The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-05-31
THE SEMI-wEEKLY OHIO DEMOCRAT, TUES5lY MAY 81 1898

the probabilities that by the main
tenance of q strict blockade we can
very soon starve the Spanish fleet in
to surrendering. That would be a
catch worth having sure enough, as
there are some fine vessels in that
feet. Eut the most important thing
ah out the trapping of the Spanish
fleet is that it will enable our war
ships in Cuban waters to do some-
thing more practical towards bring
ing the war to close than chasing
here and there hunting for this fleet
which has so kindly put itself in our
power. This of itself should result
in some immediate results, and hints
are dropped that 1t will.
Although member of the Cabinet
this week denied that call for ad-
ditional volunteers had been consid-
cred, Mr.. Mckinley has issued a
proclamation calling for 10000 more
men. This call was d ,termined up
on week ago, as stated in this cor
respondence, but, like the many
other plans determined upon by the
administration, it was hung up for
time. From unofficial sources it is
learned that $4,000 men are to be sent
to the Philippine Islands, 10000 to
Porto Eico, which is to be shortly
occupied 100000 to Cuba, and that
100000 are to be held as reserve to
be used for home defense or as rein.
forcements to any of the other
armies as circumstances may de-
termine. The movement against
Porto Rico has been urged upon Mr..
Mckinley ever since the war began,
on the ground that if Spain should
sue for peace while still in possession
of that island we would have no
right to demand that it should be
given up, while if we capture it we
will have every right to hold on to
it, if we desire it. or to make any
other disposition of it. The idea of
those who have urged this move-a
correct one, too-being that the peo-
pie of this country will be So tisfied |
with nothing short of the expulsion
of the Spanish flag for this hemls-
phere.
The House passed several minor |
war measures this week, but Gar
Reed still has the Hawaiien anneXa-
tion resolution hungup. The Senate |
is still considering the war-revenue
bill.
There is no probability that the
war with Spain will last long enough |
for the'battlt ships Illinois, Alabama
and Wisconsin,, now being built, to
participate. The armor trust, COM
posed OF the Carnegie and Bethlehem |
companies, which refused to make
the armor for those ships under the
act of the last Congress, limiting the
cost to $500 ton, have now submltt-
ed bids to furnish it under the act of
the present Congress, raising the
lint to $40O ton, but the delivery
of the armor will not be begun until
December and will not becompleted
until a year after that date; so that
the government will be lucky il the
battleshlps are ready for service by
the middle of 1900.
One of the most encouraging. signs
that the invasion Of Cuba is to | e
hurried up is an interview with Gen.
Miles which has been widely printed,
in which he says that the Invasion
will take place when the army is in
proper condition and when other
conditions are deemed favorable, ,and
that the government does not intend
to be hurried. Those are not the eX-
act words OF Gen. Miles, but they ex-
press the meaning of his words. 1t
is inconcelvable, in view of the Sc
crecy maintained by all other Off
cials that the commander of the
army INDUCED in talking for prlbli-
cation without having an important
subject in view; also that he sh Juld
havetold the enemy that the invas-
ION Vi Cupd WAS luueililllely poSJpOli"
ed, if the authorities really intend ed
to postpone it. 1t is therefore very
likely that his interview was made
public to deceive, for the belief is
general that the American flag is
going to be planted in Cuba without
any further delay. After setting
many tim es for his departlIre from
Washington Gen. Miles has last
got away and will establish his
headquarters at Tampa Florida.
The weather at Tampa at this season
# the year is not such as to tempt a
man from this latitude to go there
for pleasure.