The record-union., 1898-06-01
WAR NEWS
SCARCE At
WASHINGTON.
Field Of Action Removed
From Capital.
Now Centered With Troops and
Naval Forces.
Military and Naval Commanders
Given Wide Latitude.
To GeneraI Miles and Admiral Sampson and
Commodore SchIey will be Left the
Military and Naval Commanders
Given Wide Latitude.
To GeneraI Miles and Admiral Sampson and
Commodore SchIey Will be Left the
Question Of Time and Cir
stances Of Attack.

WASHINGTON. May 31.-The signi-
ficant statement was made by Cab
met officer after the regular Tuesday
meeting of the Cabinet that no news
had been received since Monday from
Commodore Schley direct, and now II
was believed that nothing would be
heard for two or three days at least
This was taken to mean that Schley
probably would await the arrival Of
troops before undertaking any active
move on Santiago. 1t was plainly an
ticipated in some quarters that he
might through the possession of some
information that would tend to neu-
tralize the strength of the enemy
position, make a bold attempt to enter
the harbor of Santiago and destroy or
capture the Spanish squadron. With
the assistance of a single regiment of
regular United States troops, which
could be even now on their way TO his
support, the officials are confident that
the fleet can reduce the forts at the en-
trance to Santiago harbor and make
-
squadron within. Of course this plan
is based upon theory that Cervera will
not attempt to make his escape by
desperate sortie at night.
This movement of Schley's is unques-
tionably in pursuance of the Presidents
policy to send a helping hand to the
starving reconcentrados. The Span
ish squadron might be kept within
Santiago harbor until the end of the
war. without sensibly endangering any
American life. and because of it's dis
tance and isolation from Havana, San
tiago City has little to attract a mil
itary attack. But, lying in the very
midst of the insurgent section OF the
island the town would afford a splendid
base for the distribution of supplies
to the families of the insurgents and to
the reconcentrados who still drag out
miserable existence in the interior.
Already the President has begun to
prepare to help these people. and the
Commissary- General of the army has
prepared an estimate of SJ,O0O,O00 for
the purchase of sufficient supplies TO
feed 10000 reconcentrados for three
months.
For the time being ii is felt that the
real field of action is removed from
Washington. and is centered with the
troops, now advancing under orders
from here, and with our ships. The
time of preparations has gone by. and
IT remains only for preparations to be
carried into actual effect.
A leading naval official pointed to
his desk. which was clear of papers
and documents. and remarked that all
the preparatory details were now well
along, and that so far as the authori-
ties here We're concerned. they had
only to wait for the execution of the
preparations heretofore matured. There
will continue to be much routine de-
tail in the maintenance of the large
military and naval force. but through
well established channels. The more
vital feature of the campaign itself
has been fully matured. To a certain
extent the military and naval opera
tions will be directed from Washing
ton. and yet with General Miles in the
South and Admiral Sampson and Com
modore Schley in Cuban waters, they
will have most to do with the time and
circumstances of attack. The com
manders. military and naval, have been
given wide latitude, as the authorities
hero fullv appreciate that battles can
not be fought in advance on paper. All
that has been attempted il to outline
a campaign and make the fullest pro-
vision for adequate forces ample sup
plies and the fullest cooperation be-
tween the army and navy in the sue
cessful. executions of the plans. The
real blows are for the commanders to
strike, and in the execution of this
part of the programme the authorities
here can take little part. Ii Is for
this reason that they regard themselves
now rather as spectators of what Is
about to occur
The Consular reports issued to-day
contain some additional declarations of
neutrality. This time from Brazil, ia
pan. British Guiana, ST. Lucia and
Gibraltar. 1t is noticeable that both
Brazil and Japan go out of the way of
the usual preamble to express regret