The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-04-30
TO BESIEGE HAVANA.
United states Troops Ia he Landed and
Cooperate with Insurgent Forces
Miles Holds "A Conference.

Miles, commanding the United States
forces, and representatives. OF the Gu
ban civil and military authorities. The
latter included Senior Quesada, charge
d'affaires OF the Cuban legation, Brig.
Gen. Nunez and Lieut.. Artiago, OF the
Cuban army. Lieut.. Artiago has seen
II months service in the field, and Gen.
Nunez has an intimate knowledge of
all the ports Of Cuba, having directed
the movement Of all filibustering par
ties. the conference brought about
full discussion OF the plans OF coopera-
ton between the United States and
Cuban forces. The details of this CO.
operation are guarded with the strict
est secrecy.
IL is said that Garcia and Gomez can
muster $4,000 men, and that they will
be able TO make a strong forward move
ment on Havana as soon as they have
arms, ammunition and medicalsupplies.
The latter, and particularly quinine, is
said TO be greatly needed. The under
standing among those best acquainted
with the plans Of cooperation Is that
the Cuban forces will advance on Ha-
vana and make land siege in coopera-
ton with the blockade now in progress
by the United States warships.
As to the reports of the imminence OF
a naval battle Oft the Philippine islands,
the naval authorities here seriously
doubt whether the Spanish fleet will
make n stand against the American
ships Their reason for this belief is
that the Spanish fleet is very inferior
10 ~ Annarican foroa ,ndor Admiral
Dewey. The department therefore is
satisfied that the Spanish fleet will not
20 TO do battle on the high seas with
Admiral Dewey. but will remain in port
10 secure the protection of the batteries
I of Manila and the department is not
/ expecting an engagement for about two
\ days. Without giving any explanation
j for setting this time. the department
allows il to be surmised that the esti-
mate Is based on It's knowledge OF Adj
4 Iniral Dewey's whereabouts. There is
no certainty that there will be an en-
gagement at all in the immediate flu
ture, the main purpose Of the American
expedition being TO seize and hold some
suitable Spanish territory in the Phil
ippines as a base of operations in
I AAlhIlt WdltIs. II - pOHSlDlt llhl TINS
can be done without attacking the other
al all, by selling suitable port al some
adjacent island, without Notifications.
the sympathes of whose inhabitants
are towards the insurgents.
The very fact that the Madrid officials
have rather ostentatiously declared
that the Spanish feet has sailed TO bonn
bard the cities on the North American
coast Is taken as a certain indication
at the navy department Of the utter inn
probability of such n movement. II
this were contemplated the Spanish
officials would be the very last to make
their purpose public.
In the war department there is a
growing belief that the campaign
proper in Cuba will not be in full swing
before next fall. when the rainy season
has ended. That belief, however, has
not prevented the officers whose duty il
is TO get the troops together from push
ing their work with the greatest en-
crgy. Thus within 10 hours after the
Hull bill became a law the department
was able TO begin TO send out circulars
prescribing the methods TO be followed
in recruiting the regular army up TO It's
full war strength OF 81 900 men. The
enormous amount Of work involved in
thus increasing the army, regular and
volunteer, has caused Gen. Miles 10
abandon his southern trip for the pres
ent.
Washington, April 2s.-Orders were
issued Wednesday 10 recruit the army
10 its full war strength OF 81 900 men.
Chickamauga National Park, Ga, April
estate Wednesday night II was
learned on what is considered good au-
thoritv that orders had been received
from Washington for the immediate
shipment to Tampa, Fla, OF two of the
light batteries OF artillery now sta
toned at Chickamauga park. Cars
enough 10 accommodate the 12 guns OF
the two batteries. so horses and lac
men will, II Is said, be switched 10 the
park early this morning. The bat
teries will he loaded on the cars al
once and run through to Tampa on pas
senger train time. Taken in connec
ton with the conference held in Wash
ington Wednesday between Gen. Miles
and Senior Quesada. Brig. Gen. Nune'
and Lieut.. Artiago. representatives oil
the Cuban insurgents, at which IL wai
reported plans were completed for tn,
immediate arming OF the Cuban army
II Is taken 10 indicate n determination
on the part OF the United States army
authorities 10 cooperate with the in
surgents in an immediate advance OF
Havana. Whether other batteries hav,
been ordered shipped is not known. MOI
can anything be learned at this hour a,
10 whether any OF the infantry nov
stationed here has been ordered south
, The report has caused considerable ex
element.
? Portugal to Decree Neutrality.