Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-21
OF HAVANA
80 War Board Comforting Over
Plans for Taking Cuba.
missing VOLUNTEERS DISCUSSED.
- nj Drafted which the President VIII
ossd to Congress Navy Dspart.
lfI nsst We'll IafeFmsd - to
Hsvans's Bostiaoatsons.

WADHlN0TON, april ld-Ino nevY
Apartment people have been busy
nsasidering operations IN conjunction
With the military force in regard to
CabA q II was decided some time ago
- ne naval vessels Is conveys Of the
tEsnsports which would convey troops
- Cuba. 1t has even been suggested
4 1hst some Of the largest ships Of the
4 1axy b utilized In the capacity OF
lEaaspor& This proposition does not
1nsst with the unqualified approval Of
Ill the members Of the war board.
Gone Of them believe that there will
~ work enough for the navy without
converting the ships into Transports,
md that their legitimate and most
valuable duties would be as companion
ships for the vessels which will con
NY the military forces to Cuba 1t 10
1iksly that after the troops are landed
IL navy will make q concerted
attack on the principal ports and
Blockade the harbora The st
tack on Havana, II made at all, is
likely to be made at night, and she'll
Ing under cover Of darkness and Will.
he vessels are under steam will offer
ths least opportunity for successful
Bstalistion from the shore.
The navy department has not been
behind In its accumulation Of infor-
nadon In regard to the Notifications
~ Havana II knows TO q definite and
dstailed degree just what the FORTH.
eatlons at that point consist OF, the
number and caliber Of guns. the
sounds Of ammunition and the likely
means Of attack and sources Of supply.
The battery Of the celebrated Moro
castle 10 rather formidable, the largest
gun being Of 1s.inch csliber.
The great menace 10 vessels which
nay attack Havana 10 In the submarine
mines which have been placed in the
Aarbor and regarding the power Of |
which this government has already |
I'D such terrible example. There Is
oome doubt as 10 whether Havana will
- ahelled by our navy. The foreign
Interests at that place may render 1t
lnsdvisable and improper, but the
asval authorities expect no trouble 10
ollencing the forts In making attacks
"a the land Notifications II has been
deemed proper to conduct such opera.
tions under steam and at night, In or.
DR. that the return fire may be mini
nlzed In Its effect.
At . midnight conference at the war
department., attended by Assistant
Secretary Of War Meiklejohn and the
military law officers Of the army, meas
ures for raising volunteers were dis.
euased. The legal aspect and circum-
stances Of this action were considered
rather than the strategic necessities OF
No case, These officers anticipated
that there would be occasion for calling
: greater number Of volunteers than
TIE lo,UOO or $4,000 named by Gen.
Miles, and at present considered as an
edlcient force by Secretary Alger.
Qne Of the officials who attended the
eonference was In favor Of at least
~, 900 men as Q volunteer force, and
~ believed that this number could be
obtainsd with readiness In this coun.
~ This incident was subordinated
A. the conference, however, to the
nsans by which q force could be
raised.
The principal result Of the session
was the drafting Of q bill which the
president will send to congress, with
The recommendation that II DO passed.
This bill does not as yet name def
mite number and II will rest with the
prssident 10 finally decide what
strength he will ask for In his first
all. AT present oil the departmental
estimator for war supplies for the
Military sorce are on basis Of 10000
nen. This Is an insignificant feature,
however, since II will not be . diff.
ealt matter TO provide for the purchase
nd transportation Of supplies for two
~ three times the force which ia At
present talked Of.