The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-20
MUCH WORK NECESSARY
NO OFFICIAL NEWS OF ANY
KIND FROM FLEETS.
SUBSTANTIAL CUBAN AID UNLOCKED Fos
Three More Monitors will be Ready in Week
or Two..Reported Bombardment Of
Santiago Received Some Cred
ence IN Washington.

OHSV VI WoStiHS tVHs
Washington, May 19.-With every dis
position on the part of the Executive tc
make the war short, sharp and decisive
it is beginning to be breezed about that
the short comings of our military service
are so many that delays are inevitable,
and that much work will be necessary to
put the nation in efficient fighting
shape. Every day brings forth
some weak spot that has to be strength
ened or some hidden defect, such as the
discovery at this late moment that every
regular army officer who accepted a
volunteer appointment would forfeit his
command of regulars, and so become
liable to be left out of the service entire
~ at the end of the war. Few officers
cared to risk their future in that way,
SO rush was made toward Congress
To secure the necessary corrective legis-
lation. Again it has been found that
the equipment of the army, small as it
is in comparison with the great army
of the Rebellion, is sadly lacking. Mean
II month after the formal declaration
Of war the War Department to-day pur-
chased number of shelter tents, and it
has just secured the hammocks that ex-
perts say are essential to existence III.
Nnia These preparations involve delay
SO that il is not remarkable that in
spite of the lIpreculean efforts Of the or
hcers of the army, no positive start has
yet been made towards its goal by the
army of occupation. Probably it is this
fact, rather than any unreadiness Oh
the part of the Navy, that causes the
campaign to drag in its inception; for
the Navy Department has announcer
that it stands ready at any moment to
furnish conveys for the troops to be
transported, provided they were started
from one point.
To maintain the army of 100000 men
for six months will cost $3O.000000, ac-
eording to estimates made by the Pay
Master General Stanton. and the leading
officials are beginning to fear that hos
tilities may run beyond this period. The
reason is the growing conviction on the
part of some officers that they must
not reckon on any substantial assistance
on the part of Cuban rebels in this cam
paign. They must meet the Spaniards
in Cuba in their strongest sphere, that
Of the defensive.
Naval authorities are relieved of
good deal Of embarrassment by the con-
sent of the French authorities mt Martini
que to allow the scouting vessel Har-
ward to remain IN st. Pierre until her
repairs are completed. 1t was supposed
at first that she would be allowed only
seven days stay and at the end of that
time would be forced out to risk at
tack ut the hands of some ambushed
Spanish cruiser or torpedo boat.
Work on the three monitors Mahopac.
Canonicus and Manhattan ut Leagues
Island has advanced so far that the
Department expects to have them in
service within a week or two. They have
been supplied with tubular boilers in
place of the rusted out boilers they have
carried since the war. These monitors
will be valuable addition to the coast
defense ships.
The absence of official news( Of any
character from the fleets at the Navy
Department to-day gave the widest field
for speculation, and all sorts of stories
were afioat as to the whereabouts of tho
vessels. and the imminence of an engage
ment. The report that came from Mail
rid of the bombardment of Santiago re-
ceived some credence, inasmuch as it
seemed to show that General Greeley.
the chief signal officer. has set IN mo-
ton the machinery of the Navy to
carry out his declared purpose Of cutting
cables that afford the last connection
between Cuba and the outside world.
anu thus Isolate Blanco Lit is not be-
neVed that the b0mbardment amounted
to anything more than this.
Judge Advocate General T,emIy to-day
completed the circular defining the chief
characteristics Of the 1t torpedo boat de-
stroyers and | torpedo boat provided for
by Congress in the present naval appro-
prlation bill. The destroyers areto no
of larger type than any vessel of that
Kind we now have in the service abo,t
4OO tons, but the torpedo boats will no
about the size of a voyage torpedo hoot
now IN use, namely about 1JO ,tons
Bidders are left the widest liberty IN
the matter of original designs, but no
bid will be considered which fails "a
guarantee Il speed Of mt least 28 knots
for destroyers and 70 knots for tor.
pedo boats. Not more than is and II
months respectively will be allowed to
complete these boats, and sh0rtness of
time of construction will be an import
ant element in determining the awards.
The long expected appointments of Of
iicers to the staff of the IA new maj jor
generals have been made, so that the
way is now clear for the entry upon ao~.
tive duty of the officers who have @beel.
obliged for several weeks to remain
in Washington.
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