The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-27
cERvERA'S FALL NOT CERTAIN.
NAVY DEPARTMENT NOT SURE HE
Is AT SANTIAGO.

Lack of OHieial Information on the
sub4ect Considered Somewhat
strongc-MiIitary Operations Held
I'm Abeynnce Pending the Arrival
nf definite Information About the
snanish FIeet-COnsuItatiOn HELD
ot the White House to Talk over
the situation.
Washington, May 26.-Secretary Long
said at the close of office hours to-day
that no word had come from any of the
scouting vessels so numerous in West In
6tan waters concerning the Spanish hying
SQUADRON, wherefore he concluded that
E Admiral Cervera was still in Santiago har-
Fl Dor.
Supposedly, Commodore Scnley is lying
outside watching the entrance to prevent
i the egress of the Spanish vessels, but while
Il there is evidence of a certain kind on that
fact. there has been no official informa-
Il ton of it, This is a little remarkable, in
view of the fact that it is only days
4 run for one of Commodore Schley's swift
& torpedo boats from Santiago to a cable
Il port in Hayti.
There is also a curious lack of informa.
on this point
1t was supposed that the censors might
have cut out from the dispatches of the
n newspaper men any reference to the
n neets but this would apply according to
the statement of the navy department Off
cials here, only to that part of the dis
patches that might relate to the move
ments and whereabouts of the United
Il States forces, and the censor's rules would
II not exclude reference to the Spanish squad
ron
Notwithstanding the officials profess un,
shaken confidence in their original belief
Il that the Spanish squadron is securely bot
tied up in Santiago harbor there is no
concealment by them of an intense de-
H sire to secure some absolutely trustworthy
information on that point. 1t is not to be
doubted that with the question still open
the beginning of the military operations is
retarded, for as long as there exists pos
sibility of the Spanish naval force being
at large, there is an indisposition to start
the troop transports for Cuba.
Probably it was this uncertain state of
affairs that induced the President to call
a consultation at the White House to-day
between Secretaries Alger and Long, Gen.
4 Miles and the members of the naval war
board Admiral Sicard, Capt. Crownn-
shield and Capt. Mahan. AS stated by one
of the members of the conference the
n purpose was to go over the whole situa-
ton, from the Philippines to Cuba and
Porto Rico, and decide just how far the
plans already laid should be modified to
meet existing conditions. This involved a
discussion of such important points as the
propriety of the immediate advance of the
military forces upon Cuba the credibility
OF the adVices so far had touching the To-
cation of the Spanish squadron; the policy
OF preceding the Cuban expedition, or ac-
companying 1t, with one directed against
Porto Rico, and finally the extent of the
military assistance to be sent to Admiral
n Dewey al Manila.
As already Indicated the proceedings
a We're rather In the nature of a consulta-
Il llon than of war council, where q full
n decision is demanded at once, so that it is
& not probable all Of these important ques-
llons were disposed of a The council None
Ol The members of the conference felt an
thoriZed to tell what had taken place but
tnere are thought 10 be patent indications
OF decision to embark military eXpedi-
uohs, whether for Cuba or Porto Rico can
only be conjectured, in the course of the
h next few days.
There was lack of news to-day from
Admiral Dewey and this convinced the ma
Val authorities that there could be little
cIsuehce placed in the Madrid reports of
AN accident to the Baltimore
IN the rush of military preparations the
war department officials have not been
aole TO give much attention to prepara-
Il uohs OF the regulations for the procure
meht or the 5000 additional volunteers
called for yesterday by the President 1t
Is sun uncertain just how far the national
Il authorities will go toward recruiting these
II Ioices themselves, nor is il positively
4 known that the independent organization
d u companies, battalions and regiments
n raised b. individuals, will be accepted en-
pIoe II by so doing the department is re-
quHed 10 accept the officers with the men,
4hueed, 1t is now questioned whether un-
Ger the law, the department could. if il
would, accept the services of officers under
Fl such conditions, as the governors of states
uppeaf to be the only persons authorized
Il 70 issue commissions below the regimen
tal grade There are many other vexa-
'O"a questions to be settled before the
4esulatons can be promulgated but for
tuHalely, in the judgment of the depart
ment officials due notice having been
sven TO the people of a desire for more
ooCps by the government there is no oc-
easlon for haste in deciding upon details
In view Of the fact that the full draft of
uneh called for under the first procama-
non has not been secured.
me department officials were engaged
to-day largely with the execution OF a
ne" law providing for the organization
OF certain Independent forces with the
result that il was able to announce regu-
Iauons governing the examination of ap-
pHeahts for commissions in the engineer
Ieslments and organizations for. the in
mune regiments
An evidence Of the growing interest of
tHe european countries in the gat was
the appearance at the stale departroent
'o-oay of Capt A. Wester a newly ap-
POINTED military attache to the legation
ol sweden and Norway. He came 10 the
department. with Minister GrD for The
purpose of securing permission to accom-
Riny the United States military forces TO
Cuba.