The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-22
The PInns of Gen. MiIes.

The Plans of GEN. Miles.
The public is not informed as to what
the plans Of Gen. Miles are for the inva-
sion of Cuba. He has not taken either
congressman or the newspapers into his
confidence. He is quoted as saying that
the army is not now in shape for the in
vHsion of Cuba, and that it viii require a
great deal of hard work to put it in condi-
ton for a Cuban campaign" It contains
splendid raw material, but it will require
time to mold 1t into shape and make il al
effective fighting force.
How long win it take to prepare the
volunteers for the work that is to be done
in Cuba? That is a question which cannot
be answered off hand Even Gen. Miles
would hardly venture to answer 1t except
in a general way. 1t is a fact that many
Of the regiments have not yet been pro
vidod with guns and uniforms, and few. if
any, of them, are capable of doing what
trained and seasoned soldiers are expected
TO do. The volunteers of some of the states
are much better qualified for active service
that those of other states, but even in
those regiments which are composed of
men that have been pretty thoroughly
drilled, ard have had some experience in
camp life. there is a large percentage of
raw recruits. The average of their excel
lence therefore is very much lower than
it is generally thought TO be.
tt IS doubtful if Cen Miles will consent
to move on Cuba until ne is satisfied that
he has an army in every way fitted to con-
tend with the Spanish forces on the is
land He understands what his fate would
be if he should meet with a repulse in his
attempt to capture Havana, or If his pro-
gress after landing on the island should
not be as triumphant as the people of this
country had thought it would be He
would be driven into retirement by public
clamor. No excuses which he could offer
therefore, that he viii begin the invasior
of Cuba until he is thoroughly satisfied
that the army is prepared for it. He viii
not permit himself to be forced into taking
a step not approved by his judgment. Con
gressmen who voted for war under the be-
lief that the spaniards would be driven
out of Cuba in a couple of weeks may
storm and threaten, and the sensational
newspapers may demand a more vigorous
policy, but he will not give the order to
move until he feels assured that he has an
army with which he can make the cam
paign, short. sharp and successful.
No doubt it was the purpose Of Gen.
Miles a little while ago to begin the inva-
sion of Cuba at once, but that was when
it was believed that there was an army Of
insurgents containing from 10000 to 5000
fairly well armed men, 1t was thought
that with this insurgent force and Il. 900
regulars, Cuba could he wrested from the
spanards very quickly. The plans OF Gen
Miles have been changed, however, since
he has learned that the insurgents have
no army of any consequence, anu that the
war must be conducted without any refer
ence TO them. Gen. Miles now knows also
that the Spaniards are much better pre-
pared TO defend the island than they were
believed to be before war against Spain
was declared
There is an impression that our army
viii be sent TO Cuba just as soon as. The
Spanish squadron is crippled, or destroy
ed, or driven back to Spain. The reasons
already given are against the correctness
of this impression. We are certain that
Gen. Miles does not want to send troops
to Cuba during the sickly season, and we
do not believe he will send them there very
soon unless a controlling reason for
doing so should become apparent As the
situation now presents itself the chances
OF the volunteers remaining al the various
camps provided for them for a good while,
are fully as great as are those that the
invasion of Cuba viii be begun within the