The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-19
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

i ~
When it comes to fighting we Can
whip the Spaniards just as fast as we
can get at them, hut when there is a
chance for trickery Spain can give this
government seven points in a game of
ten and win out every time. This
was proven again by the wild goose
chase upon which Admiral Sampson
and the strongest vessels of his fleet
have been for more than a week
hunting for the Cape Verde Spanish
fleet, which instead of being headed
for Porto Rico has turned up on the
coast of Spain, 5000 miles away.
Now, when everybody IS disgusted
and disappointed, some officials have
the nerve to say that they never be-
lieved the Spanish fleet was coming
this way at all.
This Spanish fleet has been the
buga5oo given by the administration
as an excuse for the delay in invading
Cuba. As soon as it was known that
it was on the other side of the Atlantic
1t was announced that the invasion
was. to begin at once, Gen. Miles, who
was to command, engaged Pullman
berth on train for Florida ana hotel
quarters for himself at Tampa. Then,
presto change! the engaged Pullman
berth was not used, and Gen. Miles
postponed his trip from Washington.
Still the public is assured that there
has been no doubt or hesitation on
the part of the administration thar
Mr. Mckinley is not waiting to give
Spain chance to sue for peace, and
that the invasion of Cuba will be an
accomplished fact in the next few
days. The men will be in Florida
ready to do the invading, as they are
being rushed there as fast as steam
can carry them, and there will certain
ly be no good reason for further post
ponement. 1t is the opinion of such
men as Fitz Lee, who know what
they are talking about, that the cam.
palgn in Cuba need not last longer
than thirty days, if as many as $4,000
men are sent over.
There has been no room to find apv
flult with the promptness OF the ad-
mlnistration in sending Admiral Dewey
the rank of Rear Admiral was form
ally conferred upon him by the Presi-
dent and Senate this week-rein-
forcements to aid him in holding and
governing the Philippine Islands.
The Cruiser Charleston has already
started for Manila from San Fran
cisco, and other ships are being pre-
pared to start. 1t will take the Charles
ton about three weeks to make the
trip.
There is no truth in the charges so
perslstently being made in republican
papers that democratic Senators are
responsible for the delay on the war
revenue bill passed by the House.
The fact is the bill as passed by the
House was very crude and imper-
feet measure, and the Senate COM
mittee on Finance has been trying to
whip it into more satisfactory shape
by amending it. More amendments
have SO far been offered by republican
Senators than by democrats. The
democrats are too anxious to see this
war fought to speedy and successful
close to refuse to do their part towards
furnishing the government all the
money it needs, but there is money
enough on hand for all present needs
and they do not intend being stamped
ed into supporting obnoxious methods
of raising money just because the bill
is labeled "war measure"
Major General Joseph Wheeler
("Fighting Joe Wheeler") was the
first one of the new major generals to
take the field. He babe his many
friends in Congress goodbye and left
for Chattanooga, where he will take