The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-11
IT WILL BE PUT IN PLACE To-
MORROW.
GUN AND CARRIAGE WEIGHS FIVE TONS
The Freight on Them is Nearly $780, Mining
the Harbor at Wimirgton---1roops
Daily Expecting Orders
From Washington.

The impression preVaflS among TN
people that President Mckinley is con
forming in action in regard to Cuba t
the teachings Of this proyerb.
There were few people in Raleigh yes
terday who believed that he would really
send in his message to Congress to-day
as he has promised.
They have got used to being put OF
and they naturally look for it. To have
the President stiffen up his back ant
utter one word indicative of a determine
ton would be positively refreshing.
''McKinley's a coward" said one man
land he'll let anybody tread on our toes
and then set to work trying to convince
them they've done wrong. If he sue
ceeds he thinks he's accomplished 8
great victory
i've been with him all along uat
the last few days" said another, "but
I'm not any longer. / was for peace il
we could get it honorably; seeing thai
we can't, I'm for war. Mckinley has
tiddled and fooled so much that we've
not only lost our own self-respect as i
nation, but we are an object of contempt
in the eyes of the world
And yet, despite all this delay. war
preparations go on as actively as ever.
About 300 hands are working night and
day on the Notifications at Fort Caswell;
and yesterday the fourth disappearing
gun passed here over the Seaboard Air
Line on its way there to be put in
place to morrow. 1t took three ears ia
transport the gun and its carriage. Il
rs an S-inch disappearing carriage and
comes from Plaintield n. j., and the
1O-inch breech loading rifle comes from
Sandy Hood. They came by way of the
PENNSYLVANIA railroad and the Sea board
Air Line. The weight of the gun is
1900 pounds. and the weight of the
carriage $4,000 pounds. The freight
charged is 40 cents hundred, with $500
additional for transporting the guns from
the Wilmington depot to Fort Caswell.
At these rates the delivery of the biz
gun for Fort Caswell will cost the gov
eminent $S7S.25 for transportation.
A detachment of United States army
engineers from Company b, corps of en-
gineers, Willet's Point, n. Y, arrived
at Wilmington Friday, in command of
Corporal William J. Costello, and have
gone to Fort Caswell today to mine
the harbor All the necessary explosives
are at the fort and the harbor is being
thoroughly mined.
The Naval Reserves continue under
waiting orders, meanwhile recruiting to
their full force. The same is being done
by the State militia, though it is not
under orders as yet. Some communica-
ton III regard TO them, however. has
been daily expected at the Adjutant
Generals office for more than week.
The military notion is that practically
the full force of the standing army will
he thrown into Cuba as soon after q
war declaration is made as the regiments
can be formed into an army. TIE
soldiers believe that, while the navy
may be competent to take the ports OF
Cuba. they cannot spare the detail of
men from the ships which would be no
cessary to hold the cities. And in this
line the officers argue that experiment
ing with small land forces will not be
considered wise and that it will be ne
cessary to utilize the full quota OF the
army as it stands.
Military men are wondering at what
points in the South the forces will
rendezvous. Tampa. for its nearness
and because of its harbor. seems TO be
a reasonable choice although New Or
leans is making very strong claims. II
is pointed out against New Orleans
that it affords poor facilities for the
forming of an army, and it is conceded
that it will take some work to ANAL
gamate the various regiments. utterly
unused to anything like united action
into an organization which will do any
thing like what the ball-piayers call team
work. IT is suggested that New Or
leans has no room for so large body
of men as would be moved into the
confines of city of rendezvous. The
Louisiana city is so low that aside from
Il few parks there is not sufficient vacant
space to furnish accommodations Of the
sanitary sort for an army. In Il way
something of the same sort may be
argued against Tampa and Mobile. ana
just now a good deal of attention is
be.ng given to the project of utilizing
Atianta as place of gathering. At
lahta while INLAND, is claimed to be SUI
perlor Ill every essential to the other
cltles named, having plenty of high
land' plenty Of water and abundant rail
roau Iacliltles, both from the outside
country and to the seaboard Chica
manga battlefield. in Tennessee. is also
suggested, and considered with mucn
lavor, us inland position being the only
owing TO climatic and soil conditions
ny nefi equipment OF the soldery will
embrace. of necessity. MANY no,,, ~
lures. The ordinary Sibley and tants
employed in Indian warfare will not ~
suitable for a Cuban campaign. II viii
be absolutely necessary To eouin tha
men with hammocks and appliances fnr
swinging them, as the common pract;no
OF curling up on the ground would pro
baoiy be very quickly discouraged by an
endemic Of sickness. 1t is understood
that the insurgent army. such oe Il :,
is Obliged. even with its hardy lot oe
men. to use bammocks exclusively. This
condition. which seems TO be n verv
slight detail at first mention. is in fact
"A thing of very great importance II
will add materially to the work Of tho
transportation department and will make
necessary spreading out over an on.