Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-20
o,R ARMY or INVASION.

There Is perpleXlhS variety anu WIZ
treriety of views as TO the government $
purposes with respect to the Immediate
invasion of Cuba. Most of the Washing
ION correspondents are of the opinion
that the expedition will start in the course
OF week or two. On the other hano'
General Graham. who has been the COM
mander of the Department of the Gun,
and who is now to have charge Of the
oamp of volunteers at Falls Church, Va,
states as his belief that our government
will not undertake to land any large
force in Cuba until October.
And from some experts come express
sions of opinion that our troops would
be In no great danger of yellow-1ever
in Cuba. while others declare quite as
confidently that for us TO so there dur
ing the rainy season would mean death
10 thousands Of our brave boys. Again,
our government stands between a puple
ever prone TO impotence at the SLOW
ness of military operations. and cool
headed leaders, who are 10th TO incur the
responsibility Of taking an army into
q VIGOROUSLY sickly country during the
sickliest season. And so it goes.
we doubt not that the President is
sorelv troubled to decide what TO do.
II is right enough for him to assemble
troops in great camps near the ports oil
embarkation. but for him TO make a
forward movement just now certainly
would be to take much risk. In the
FIRST place, we should need a great num-
Der OF warships TO convoy our trans
ports and give protection from the enemy
while we are landing our troops. In the
next place, Admiral Dewey seems to be
In sore need of reinforcements. The
strain upon him and his men TO hold
their position at Manila must be very
great. Furthermore, we now hear that
the Spanish have collected a fleet at
Cadiz. and will put 1900 men on it and
hasten them to Manila.
This rep. TT may or may not be true;
we do not credit it implicitly. Likely
as not, that fleet and that army will sail
westward. and not eastward. Blanco
aceds succor as much as does the Spanish
.ommandant at Manila. But. however
hat may be. the new Cadlz fleet Is
hing to be reckoned with.
So we think the positions Of the figures
On the military chessboard do not Indicate
an early movement into Cuba. True,
many transports have been hired for the
purpose; true. tens of thousands OF vol
snteers have been modified in the South,
put much remains 10 be done IN drill and
Equipment before those troops can be
depended upon for active service. And
ne repeat that the administration would
assume a heavy burden OF responsibility
thould It send 90 Cuba an ill-prepared
trmy, or an army which would forthwith
secome the victims of the fever. IN such
sn event. the same men that are now
aenouncing the dilatory movements OF
our generals would be heard calling down
curses upon those who had sacrificed
our men.
1t is ike flying in the face of all the
journalistic prophets at Washington to
say so. but We cannot yet make up our
mind that an invasion of Cuba is immi-
ncnt The risk OF fever aside. our men
should be seasoned TO camp life little
before they are taken into Cuba. Thou
sands of men in the Confederate and
Federal armies slckened when called into
camp near Richmond in 1851 and e. Ys;
tho low lands below Richmond are vastly
healthier than are the low lands OF Cuba.
And 20 the President ought TO be- very
cautious about ordering our troops 10
Spfa. But when a start is made. we
expect 70 see those regulars that have
'been in the Gulf States some weeks lead
ia way. They are acelimated in some
cegfee. They have been accustomed
somewhat TO the hot suns Of the south
Meanwhile It would be Well FOR impa-
tent people to remember that II has not
been month since war was declafed
IN thai time much has BEEN done. Our
FpKrnmsnt has shown itself resource,
: -iit ana energetic. Yet scores OF regl.
merits ase. not more than half equipped
ana half drilled. II would be scarcel,
less than . eriue to send them % Cubs