Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-06-02
MOVES WITH CAUTION
Little Possibility of Immediate In
vasion of Cuba.
The Government VIII Not Attempt
Military Occupation of the Island
Until Satisfied of Disposal
of Cervera's Fleet.

Washington, May 2s.-The military
situation as at present determined upon
by those in authority is to make no
| forward movement of troops either up
on Puerto Rico or Cuba until full and
definite information is received as to
the location of the Spanish squadron
and its possibilities as factor in the
aggressive movements of Spain. That
being the positive determination, there
is no present purpose to hurry forward
the troops now at the several points of
concentration, but the interval prior
| to an aggressive forward movement will
be employed in seasoning the men.
stiII Looking for Cervera.
Steps have been taken to secure early
information as to whether Admiral Ger
vera's squadron is inside Santiago har-
Dor and whether the American squad
ron has such advantage of position out
side the harbor as to make the escape
of the Spaniards practically impossible.
For the last few days army circles have
shared public belief that the Spanish
| ships were trapped in Santiago harbor,
and that has given impetus to arrange
ments by which large bodies of troops
at Chickamauga and elsewhere might
be moved forward rapidly to Tampa for
embarkation.
The presence of 80 or more transports
in Florida waters added to the convic-
ton that a movement on large scale
was about to occur. All this has been
| going on with the understanding that
| Admiral Cervera's career as a possible
menace in the rear of our troops had
been cut off by his being securely held
within Santiago harbor, but in the alb
sence of positive information on this
point, together with the certainty that
he can be held inside the harbor, there
is no purpose whatever on the part Of
the war department to make an ag-
gressive forward movement on Cuba or
Puerto Rico. This was stated Friday
in the most positive manner and from
an authoritative source. Unless the
navy department succeeds in securing
some direct and official information re-
specting the Spanish and the American
fleets within the next "a hours through
the aid of the West Indian cables ii will
resort to the use of dispatch boats.
Has No OmciaI Knowledge.
1t can be again affirmed on the highest
authority, and Notwithstanding all ru-
mors to the contrary, that at the close
of the day the department had nothing
more than a belief, founded on unoffi-
cial advices, that the Spanish squadron
was lying in Santiago harbor, and nc
news as to Commodore Schley's where
abouts. However, the great majority
of the officials of the navy department
entertain no doubt that Cervera is with
in Santiago harbor, and they have sue
ceeded in impressing this belief upon
the president and the members of the
cabinet.
The New Military Force.
An important phase to the military
programme is decision not to take up
the details Of organizing the new force
of $4,000 volunteers for at least week
or ten days. At the cabinet meeting
Friday inquiry was made of Secretary
Alger as to what steps he proposed TAX
ing on the organization of this large adj
ditional force of volunteers. His reply
was that he had not even considered the
details of this question and that his
plan was not to take up the matter for
week or ten days. In the meantime NJ
conclusion has been reached as to
whether a portion of the $4,000 volun-
teers will be used to recruit the regi-
ments still remaining untitled under
the first call for $4,000 volunteers. IL
the regiments under the first call are TO
be brought up TO their maximum
strength it will take about 10000 men
from the second call to complete the 1875
regiments under the first call. This
will leave $4,000 men to be organized in
distinctly new regiments. 1t would
have the advantage of filling every regi-
ment in the service. instead of leaving
most of them with depleted organiza-
ton. On the other hand it would de-
stroy the integrity of this force of 49,
600 volunteers as second reserve. One
of the main purposes of issuing the
second call was to establish second
reserve, made up of men who could be
drilled and equipped at leisure and
called upon some months hence il cir
cumstances required.
| Ask Governors for Information.
The war department is anxious to OBJ
tain the views of the governors of the
states and territories in regard to the
filling to their maximum strength the
regiments already furnished by them
under the first call of the president for
125,000 men, and with this object in
view, Adjt. Gen. Corbin, at the direction
of Secretary Alger, has sent kilograms
asking the several governors to make
recommendations to the department on
this subject.
SchIey's Instructions.
The instructions sent to Commodore
Schley from Washington are only gen.
eral in nature. His mission is to cap
ture or destroy the armada. Whether
he forces it to fight by the starvation
process or whether he bombards the