Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-19

Points is in Difference to the
Wishes of Spain-The Formation
of a Naval Department With
Hampton Roads as a Base is
Merely for Protection to Coast
Cities - General Miles Said ia
Have Given the Opinion That
War is Inevitable - Mckinley
Said to Contemplate Allowing
Spain to Continue to Infiict Au-
tonomy Upon the WRECKED Gu
bans.
Special TO the Register
Washington. D. c., March 1S.-On
the surface here to-day the prospect
of war with Spain seemed again as
threatening as at any time in the last
six weeks.
Members Of the cabinet declared to
newspaper men there was absolutely
no truth in reports that concessions
were heing made to Spain, and that
whatever changes had been ordered in
the stations of our warships was in
pursuance of plans for the better de-
Tense of the North Atlantic coast cities
in anticipation CT trouble with Spain.
The tone OF these statements clearly
indicated that the expectation of war
was strong.
In the same line was an utterance OF
Gen. Miles, commander Of the army.
who was quoted as saying to a friend
that he regarded war with Spain as
inevitable. He could see no possible
way in which our differences with her
could be settled peacefully
On the other hand at the cabinet
meeting to-day the President declared
he was still confident of bringing Spain
to terms without war But it also de-
veloped that the President contem-
plates allowing Spain another long per-
iod for trying the autonomy expert
ment on the wretched Cubans, prob
ably on the condition thatsSpabnd. ~
make renaration for the destisT 80 !. 3 I
the Maine if this government asks such
reparation.
SEVENTY THOUSAND MEN
is the number of Spanish soldiers who
have been killed, wounded and other
wise incapacitated for duty during the
present war in Cuba. These figures
have been received in this city recently
from reliable sources and are said TO
be as nearly authentic as it is posi-
Bile to obtain them without recourse
to the records kept by the Spanish
government. From the same source
considerable other information bear
ing on the military strength Of Spain
and her dependencies is obtained. The
present force of Spain in Cuba is as
follows: Regulars $4,000 OF this
number it is estimated that $4,000 OF
them are e1ective for military pur-
poses. There are about 10000 menu
bers in what is known as the Volun-
teer army. There are $1,000 men who
are not effective for military duty
from various causes.
The strength OF the Spanish army
at home and including her nearby pcs
sessions, is 100000 men, which, IN
times of demand for additional SOL
diers, may be increased as follows;
First reserve, 10000; second reserve
100. 000 men, all Of whom are instruct
ed in military tactics, and reserve
which is not instructed in military
tactics of 100000 men, making IN al
grand total of 610000 men. in Phlllp-
pine islands Spain has an army OF o.
600 men, which includes about lo,V0o
native troops.
In Porto Rico there are 5000 Span
ish troops, which, in the event OF nos
tilities could be supplemented by 4,VVV
volunteers.
The President does not expect any
thing in the nature OF preliminary
report
FROM THE COURT OF INQUIRY
On the contrary his expectation is tAa1
the report will be complete I'D an Io
spects, although following the u9'a'
course it is within the power Oh HI
Secretary of the Navy to order tIe
body to continue the mNn- ed.Ioh
along certain lines should ne peiieNe
further information is desirable.
A conclusion which it is deslreo u
put in force as soon as poSelpio 10
that the navy must be reinloTceH oy d
number of torpedo boat dcslToFef5' noe
torpedo boats. These are Nesaei9 ~
about 800 tons displacement ana aole
to keep the sea almost aS "ell
a cruiser. With the enormous speru
of 80 knots per hour, and an ohensiso
armament of quick firing guns equdi ~
the average gunboat, it is sald llat -
power Of such a craft is certainly Fe
great. and that perhaps they H,a,
prove to be the ideal naval craLI' one
distinguished naval officer az eAPgH
in ordnance matters, eXpfesseu IL
opinion to-day that two such Q9ip7,o
boat destroyers might annlhna'e ~
biggest battleship in the world II tley
stood ready to run the risk Oh peins
sunk themselves. All that "o1ia Do
necessary, he sai1, would be W haFe
the battleship in light during we day'
which they could DO easily Owing 70
their superior speed. and when dark
ness had come. to attack the battle
ship from opposite directions simaita-
neously at full speed with tofpedoPs,
Such considerations as these nave IN
iuenced the policy board TO recon-.
mend the procurement Of az many oi
these boats as possible.
AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
So far the department has been NM
able to buy amy abroad and WITS
four torpedo boats of the larger cias
of 30 knots speed, almost equal 70 ~
daetrover fvne. Arc buiIding in this