Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-02
VOLUNTEERS UNDER SECOND CALL.
Order for Their Organization Provides
iOr Filling Up Existing Regiments.
ne FIGHT AT SANTIAGO.
oHiciaIs at Washington DO Not Be-
Iicve Any General Engagement
Crids-FOrwnrd the Word Now.

..ue since the beginning OF hostilities
there appears to be something in the ma
lure Of an official statement OF the plan
Of campaign Of the United States Gov
eminent. II is contained in a letter of
Secretary Ayers 10 the Speaker Of the
House. transmitting certain recommen-
G.,.ons and statements of General Lud-
lows which disclose the purpose OF the
War Department to send 10000 men to
cuba 2oOJ0 10 start at once, and the re-
ml.uder just as soon as they can be
made ready for departure. Then there
vas an estimate for establishing cleo
trical communication in Cuba, Porto Rico,
and the Philippines, showing for the first
time officially an implied intention on the
part Of the government 10 land troops in
Porto Rico. OF course. all these move
meuts have been anticipated by the press,
bat nevertheless. a strong element Of
doubt existed, and. therefore, the official
statement Of the governments purpose,
made even in this indirect fashion, Gre
a,ed a profound sensation here. The three
are 10 go together-Cuba, Porto Rico, and
the Philppines-and perhaps into the mill
tary occupation OF the United States
troops.
THE NEW VOLUNTEERS.
Inasmuch as the Secretary says that a
second contingent Of troops is to so for
ward as soon as it can be prepared,
good deal Of interest attaches TO an order
that was made to-day at the War Depart
meut. providing for the organization Of
the $500 additional volunteers called for.
The order officially established the state
ment heretofore made in these dispatches
that a large proportion of the new men
are TO be used to all up the existing regi-
ments of volunteers, which are in most
cases deficient in numbers. 1t is to be
presumed from to-day's order that the
volunteer regiments called for under the
nrst call will be detained until they are
filed up in this fashion, so that the order
has some bearing upon the plan of cam
palgn.
CHICKANIAUGA COMPLAINTS.
The War Department received dis |
patch to-day from General Brooke, in
command OF the forces at Chickamauga, |
setting at rest the reports as to made |
quate food and water supply there. When |
these reports were circulated recently, |
Secretary Alger telegraphed an inquiry |
TO General Brooke, whose reply is as fol-
lows.
There is no reason whatever for com
plant as 10 the quality and kind of food |
furnished the troops in this camp. Some
regulars arrived here with food rations
only. but defects of this kind are quickly
remedied. and the vegetable component
was Immediately provided. The water
question is being solved as to quantity,
and IL has always been good as to
quality"
THE SANTIAGO FIGHT.
The naval officials have been consider
ably mystifed throughout the day by the
reports OF an engagement off Santiago.
At the outset there was complete scep-
ticisrn. and a disposition to treat the re-
ported action as a myth. Gradually, as
the day advanced the corroborative evil
dence coming from many quarters. in
Guiding the official announcements from
Habana and Madrid, led the officials to
concede that some engagement had taken
place. although they did not regard it as
q serious one. No bulletins were issued
by the department (uring the day, and at |
the close OF Office hours ii was stated
that no dispatches from Commodore
-chley had been received during the day.
There is reason 20 believe, however that
.h. department received indirect advices
through the state Department possibly
not bearing out the detailed press dis
patches. but sufficient to indicate that an
Engagement Of some kind had occurred
II Santiago.
NO GENERAL ENGAGEMENT.
The impression obtained during the af-
eruoon that in execution Of general IN
trucrons 10 all United states naval com I
uanders on the coast Of Cuba TO prevent s
he construction or strengthening OF bat
cries by the Spaniards. Commodore
,chley. observing work Of this KIND going !
IN AZ MORO Castle, had drawn his Meet {
lp close enough 10 stop it. 1t is not be {
,eyed for an instant that he made any
cal attempt TO enter the harbor. although
is entirely conceivable that while en- =
aged I'm the task of shellng the shore
atteries. and finding the Cristobal Colon l
b range. no could not resist the tempta-
Ion 20 try a few shots at her. {
SPANS FINANCIAL STRESS.
The statement from Madrid, In what c
aemed 10 be almost semi-ofiicial form, OF 1
he acuteness Of the financial stringency S
here. and the plain intimation that the S
.ank OF Spain, and consequently spain, II
we're nearing the end Of their hnaheiai h
osources, was regarded at the state De- n
artment as OF more real significance thah +
lany OF the stories of battles on lana
nd sea that have been coming over the
lbes for the past few weeks The ehec'
Z this notice may be TO hasten the ope-
ations against Porto Rico, lest the prize
lip from our grasp through sudden ana
nexpected termination of the war.
FORWARD MOVEMENT BEGUN.
An additional evidence that the actual !
,rward movement of the army and navy u
as begun was given in the action OF the =