Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-04
Representatives Assigned to Observe
Hostile Operations.
EVERY FACILITY TO Be GIVEN THEM
Naval and Military Experts Praise
Dewey.
NO HINT OF INTERVENTION

The staffs of the various embassies and
legations at Washington are being rapidly
recruited by military and naval officers,
who have been assigned to make observa-
tions of the military and naval operations
in the present war with Spain. Lieutenant
j. Rodler of the Austrian imperial navy
arrived here today. and, after securing au-
thoriZation from the naval authorities, he
will go forward to inspect the operations of
the United States fleet in Cuban waters.
Capt. Lee of the British royal artillery ar
rived here three days ago. and, after Sc
curing full credentials from the authorities
here, proceeded to Chckamauga, and
thence to Tampa, Fla. Capt. Lee has been
attached the British forces stationed at
Halifax. and the London authorities select
ed him for duty military observer, as he
could reach the field of operations without
delay. Aside from his military training. he
is an expert authority on explosives. Major
de Grantprey, the military attache of the
French embassy, will start for Cuba
soon as a military movement of any pro-
portations is begun there. Count Won Goet-
zen, former military attache of the Ger
man embassy, has been ordered to return
here, and he, too, will proceed to Cuba.
He left here about two months ago to join
his regiment at Berlin, which is part of
the imperial guard near Emperor William.
His departure followed his marriage to an
American lady, Mrs. Lay of Baltimore.
To BE Given Every Facility.
The War and Navy Departments are de-
sIrous of affording every facility to the
foreign military and naval attaches, and
they have been furnished with credentials
which will give them every consideration
of DerSOnal comfort we'll a = IF
serving their government in the way of OBJ
serving war operations. Captain Lee, the
British officer, will go forward with re
first military expedition, even if this be of a
preliminary character. Count Won GoetZen,
the German, and N-ajor de Grandprey the
French attache, will not accompany this
fret movement, the former not being likely
to arrive in time, while the latter will wait
until a more general movement occurs.
Lieutenant Rodley, the Austrian attache,
will probably go on board one of the Amer
ican ships now off Havana. His observa-
tions, being of a naval character, will be
rather more general than those of the mill
tary observers, as it will take in not only
the operations in Cuba, but also those of
the flying squadron and Of the other forces
along the North Atlantic.
Commodore Dewey Praised.
lneS6 SApSTlS
united in giving Commodore Dewey the
highest tribute for his recent fearless en-
trance of Manila harbor. and his furious
attack on the Spanish fleet. When it was
suggested today to one of them that some
of the foreign press comments were dis
paraging he promptly answered that this
in no way reflected foreign military and
naval views Commodore Dewey's achieve
ment, he said, was beyond criticism, and
would in time rank him with Farragut and
other American naval heroes. A leading
ambassador, on hearing this remark, added
the statement that a statue of Dewey
would in time be erected in Washington
along with those of Farragut, Dupont and
others in the public reservations. The for
eign tributes to Dewey are Enthusiastically
sincere and genuine.
The observation of the foreign experts is
now directed toward Commodore Dewey's
next move. One of them pointed out today
that while Dewey's force of probably 900
men was not sufficient for him to occupy
the town of Manila, yet it was am
pie to allow him 10 garrison the
two commanding forts of Cavite and
Corregidor. He believed the strategic move
of Dewey, following the annihilation Of the
Spanish fleet would be to silence and then
occupy tneSS Two lcTlS. ADOut 1oco iueH,
he said, could be spared from the ships
without crippling them, and with these men
at Cavite and Corregidor, Commodore
Dewey would prao tically hold the city of
Manila and all 'ts surroundings, without
the necessity of taking possession of ths
city itself
Military Landing in Cuba.
The foreign experts are also much inter-
ested in the approaching active movements
in Cuba. One of them stated today that
from a strategic standpoint he thought it
would be unwise to attempt military land
ing at any point within the present line of
blockade. The danger of such a landing,
he pointed out, was that railways ran along
the coast Of Cuba. connecting Havana with
all the points covered by the blockade.
These railroads are in the hands of the
Spanish, and it will permit them to mass
$4,000 soldiers at any point threatened with
a landing. For this reason, he said, the ex-
pedient move would seem to be to take a
port remote from the present blockade,
such as Santiago. 1t would be difficult to
mass Spanish troops there in time to pre-
vent landing. Once taken, he said, the
American forces would have a base from
which to supply arms and ammunition to
the insurgents. He believed the base
from which the insurgents could be fully
equipped was Of far greater value than ons
for. offensive operation by the American
trooIs.
There continues to be complete silence in
all foreign quarters as to any move Of in
tervention.
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