The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-12

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Army of Occupation in the Phil. ppines,
and to Be Governor General
Washington, May 12.-The army
movement on Cuba is now fairly
launched, and there is a concerted
effort all along the line to begin ag
gressive operations on a big scale for
the ejectment of the Spanish troops
and government from the pearl of the
Antilles. An order given yesterday
afternoon by the war department for
the purchase of 100000 rations is an
earnest of the scale on which prepa-
rations are making for invasion of
SPANS territory. OF this vast guam
tity one-fourth is to go to the Philip
pines, by way of San Francisco and
the balance to Cuba. Many bodies of
volunteers that were originally slated
for one of the great concentration
| camps have found themselves sud
denly under orders to proceed direct
to southern points, 50 that soon vol
unteers from the east and middle west
will be moving swiftly to Florida and
the gulf while from the far west the
cars will be carrying troops to San
Francisco.
Contrary to expectations, the day
again passed at the navy department
without news from Admiral Sampson.
! Notwithstanding what appear to be
| confirmatory newspaper advlces rela-
! tive to the presence of the Spanish
| Cape Verde fleet at Cadiz, the navy
department officials are beginning to
entertain strong doubt of the accuracy
of the report 1t was not possible dur
ing the course of the day to obtain
anything like an official confirmation
of the official report received on Tues
day, but this is not to be wondered at
in view Of the success which the Span
ish government has so far met with in
keeping secret the movements of it's
naval ships. Until news comes from
Admiral Sampson of his doings in
and around Porto Rico it cannot be
said definitely what program shall be
decided on as regards that island.
1t has been suggested that some of
! the troops now being hurried so rap
| idly to the gulf coast may be intended
! to cooperate with Admiral Sampson
in the reduction of the Notifications
at San Juan de Porto Rico and the
| subsequent occupation of the island.
1t is felt that the admiral will be in a
rather disagreeable plight, supposing
even that he managed to reduce the
forts with his fleet, if he were obliged
to remain there in occupation of the
place for lack of troops, when he
might otherwise be urgently needed
either on the Cuban coast or some
where in the Atlantic to meet the
Spanish fleet
The revival of doubts as TO the
whereabouts of the Cape Verde squad
ron caused a renewal of anxiety as to
| the Oregon The ship was at Bahia
at last accounts and is believed to
have started a day or two ago up the
Brazilian coast TO join Sampson S
squadron in the West Indies. She will
have to make a run of 5000 miles
which will occupy the Oregon about
ten days only. 1t is believed that Ad-
miral Sampson will do whatever is
necessary in his judgment to safeguard
the ship in her run up the coast.
During the past month the bureau
of construction and repair of the navy
department spent Sl,250,OOO in the re-
pair and Quitting of ships, and none
of this money went to new construc
tion. 7 his is said to be the largest
expenditure in this particular line
made by the equipment bureau ever
during the days of the civil war
The navy department felt obliged L
decline the offer made by som,
wealthy New York gentlemen, heade,
by Mr. o. II. F. Belmont, to build an,
equip a torpedo boat for the use of tn
government during the war. Possibl
the declination was brought abou
through the condition attached to tn
offer that the boat should be com
: manded by Mr.. Belmont, for withou
the least reflection upon that gentle
man the naval officials have bee
Obliged 10 decline TO establish the pre-
cedent Of appointing civilians to com
mands in this way.
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt yesteI