The record-union., 1898-04-28
With No Present Purpose Of
BOm5arding Forts.
No Fear of the Spanish Attacking
North American Coast.
Growing Belief at War Department That
the Campaign Proper in Cuba Will
Not be in Full Swing
Before Next Fall.

WASHINGTON, April 27.-The war
situation is substantially this: The
blockading squadron remains passive
before Havana, with no present pur
pose of bombarding or of drawing the
fire of the shore batteries The strate-
gle purpose of an effective blockade of
the Cuban capital is being accomplish
ed to the entire satisfaction of the au-
thorities here. There is no Indication
that a part of the fleet will be with
drawn for the purpose of affording adj
ditional protection to North Atlantic
ports
AS to the reports of the imminence of
q naval battle off the Philippines. tbs
naval authorities here seriously doubt
whether the Spanish fleet will make
stand against the American ships.
Their reason for this belief is that the
Spanish fleet is very inferior to the
American force under Admiral Dewey.
The department, therefore, is satisfied
that the Spanish fleet will not go to
do battle on the high seas with Ad-
miral Dewey, but will remain in port to
secure the protection of the batteries
of Manila. and the department is net
expecting an engagement for about two
days Without giving any foundation
fol. setting this time, the deparrrnent ar
lows it to be surmised that the estimate
is based on its knowledge of Admiral
&c M pA
tainty that there will be an engagement
at all in the immediate future, the main
purpose of the American expedition be-
ing to seize and hold some suitable
Spanish territory in the Philippines as
a base of operations in Asiatic waters
1t is possible that this can be done with
out attacking Manila at all, by selzing
a suitable port on some adjacent island
without Notifications, the sympathies
of whose inhabitants are toward the in
surgents
No word had come to the department
M to the close of office hours of the
arrival of the Montserrat at Cienfugos.
The officials are inclined to believe that
if she has gotten in that port she did SO
before the blockade of Cienfugos had
begun.
The very fact that the Madrid OIL
cials have rather ostentatiously declar-
ed that the Spanish fleet has sailed to
lombard the cities on the North Amer
lean coast is taken as a certain indlca-
ton at the Navy Department of the ut
ter improbability of such movement
If this We're contemplated the
Spanish officials would be the very last
to make their purpose public
The Navy Department as yet mas
made no arrangements for the care Oh
prisoners taken by our warships, put
the legal officers of the department
think they should be sent to the BoS-
ton naval prison.
Some vexation was felt at the injury
sustained by the Cushing. 1t is said
that this is the first serious breakdown
she had suffered in the nine years OF
her service. Likely the Navy Depart
mont will be able to replace her short
" for President Master of the Column
bia Iron Works called at the Navy De-
nartment this afternoon to announce
that the torpedo boat Mckee, a twenty
,.ro++ar vould be ready for trial to-
,or,oxv She will be sent at once to
Norfollx 70 have the finishing touches
added and then will join the squadron,
In the War Department there IS a
growing belief that the campaign prop
or in Cuba viii not be in full swing be-
fore next fall, when the rainy season
has ended That belief, however, has
MT prevented the officers whose duty
II is +o get the troops together from
pushing their work with the greatest
energy. Thus, within twelve hours
after the Hull bill became a law, the
department was able to begin to senG
out circulars prescribing the methooS
to be followed in recruiting the regular
army UP to it's full war strength Oh
81 OCO men. The enormous amount OF
work involved in thus increasing the
army. regular and volunteer mas
caused General Miles to abandon his
Southern trip for the present
The officials of the department were
overwhelmed to- dag with all sorts OF
protests and appeals against their ae-
ton in making the assignment of troops
among the volunteer forces, and many
changes may be looked for.
The State Department posted notice