Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-24
INVASION THIS WEEK.
Seventy Thousand Men Ready to s
Nor. (,nIa

Seventy Thousand Men Ready to Start
For Cuba.
a special from Washington to the
New York Herald says:
No possible contingency can now
arise, according to the officiels of the
i'm of Cuba during the present week
Those in direct control of affairs in
slst that climatic conditions Will have
t" be ignored. and they can see no
Other reason for further delay.
owing To the change in the plans re-
9ardinS the number of troops that were
to constitute the invading army, the
administration was Obliged to put off
the combined attack on Havana until
the volunteer army could be thorough
ly organized. equipped and provided
With ammunition. These preparations
have now nearly reached the point Of
completion. and it is confidently eXpec-
ted that some Important army move
mrnts Will ic made before the end Of
the week.
PLENTY OF AMMUNITION.
I am told that Il few weeks ago the
entire army which is to go to Cuba
had only ten million rounds of cartrid-
:;rS nj its disposal. This amount of am
intuition. considering the size OF the
army. will be insufficient to carry on
:, long campaign. AT the present time.
however. the army is we'll supplied
1t is believed iii the Navy Depart
lnent that Admiral Cereva's fleet will
be either completely destroyed or driv-
on away from Cuban waters within the
next week. Secretary Alger, going
upon this theory, is making every pre-
l'tration to have about seventy 1hous-
and men ready to leave Key West for
cuba on short notice.
1t is understood ON the best of au-
th"rity that if the American fleets do
not meet the fleet of Admiral Cevera
within the next seven days the admin
!stru1iun will not any longer delay the
army of invasion.
The greatest secrecy is to be main
tanned in the War Department when it
is decided to make the move against
Cuba. The government wishes to feel
assured that the first intination that
Spain will have of troops leaving Key
West will be when General Blanco
sees the Americans on Cuban soil
know that Secretary Aiger and Sec
rotary Long have agreed in regard to
the conveys that will accompany the
transports carrying the troops
ARGUMENTS FOR DELAY.
The advocates for delay are still us
ing all their powers to get President
Mckinley to put off the. invasion until
the fan but with very little success.
was told by Il prominent army OFF,
Ger, who has spent several years in
Nutlh, lftl llle lIlSHt III Ie5tiIl " eIG
yellow fever has been greatly exag-
gerated. He says that. with the ar
rangement. made by the Medical De-
part.ncnt ihcrc will be very slight
danger of yellow fever becoming cpl
de,nic among the soldiers.
The principal difficulty in delaying
the invasion until late in June would
be the impassability of the roads for
cavalry and artillery. This was point
ed out by Lieutenant Rowan in his re-
port to the secretary of war. Presi-
dent Mckinley would undoubtedly put
off the army movements in Cuba until
fall if ii was not impossible on account
of the starving condition of the recon-
comrades. -
Food must he taken to these people
before the autumn months. or the Uni
ted States will be directly responsible
for the deaths that occur in the mean
time. The President, realizing this fact.
will do all in his power to hasten the
attack on General l}lancO'S army.