Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-21
NO NEED FOR DELAY
The Common Belief Regarding Hos
tile Initiative.
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN KEPT SECRET
Fleets Are Ready, but Army Can
not Now Cooperate.
REGIMENTS ALL MOVING
REGIMENTS ALL MOVING

acting upon the joint resolution directing
Intervention, for the refusal Of the Spanish
government to receive the communication,
knowing it's character, is to be construed
only as refusal Of it's conditions. There
fore, it may be that movements Of our
army and navy will follow at any moment
in the direction of expelling the Spanish
forces from Cuba, and 1t will not be neces-
sary to wait until Saturday noon before
making these.
1t is still absolutely unknown to any one
outside the administration proper and even
in that case only to a few, how the cam
paign shall be directed. and any attempt to
outline publicly it's details is bitterly re-
sented by the army and navy officers who
are charged with the preparations of the
strategic plans of the two departments.
The fleet as Key West IS understood to
be ready to rove at moments notice,
but it is the impression that no useful
purpose can be served by sending it to
Cuba in advance of the arrival at Key
West of a sufficient number of United
States troops to cooperate with the navy
in offensive operations and to occupy any
ground that may be Won from the Spanish
forces.
The flying squadron at Hampton Roads
is also in state of readiness for instant
action, but it is surmised that its present
function is rather to keep an eye on the
Spanish movements and be ready to defend
quickly any point en- the coast that might
be threatened by Spanish cruisers.
The naval officials refuse most positively
to say whether they intend to force an
issue by sending supplies to the reconcen-
trados in Cuba on merchant ship convoy
ed by a man-of-war 1t is known that this
plan has been under consideration, but
suggestion has been made that the Span
iards might avoid the issue entirely by
permitting the merchant ship to land the
stores without molestation and then right
afterward seize the stores for their own
use.
Adjutant General Corbin of the army is
in receipt of kilograms from commanding
officers of troops throughout the country
showing that every regiment of infantry,
cavalry and artillery ordered to the south
has started on it's way there In many
cases where the distances were not over
two days travel to the mobilizing points
the regiments have already reached their
destinations. 1t is hoped that all will have
been settled comfortably and the discipline
of military life be fully under way when
General Miles and the aids on his staff
ter part of the week.
Offers of Troops.
The War Department continues to receive
offers of troops transmitted through gov
ernors, other state officials and by individ-
uals. At the same time the department is
overrun with inquiries as to the possibility
of an early call for troops and the number
which will be required. To messages OF
the latter class Secretary Alger is making
a general reply that the first call for troops
will be limited exclusively to the National
Guard. The number, it is stated at the
War Department today, mas not yet been
definitely determined upon, nor has the
plan and detail Of the call been perfected.
Nothing, 1t is said. concerning the latter
Will be made public until action is had by
Congress on the volunteer army bill
Ex-Delegate Murphy Of Arizona was at
the War Department this morning, in ac-
cordance with request from Gov Nc
Cord of that territory, and submitted to
Secretary Alger an offer of the governor
to raise 1000 troops for use in the army.
Mr.. Murphy has no doubt that the men
will be most valuable addition to any
army sent to occupy Cuba. A thou
sand men. composed of hardy plainsmen
and vigorous mountaineers can readily be
obtained, who. with the experience they
have had, could successfully resist the
hardships of climate and travel to be met
with In a tropical climate or a mountain
Gus or hilly country.
The Key West Trouble,
Army officers attach little importance to
the trouble which occurred last night at
Key West between Sergt Williams of
COmOanV e., n ho C,I
and policeman. which eliminated in a
successful demand on the sheriff for the
release of Williams after he Lad been lock-
ed up. Occurrences of that character. they
say are not infrequent when there is a
fresh arrival of soldiers, and the matter is
100 trivial to be made the subject of any
serious consideration. Nc report of the af-
fair has reached here ard none is looked
for. The commanding officer will take
charge of the case and do what seems best
in the matter. Naturally repetition of
such or similar occurrences between the
civilian and military classes would lead to
the discussion of the propriety of proclaim
ing martial law over the districts where
the troops are mobiliZed but it is not be-
lieved that such matter has yet been at
all brought formally to the attention of tNc
President
Major GARDENERS Visit.
Major Asa Bird Gardner of New York
had brief interview with Secretary AL
ger this morning regarding the volunteer
army bill that passed the House yester-
day, during which he pointed out what he
regarded as some constitutional object. on !,
to that feature Of the bill concerning the
appointment of officers of regiments on
the recommendation Of the governors of
the states.
Other callers who saw Secretary Alger
today were Senators Gear, Kyle and Hale,
and Representative Cannon, chairman of
the House committee on appropria tons.
Army Orders.
Major John W. Pullman, quartermas;er,
will proceed from this city to Mobile, Ala.
| for duty as quartermaster at that place.
First Lieut.. Robert C. Paxton, 10th Cav
airy, will report to the commanding officer,
| 9th Cavalry, at Fort Myer. Va. for tenn
rorary duty, and will accompany that
| regiment to Chickamauga Park, where,
upon arrival, he will join his proper COM
mand.
Lieut.. Col. Frank G. Smith, 9th Artillery,
tn 11 h; y