The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-10
WASHINGTON WAITING.
No News From Sampson and
None From the Spanish
Squadron.

WASHINGTON, May TO- 1SSS.-A touch
Of spring after succession OF stormy
and threatening days brought out an
early contingent of sightseers at the
White House today, while the knowledge
of the regular Cabinet day kept away
many of the usual crowd of Senators and
Representatives. Senator Platt OF New
York was on hand early to discuss some
New York appointments Representative
Grosvenor had his usual call to make.
Lieu Colonel Theodore Roosevelt OF the
Rough Riders" whose successor as AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy has just
been named, called with John jacob
Astor, the New Yorker whom the Presi-
dent yesterday nominated for Inspector
General. Senator Allison, of Iowa, OF the
Senate Appropriations Committee, and
Representative Clarke of New Hampshire
also were among the early visitors.
The President, it is understood, intends
that General Stewart L. Woodford. the
Minister to Madrid, shall retain his diplo-
matte capacity to return to Madrid after
the war is brought to a close and diplo-
matte relations are restored. This. state.
ment is made by a well known Senator
cognizant of the facts General Wood
fords first knowledge of the intention to
confer major generalship on him was
on his meeting with the President on the
latter's summons to come Immediately to
Washington after landing at New York.
The offer then made was promptly de-
c1ined and unless there is some unforeseen
contingency General Woodford eventually
will return to Madrid -
Up to eleven o'clock the President had
received no important dispatches, and is
in absolute ignorance Of the whereabouts
of the Spanish fleet The President, some
of those who conferred with him today,
say, is inclined to believe that the Spanish
fleet has not ventured into American
nearer home. With the fleet failing to
put in an appearance around the West
Indies, action against the island of Porto
Rico will not be much longer deferred,
and important news from that quarter
is momentarily expected
Before the cabinet session was convened
at the usual hour, the Congressional cali
ers on the President included Senator
Davis of Minnesota, Chairman ofthe Com
mittee on Foreign Relations; Senator Al
lison, Chairman on the Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations; Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts, Senator Stoup of Idaho,
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, Senator
Mson of illinois, and Representatlves
Dolliver of Iowa, Taylor OF Ohio, Steele
of Indiana, Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Mer-
Ger of Nebras SKA and Settle of North Car
DINA. Attorney Generalr Griggs was the
first of the cabinet to arrive, with Secre-
tary of State Day close behind.
Up to the time Secretary Long started
for the cabinet meeting at eleven O'Clock
today, he was without information from
Admiral Simpsons fleet concerning any
positive action. All inquiries about the
navy department were directed. toward
the whereabouts of this fleet and its pros
poets of a speedy engagement with the
enemy. While there is little doubt that
the oIticials know the approximate local
i ity of the fleet, it is quite certain that
nothing has been received as to the cruis-
/ ing and search for the Spanish ships.
| 1t is felt that the next few hours will
whether Vat the Spanish fleet, which left the
Cape Verde Islands, did in fact come to
Porto Rico, or diverge northward back to
Cadiz for a formidable, concentration of
the strongest ships of the Spanish navy.
In the latter event Admiral Sampson
will have no Spanish fleet to fight, save
will leave the course free to the Oregon
to make juncture with the feet, and
also will leave Admiral Sampsons hands
| free for attention to Porto Rico or Cuba.
Secretaries Long and Alger had large
number of callers before they went to the
cabinet meeting. General Woodford, our
| late minister at Madrid, spent some time
with Mr.. Long. Afterward he was asked
to break the strict reticence he has
| maintained by giving his views Of Com
modore Dewey's achievement at Manila,
| to which he replied
.sThat would be gliding refined gold.''
A party of prominent New Workers, in
| cluding o. H. P. Belmont, Schuyler Cros-
by and Charles A. Moore, had a talk with
Mr. Long for the purpose, it was under
stood, of making a gift of considerable
| Importance to the Government. 1t prob
ably will be in the line Of a ship, all
though whether a yacht or a larger craft
was not disclosed. Senator Tillman of
| electricians, now students af Clemson Col
lege, South Carolina.
At the War Department it was under
stood that the assignments as corps COM
| mauders to the volunteer army would be
| announced very soon.
President Palma, head of the Cuban
| delegation arrived here this morning
! from New York, and is expecting impor
4 tant advices direct from General Gomez.
I He received despatch last night stating
4 that courier from General Gomez $
camp si had passed through Key West and
! was now on his way to Washinghton with
/ letters from Gomez. The courier probably
viii not reach here before tomorrow !. at At
/ the earlies In the meantime Brigadier
! Nunez, who is just back from heading a
1 party which made a juncture with Gomez
/ will arrive this afternoon to confer with
| Mr.. Palma It is probable that the adj
! vices direct from the Cuban commander
| in the field will bring about further com
| ferences between the Cuban authorities
| here ard the officials of the War De-
Nj. Palma today expressed his views
! on the battle at Manila saying It was
| proof Of fact he had long known that
1 the Spanish navy was a paper" navy and
| utterly incapable Of conducting modern
/ sIn the first place Admiral Montejjo's
| feet was taken by SURPRISE" said he.
/ THAT is a whole lesson in itself We
\ have heard much from Spanish sources
1 as to the Jack of discipline and the crude
ness in the American navy but here at the
i very first practical test the Spanish fleet
| committed the very worst and most in