The record-union., 1898-05-18
So Long as They Keep in Gulf Of
Mexico or Caribbean Sea.
Thought That Sampson and SChIeI VIII
EneirCIe Cuba, Maintain the Block
ade and Convey Troops
to the Island.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Official
bulletin boards to-day failed to yield
any news of the movements of either
of the three feets-Sampson's Schley's
or the Spanish squadron-and there IS
reason to believe that the department
itself has received no information on
that point The department officials
are beginning to show a little sense Cf
sensitiveness to criticism in the matter
Of delay in bringing the Spanish fleet
into action. conscious as they are that
they have made all dispatch compatible
with due regard for the safety Of our
own ports as we'll as of the lives of the
crews of our vessels. Every day here
is talk of a change in the naval plans
brought about by some movement of
the Spanish squadron, but what the lat
est phase of the campaign is none out
side the members of the War Board is
competent to say.
The general impression to-day is that
no particular effort is to be made just
now to pursue the Spaniards. so long
as they keep within the confines of the
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea,
but that Sampson and Schley, in COM
bination. will encircle the island OF
Cuba. maintain the blockade and con-
voy troops across the Florida straits, If
necessary, meanwhile simply keeping a
watch on the Spanish flying squadron
to see that it does no mischief either
to the American fleet, or, by escaping
into the Atlantic, to the seaboard cities.
BY this plan the military and naval
officials might hope to silence the rather
severe criticisms that are Icing ex-
pressed because of delays n opening
the military campaign in Cuba itself
Considerable pressure has come upon
the Administration to have the cam
paign hastened, and there are thought
to be signs of a resumption of the plans
of the military leaders for the invasion
of Cuba at the point where they were
suddenly suspended by the announce
metn of the arrival of the Spanish fly
ing squadron at Martinique One sign
of this was the inclusion in the regular
army orders of a direction to Captain
Alger to go to Tampa to join General
Miles.
The department processes to feel no
apprehension that Admiral Dewey or
his men are in any way endangered by
their occupation of Manila Harbor on
the present basis, but this cannot be
said Of the unfortunate inhabitants of
Manila. if the present situation is pro-
tracted unduly. 1t is no small matter
to organize and transport an expedi-
tion of 1900 or 1900 soldiers 1000
miles across the sea at short notice, and
the indications are that within a week
some of the soldiers, at least, will lie en-
their way from San Francisco. follow
ing the Charleston, which IS expected
10 leave at any moment with few sup
plies most urgently needed by Admiral
Dewey
There are indications that the War
Department has been brought to see the
wisdom and fairness of the suggestions
that his expedition should consist OF not
less than $1,000 men. and that at least
a third of them should be seasoned
troops from the regular army, capable
of meeting on equal terms the veteran
Spanish soldiers who garrison Manila
To endeavor to overcome the Spanish
forces with less than half their number
of troops would seem to be a sense,ess
proceeding. in view of the fact that
there is no necessity for such a course
General Merritt took occasion to deny
very emphatically the accuracy Of GER
tain newspaper interviews published
this morning, which placed him in the
position of refusing to obey an order
to proceed to the Philippines because
his force was insufficient. The officials
at the department, upon seeing these
publications, did not hesitate TO express
at once their belief that General Mer-
ritt was too good a soldier II refuse
lawful order, although they admitted
that he might have, as he did to-day,
through Inspector General Hughes,
member of his staff suggest he Iro-
priety of an increase in the number and
a betterment of the quality of the sol
diers assigned to his command.
Reports received here from Key West
show that the condition of the little tor
pedo boat Winslow is much worse than