The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-05-27

OF Havana-The President Confident
That Admiral Cervera's Fleet Cannot
Escape and News IL Hourly Expected
of Capture or Destruction of Squadron.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-After several
weeks of work along the entire stretch
of the Atlantic and gulf coasts the
navy department has completed the
most comprehensive and efficient sys-
tenn for observing the approach of a
hostile feet that has ever been put in
to operation. A new bureau has been
created for this purpose. known as the
coast signal service, in charge of Capt.
Bartlett, who attends to this as we'll
as the work of the naval board of in
formation. The system has the serv-
ices of $500 men stretched along the
coast from Bar Harbor, Me-, to Gal
weston, Tex. These are divided into
"a central stations about 80 to 100
miles apart along the coast. The sta
tlons are in turn connected directly
by telegraph with the coast signal
office of the navy department, and
operators are on duty night and day
keeping the navy department in con-
slant Geographic touch with the
stretch of Atlantic and gulf coasts.
Secretary Long projected this plan a
month ago and SIS, 900 was set aside to
establish the points of observation
along the coast. After selecting 34
central points from Maine to Texas,
rush orders were given to build obser-
walton towers. Naval militiamen, with
the rank of naval quartermasters, are
now on duty at each of these stations.
The towers are completed and also the
small houses for their living purposes.
There are now 233 of these militia
men now in the service. The next
step was to have the lighthouse
service made an adjunct to this
coast observation. This was done
through the cooperation of the treas
ury department and the lighthouse
force of l, 200 men, scattered from Maine
to Texas, are assisting the work of OBJ
servation. The life-saving service was
brought into similar cooperation, so
that now LOGO life-savers are added to
stations with the numerous light
houses and life. saving stations make a
complete chain of observation points,
all connected by telegraph or tele-
phone with one another and with the
navy department.
Gen. Miles Ready to Invade Cuba.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-Gen. Miles is
ready to invade Cuba. He wants to
take between $4,000 and 100, 900 men
and land at several different points
AS that number cannot be made ready
for some little time, the general is
willing to send in 90 900 as an ad-
vance guard, occupy good healthy
position, fortify and hold it as base
where the other troops can be landed
as fast as they are ready. The general
thinks he has been misunderstood by
the country. He says he has not been
for postponement until fall, but only
until the army could get ready. The
delays, he admits. have been trying,
but he believes the movement can be-.
gin now. The first plan was to land
5000 or 1000 men and hold a base
while arms and supplies were fur.
nished the patriots. This, Gen. Miles
says, he opposed because he thought
the number was insufficient and might
be overwhelmed by a force sent out
from Havana by Blanco. One of the
principal landing places of the troops
is east and another is west of Havana.
They are about equi-distant from the
city. The first expedition may go to
the vicinity of Matanzas and occupy
the hills which are healthful and can
be quickly put in condition for de-
Tense against any force Blanco might
send out. This landing place would
be within six or seven hours steaming
of Key West. Information reached
the war department yesterday that
the patriots are already crowding to-
ward the north coast to meet the
American army. Unless the plans
fail somewhere next Saturday night
will see the regulars and perhaps some
volunteers landed in Cuba.
Confident Cervera's Fleet Cannot Escape.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-Confidence
that Cervera's feet cannot escape is
mistaken. The president discussed
the situation in the war room with his
campaign council. The conclusion
reached was that it did not seem pos
sible that Admiral Cervera's cruisers
could escape. The president and the
few who have access to all of the infor-
nation the government possesses have
waited all day in expectation of news
that the fleet had been captured or de-
stroyed Delay did not cause any
wavering in the belief that the fleet
has been or will be destroyed or cap
tured.