The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-13

Washington, May lot is hard to
tell whether the naval officials were
relieved or disappointed by the news
that came late this afternoon to both
the navy and state departments to the
effect that the Spanish flying squad
ron had arrived at Cadiz, Spain. The
safety Of the Oregon from attack is
now completely assured and the way
is clear for military operations in Gu
ba, without running the risk or having
the occupying armys line of communi-
cation cut off. On the other hand, it is
believed that no enduring peace can
be secured until the Spanish navy
has been destroyed and it now appears
that to do this our sailors must make
up their minds to go after the Span
iards, task very much more difficult
than that of meeting them near our
own shores. 1t was suggested by some
Of the members of the war board that
there was just a possibility that the
Spanish squadron might make a quick
passage into the Pacific through the
Suez canal and attack Dewey at Ma
Mia. 1t is said that, contrary to the
common understanding, the Suez canal
is open to the Warships of belligerent
powers, so that if the Spanish choose
to take this course they would have
a long start of any pursuing fleet from
our side of the Atlantic. 1t is scarcely
believed, however, that the Spanish are
willing to take the great risk of ex-
posing to our attack their own home
ports by the withdrawal of so cOnsid-
III
as would be required to Over-match
Dewey.
Nothing was heard from Sampson to-
day, but there is a confident expecta-
ton that interesting news will be COM
ing from this squadron within the next
twenty-four hours. Whether this
means an attack on Porto Rico or not
cannot be learned.
TO HASTEN THE ATTACK ON
CUBA.
One effect of the retreat of the Span
ish fleet has been to hasten the prepa-
rations already under full headway fol
the dispatching of military expeditions
to Cuba. 1t also has caused a complete
change in the concentration plans
Time is now believed to be the great
factor There is no longer OppOrtuni-
~ to indulge in extensive drilling anC
practice maneuvering. The regular ar.
my troops Go not need these and are
to be thrown at once into the fray
Many of the regiments Of the natiOna
guard which are entering the vOlun-
toer service are felt to be sufficiently
trained from a military point of view
to follow the regulars Immediately anC
the department indicated it's purpose
today of dispatching these volunteer
troops directly to the gulf coast fol
shipment, instead of sending them tC
1iSnOSitiOn W
shown by the changes in the new or
ders issued to the troops, although
there yet may be a return to the Origi-
nal programme of concentration il
the plans show signs of weakness as
they develop. The Quartermaster gen
eral has already gotten under charter
tWenty-seven merchant steamers fol
the transport of troops and, roughly
speaking, these should carry about 20,
900 men. Others are being procured as
rapidly as possible. The plan of the
war department is to have these YES
sells assemble at the different gulf
ports, Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans
and Galveston to take on troops which
will be sent there. The navy depart
ment is expected to furnish conveys
for these troops, which would be abso
lutely helpless against Spanish attack
At this point there are signs of fric
ton. First, the troops will be obliged
10 await AuElllTdl SdIlpSOH IeluIu ii
order to secure proper convoy and
secondly. the navy objects very decid
-edly to undertaking the task of con
Voying a number of troops. 1t insist:
that, to assure the safety of the con
voy Of troops, all of the troops should
be gathered IN one fleet to start from
Tampa and the navy is likely to prevail
in this.
Now that Major General Jewell has
been assigned to command the concen.
tration camp at Falls Church, prepara-
tiOns are being rushed to put the
grounds there into shape for the re-
-oeption of the volunteers.
GENERAL MILES GOES TO TAMPA
BY Friday morning the commanding ns
general of the United States army
Major General Miles, will have assem-
<bled his staff around him a. Tampa
EA4a. He leaves Washington tomorrow
might taking with him Colonel Mich
aler. Colonel Maus, Colonel Greenfeaf
Major OSgood, Major Huhphries, Cap
tain Sey'burn and Captain Scott. Only
one member of the staff, Captain Davis,
will remain az headquarters and he will
follow the general within two or three
days, or as soon as he can turn over
the care Of the business at army head
quarters to another officer to be desig-
mated for that duty. Unless present
plans are changed the general will go
with the first military expediti0nary
Ehrce to Cuba. He is not expected 70
relieve the major generals already Sc
sectei for that task OF the conduct OF
yhe campaign but both in FLORIDA and
tl Cuba will exercise the same general
ksuperintenience over the campaign