The record-union., 1898-05-04
viii Also Be Sent as Many Troops
as Needed in the Philippines.
Meanwhile Plans for the Cuban Campaign
Are Being Steadily DeVeIOped-A
Force Soon to Be Landed
on the Island.

WASHINGTON, May 3.-The day
American fleet from the Philippines.
and, in view of the continued in
terruption in cable commune alton, the
officials are beginning to resign them
selves to the belief that they must
await further official news until a boat
arrives at Hongkong. 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 dispatches before the lombard
ment In ordinary times there is
plenty of communication by steamers
as we'll as by native vessels between
the Philippines and the mainland, and
the officials will be rather surprised If
some news is not coming by this means
tomorrow.
If Admiral Dewey wants troops to
hold what he may gain in the Philip
pines he will be sent as many as he
needs directly from San Francisco, and
it is very likely that State volunteers
will make up the quota. The Cabinet
Mtalked about this to-day, 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 expeditfonary force in Cuba in a
very short time Admiral 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 from Rio Janeiro.
The officials naturally feel an inter
est in this race of the magnificent bat
tleship around the continent. They
profess to. feel little anxiety over the
outcome. notwithstanding report Of
the effort of the Spanish squadron to
cut off the Oregon The vessel sailed
firm Rio on course known only to the
Captain. and the chances of her being
overtaken on the high seas are very
small. Even should the Spanish yes
sells fall in with her it is by no means
certain notwithstanding their num-
bers. that she would be defeated by
the combined Spanish force, as her
magnificent armor and ordnance are
superior in every respect, size and quail
ity to those of the Spanish ships.
The proclamation directed against the
Spanish residents of the United States
by the State Department has not yet
been issued, nor is it certain that it
will be issued. probably depending upon
the course pursued by the Spanish
Government in their treatment of
American citizens.
China issued her neutrality procla-
nation to-day, so there is no place on
the Asiatic coast left open to the free
use of the war vessels of either Spain
or the United States. This is rather
remarkable. in that it marks the first
action of this kind on the part of China.
which has never before issued neu-
tralitv proclamation, and the naval Of
ficers are duly grateful for the consid-
Grafton shown by the Chinese Govern
ment in Withholding the issue of the
decree until informed that the Ameri-
cans had secured a base in the Philip
pine Islands.
The army bought a hospital ship to-
day for the benefit of the troops going
to Cuba
Commissary- General Nash was re-
tired, making the fourth Commissary-
General TO be retired within as many
months
Reports received by the Navy De-
partment from the Miantonomah show
that the monitor was roughly handled
by the storm while making her way
south to Key West from League Island.
<I1er decks were swept and frequent
delays We're caused by the disarrange-
ment of some of the ships structure.
Throughout it ALL however, the pro-
pelling machinery worked splendidly
washington will be soon gay with
uniforms, as result of an order to-day
requiring all officers to wear the uni
forms of their proper grades.
The French Embassy is the only for
eign establishment in Washington