The Iola register., 1898-05-06
THE WAR SITUATION
No Word Yet Received from the
American Fleet in Philippines.
SAMPSON STILL BLOCKADINC CUBA.
Conference Between the President and
Adjt. Gen. Corbin Concerning the New
Majorand Brigadier Generals-News
Expected from the Insurgents.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The day passed
without single word from the Amer
lean feet in the Philippines, and in
view of the long continued interrupt
tion in cable communication the Off
cials are beginning to resign them
selves to the belief that they must
await further official news until
boat arrives at Hong Kong. This will
not necessarily be a naval vessel, for
it is not believed that Commodore
Dewey, who will be admiral as soon
as he can be reached by cable, could
have spared any of his ships,
even the McCulloch, to carry dis
patches before the bombardment. In
ordinary times, there is plenty of com
munication by steamers as well as by
native vessels between the Philippines
and the mainland, and the officials
will be rather surprised If some news
is not forthcoming to-day. If Adm.
Dewey wants troops to hold what he
may gain in the Philippines, as many
as he needs will be sent directly from
San Francisco, and it is very likely
that state volunteers will make up the
quota. The cabinet talked about this
yesterday, and is only waiting to hear
what Commodore Dewey wants.
Meanwhile, the plans of the Cuban
campaign are being steadily developed
and there is no indication of a change
of purpose on the part of the military
authorities, who are expected to land
an eXpeditionary force in Cuba in a
very short time. Adm. Sampson, so
far as the navy department knows, is
steadily maintaining the blockade of
the Cuban coast and this is not likely
to be abandoned for the present,
though two or three of his ships may
be sent away temporarily to meet the
Oregon on her way to Cuba from Rio
Janeiro. While the officials of the
navy department naturally feel a
warm interest in the race of
the magnificent battleship around
the continent, they profess to feel
little anxiety as to the outcome, not
withstanding the current talk of an
effort on the part of the Spanish fly
ing squadron to cut off the Oregon.
The vessel sailed from Rio on a course
known only to the captain, and the
chances of being overtaken on the
high seas are very small. Even should
the Spanish vessels fall in with her, il
is by no means certain, notwithstand
ing their numbers, that she would be
defeated by the combined Spanish
force, as her magnificent armor anC
ordnance are superior in every respect
size and quality, to those of the Span
ish ships.
The proclamation directed agains
the Spanish residents of the United
States by the state department has no
yet been issued, nor is it certain tha
it will be; probably depending upor
the course pursued by the Spanish
government in their treatment o
American citizens in Spain.
Adjt. Gen. Corbin had conferenc.
with the president yesterday after
noon, concerning the nominations o
major generals and brigadier generals
which, according to present inten
tions, will be sent to the senate to
day. Gen. Corbin took with him I,
the white house n full LIST of thes
nominations, which had been agree,
upon by the war department off
cials. After a Commute conferenc
with the president Gen. Corbil
returned to the department t
attend to some alterations il
the list suggested by the president l
Is understood TO have been decided t
name Gen. Shafter, who has been des
ignated to lead the army of invasio
into Cuba, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, an
Gen. Joe Wheeler, of confederate cav
airy fame, as three of the major ger
erals, 1t is reported as probable tina
the president may also nominate Ger
Woodford, former minister to Spair
to be major general Concerning tn
= appointments of brigadier generals,
is said to be the purpose of the pres
dent, so far as possible, to take tn
candidates from the ranks of colone.
: in the regular army. This will disaI
point some of the candidates for tn
3 important commands. The exception
if any are made, will be in favor
4 those states which furnish one or MOI
I brigades of troops. In such cases, it
S believed the president will appoint {
e brigadier generals officers recommen,
ed to him by the governors of III