Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-31

ANOTHER WAR COUNCIL
President Mckinley, Seeretar-
les Long ard Alger Go
Over the Situation.
(By ,Telegraph.)
WASHINGTON, May 3O.-The Mill
tary invasion of Cuba has begun. I'm
less the orders for War Department
mlscarried at an early hour this morn
ing the troops that have been gathered
at the gulf ports began to break camp
and march aboard the transports
waiting to carryathem to the enemy's
territory. About twenty five of these
ships. the biggest and fastest that
could be obtained suitable for the pur-
pose, had been gathered ready to re-
celve the troops. They win accommo-
date about 10000 men, for in a short
voyage like that from one of the gulf
ports to Cuba 1t IS possible with safe
ty and comfort toscarry a much larger
number of men than would be admissi-
Die In the case of q cruise to the Phil
ippnes for instance. How many troops
started this morning. where they took
ship, and where they are bound are
questions which the leading spirits OF
the campaign positively refuse to an
swer. They have no desire that the
Spanish should have opportunity af-
forded them to gather forces to attack
cur soldiers as they land Therefore
nothing Of the details Of this first
movement con be learned There is a
SnSDicinn ha& ,v~tjs
from Tampa and Mobile. and it is
probable that in suchscaRe the. fleets of
transports will converge at Key West
to pass under conVoTs CT the sWarships
which Admire! II 81 Sol n f1aa provided
to ensure them against attack at the
hands Of some stray Spanish cruiser or
gunboat. ~.
1t is probable that there will be no
less than four separate military expe-
ditiOns and that these will be landed at
tour different points. Whether Porto
Rico is one Of these points or not can
not be learned. Before the entire force
which 1t Is proposed to use in Cuba
can be landed. the transports must
make four separate voyages across the
straits.
Arrangements have been made to
utilize the service of the insurgents to
the greatest possible extent. The gov
eminent has already sent expeditions
land and landed arms for Insurgents.
Most OF these parties succeeded per-
fectly in their object. and 1t was said
at the War Department today that a
sufficient number of the insurgents
nave been armed to constitute very
effective support for the troops as they
land. -st7-
White House at 8 o'clock this afternoon
between the President and his two war
secretaries. Alger and Long. and Major
General Miles. In command of the ar
my. Vice-President Hobart, VINO &C
companied the President to Arlington
and returned with him 10 lunch. was
present a part of the time, and Secre-
tary Day. who had just returned to
Washington, also dropping in during
the conference. After the entire situa-
ton. naval and military had been
gone over. Secretary Long retired and
manned to discuss more in detail the
military operations now about to be-
put into execution as a result of the
definite official information that the
Spanish squadron is securely held with
n Santiago harbor-
Naturally those who participated in
rhe conference observed strict rpcl:-
renee regarding it, Ill was st tied. hoy
ever. in an Authoritative quarter that
the discussion he'd covered the entire
:'aHae of nuTai and military operations.
r:tn particular vi-N to til. active
NO. ements sab:IL to begin. General
Miles brousi,r 'tllh him n, alnorai lum
showing tha exact disposition of the
ms itary io.ce., ~. w concentrated Il;
v,rious poi: Is throughout th. country.
With the number Of men at 'rampl and
;'thcr southern ,ointl ready for etlbar-
kation. He also made known that at
/ O'Clock this morning, Immediately
following the receipt of definite infor-
nation as to the presence of the Spul-
ish fleet at Santiago. he had gone to
the War Department and had issued
Geographic orders putting the troops
In motion. thus starting the movement
forward Of the military arm OF the SER
vice. Further than this those attending
the conference would not discuss their
plans.
1T was said at the War Department
that chief reliance would be placed at
the outset on the United States regu-
lars, most of whom are centered in
Florida and in such volunteer regi-
mentS as We're. thoroughly equipped
and reasonably well. seasoned for SER
vice. Although the officials will not
state how many troops are available
for Immediate active service. 1t is
20, 600 regulars and $4,000 volunteers al
Tampa. The infantry force. regular
and volunteers. is about $4,000 men, the
cavalry about 1000. the artillery about
1900. How many of these nave DeeT
or viii be dispatched to any giveT
point. or to several points. is not dis.
closed. and that is a part Of the secret
campaign plans Of the government
Back Of this force are other available
regiments at Mobile, New Orleans .an6
other points easily accessible to Tam
pa. Still further back Is the large
volunteer camp at Chickamauga,S com
prising about $1,000 infantry volunteers
1000 cavalry volunteers and three regi
ments of artillery volunteers; It Is un
derstood to be the plan--although a:
II this there Is no precise official state
| ment-to have the troops at chicka
manga to take the place Of those e q
i've service. thus keeping o large fore
ready for embarkation from Florida
fed there are the 1900 men at CAM
Alger, near Washington ana Jesse
hodies of troops on Long Island and y
1 A aId = 3 frnrni the troops already Spec1