress Of the change aud needs in the
matter of transportation facilities that
would be freely availed of to correct
the defects in the present system as
has developed. The conference wa;
entirely harmonious. The only reason
that the commanding general did not
visit the White House yesterday was
because of desire on the Presidents
part that his war councillors should
have the benefit of Gen. Miles recital
Of his observations at first hands.
The stories that there has been
friction between Gen. Miles and his
official superiors are pronounced to be
absurd by all concerned, and to-day
proceedings gave ample evidence of
the fact that the utmost harmony
characterzcs the relations between
the Chief Executive aud the military
branch of the Government. There
were, of course, some differences of
opinion among the persons present at
the war council, but there has been no
disposition in any quarter to resist for
an instant any concession which has
secured the approval of the Presi-
dent.
The official declaration to the effect
that the campaign is to be pushed
with vigor does not necessarily mean
an immediate attack on Havana, al
though such advice has been rendered.
1t does mean that the very best efforts
are to be put fourth to get the army
in condition where it can be used with
overwhelming effect at any point OF
points at almost a moments notice.
To this end the troops now in camp
are to be thoroughly trained and
hardened, aud when they leave the
United States their equipment will be
the best soldier eau have, fit for any
season, wet or dry, cold or hot. With
such an army at command, numbering
no less than 1OO,0OU the fate Of
Havana cannot long remain in doubt
when once this army is hurled upon it.
Meanwhile the smaller expedition
ary movements are to go forward un-
interruptedly. When Santiago is
captured the trained regulars, who do
the work there will be pushed on to
Porto Rico. If all or most Of them
are needed for this expedition then
the provisional force" referred to
by Gen, Shafter in his orders, prob
ably will be dispatched Immediately
from the United States to garrison the
town of Santiago aud to relieve the reg
u!ays.
Probably knowledge of some such
intention has led 10 the rumor which
found free currency to-day, to the
effect that 4 ,000 men from Gen. Ora
ham camp had been ordered to pro-
ceed Immediately to reinforce Shafter
at Santiago, making the passage on
the big ocean liners Harvard and Yale,
late the New York and Paris, which
are now IN Hampton Roads.
AS matter of fact Secretary Alger
said this afternoon that he had az yet
given no orders for the sending of
troops away from Camp Alger, nor
had he ordered any extensive move
ment elsewhere. The rooms Of Secre-
tary Alger were thronged to-day by
friends of the many candidates for
appointment from civil life as second
lieutenant in the army. There are to
be 200 of these appointments, and it
was announced this afternoon that
they would be made public in the
newspapers Monday morning.