The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-22

Army To be Nobolixed Along the Cooss
for Defense-.Militia To- be Ordered


washington Post.D
The government IS now preparing for
the inevitable. The plan OF campaign for
the approaching war Is being rapidly ar
ranged
The mobilization Of the army has been
provided for with satisfactory complete
ness. The statement that Ghickamauga
Park would De the rendezvous IS untrue.
Il has been decided that 4 concentration
or the troops at that point would be no
advantage. buS they will be sent instead
to points along the coast. where they can
be utilized in actual defense.
There viii not be. at present. any for
ma call for volunteers. Instead. the ma
tionai guard OF the various states Will be
ordered out. the number being proper
toned among the states. The companies
which are selected for service will be
summoned to their armories. and all mi
litiamen who are not willing. for reasons
satisfactory TO themselves. TO go to the
front Will be asked TO step three PAGES
to the front. Their places will be at once
filled by volunteer in the respective city
where the company or regiment Is sta
toned, so that the full complement can
be preserved. This plan IS deemed more
desirable than a general call for volun-
teers from the fact that there are more
offers OF men than there are guns and
ammunition with which to supply them.
1t is by the war department
officials that already between one and
ANo I'!kIIOH men nave SlEIlIleI tnelT read
gnesS to avenge the Maine and free Cuba.
1t would be impossible TO equip such "A
large number as this, whereas the ma
tional guard has its own supply of rifles.
tents. &c. The volunteers who are &C
cepted, therefore. will simply take their
places in the ranks of the national guard
to fill the depletions that may occur.
1t is not expected that many troops Will
have to be sent TO Cuba. The present
programme Is to take possession of some
seaport in provinces controlled by the in
surgents. and TO land at this port a large
quantity OF arms and ammunition. with
which 10 equip the struggling forces on
the sland. The insurgents will act as
allies to the United States. and with the
material assistance which will be accord
ed them. it is expected that they will be
able to prosecute the war with complete
success. They are acquainted with the
country, and if they are given unlimited
supplies of war. will be enabled to drive
the Spanish troops TO surrender.
Under these circumstances. ii is not
thought likely that any offensive opera
tons will be necessary at this time
against Havana. This port is defended
by heavy guns. of the finest Armstrong
mak and they are not to be destroyed
by bombardment. It would be a much
better plan simply to blockade havana.
and. with the fleet now at Key West. ii
would not be surprising If this plan were
carried into execution.
At Porto Rico, however, the Spanish
have a coaling station. AS has already
been published. it will be important TO
capture this base of supplies. Porto Rico
has been left undefended. and would fall
before the flying squadron. With the
Spanish coaling station destroyed. the
fleet now approaching American shores
would be helpless. Spain has no coaling
station in the West Indies outside of Ha-
vana and Porto Rico. The nearest point
is the Canary islands, over two thousand
miles away.
All of these plans are ready to put into
force as soon as congress empowers the
president to proceed.