The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-05-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 20, 1895

WASHINGTON. D. O., May 20, 1898.
The landing of an army in Cuba, which
would have been an accomplished fact
before now had not the movement been
held up with the the expectation that
the Spanish fleet, now somewhere in
West Indian waters, had crossed the
Atlantic with the intention of seeking a
fight with our warships, is to go ahead
regardless of the movements OF the
Spanish fleet, it having become appar.
ent that the Spanish fleet is seeking to
avoid rather than to fight our fleets.
Owing to the desire of President Nc
Kinley to keep the news of the move
ments of our army and navy from reach.
ing the Spaniards, as it has heretofore
done, a more specific statement cannot
be made in advance. But 1t can be
said without violating any confidence,
and without giving the enemy any
pointers, that the fastest ships in both
Admiral SIMPSONS and Commodore
Schley's fleets are going to chase that
Spanish fleet around until it is found
and destroyed, and that the invasion OF
Cuba is going to be pushed without
waiting for the Spanish feet to be
whipped.
Our naval strength in Cuban waters
has been increased by the safe arrival OF
the battleship Oregon, the Marietta, and
the dynamite cruiser Buffalo, which the
Spaniards had been trying to intercept
in their long voyage.
Up to this time General Blancc has
free cable communication with Madrid,
as we'll as with the admiral Of the Span
ish fleet, but he will not have it much
longer. In fsct, it is doubtful whether
he has at this time. There are five cable
lines from Cuba, two to the U. S two to
Jamaica, and one to Haiti. Orders have
been given to cut the three last named.
That will break Blanco's communica-
ton, as he cannot send messages over
the two cables to this country, both
being now under government super
vision. Gen. Greedy, chief o. s. Signal
officer, has advocated cutting these cables
from the first as war measure.
1t is the desire of President Mckinley
and Secretary Long that the medals
voted to the officers and men of Admiral
Dewey's squadron by Congress, in com.
memoration of the q eat victory won by
them in Manila harbor, shall be OF the
very best design that can be obtained
from the best American artists. Assist
ant Secretary Allen, of the Navy Depart
ment, has been chosen to be chairman
of the commission charged with the hon.
or of selecting the design for the medal.
1t is likely that all American artists will
be invited to submit designs.
The majority report from the House
committee on Foreign Affairs, in favor
of the joint resolution providing for the
of Hawaii, is one Of the
strongest documents of it's kind ever
presented to the House. 1t says of the
annexation: "There is no un.
due pressure on the part of the q. 8. as
q greater power; no surprise of any one;
no possibility of objections by other
1t is simply the obvious
result of the natural course of events
through long period of years thus com
pleted with the cordial consent of the
sovereign powers of both governments.
The only question involved is whether
the proposed possession of the Hawaiian
Islands would be advantageous to the
U. g." The report concludes by saying:
''The acquisition OF these islands does
not contravene our national policy or
traditions. 1t carries out the Monroe
which excludes European
powers from interfering in the American
continent and outlying islands, but
does not limit the U. g.; and this doc.
trine has long been spilled to these
very islands by our government"
While there 10 Q disposition on the
part Of some Senators and Representa-.
tives to think that the speech by Jos.
Chamberlain. Q member of the British
government, in favor Of an alliance be.
tween Great Britain and the q. g., was
made to serve England's purpose in
Europe, they all agree in regarding it
an almighty good thing for this country.
Such an alliance would bs the last thing
the governments of continental Europe
would care to zee, and 20 long - they
think 1t would be likely to be hastened
by their attempting to help Spain they
are not likely TO make that attempt
Consequently. wnstsvsr may have been
the reason for the making Of that speech,
u has acted and win continue 10 ct In
eas iaveg.
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