Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-18
General Satisfaction at Maine
Troops Being Ordered South.
Coming Naval Battle Will Decide
Whether Maine Troops See Service
Two Bills Passed by Congress Which Interests
the State People.


more than gratified when the order Tor
their removal South was made hhown
Everybody here desired that the Maine
troops should have some snare III any
glory that Union troops may gam IN TINS
war. There could have been no glory IN
remaining at home for coast defense. IL
is proba BILE that the Maine volunteers VIII
see not a little of Washington before
they are mustered out and sent nome 10
Maine as private citizens. The trains
bearing them South can hardly oe eX-
pected to stop in Washington but, after
the war is over and they come north
again Washington will probably be the
mastering out point for most OF the New
England troops.
EVERYTHING considered the Maine troops
have as good an assignment as the most
warlike of them could desire. Chicka-
manga is the rendezvous from which the
government will Immediately draw
troops, if an invasion OF Cuba is to be
made. The volunteers at Chickamauga
would be sent to Cuba in all probability
before the troops who Will be concen-
,rated to the number Of 30 900 in this city
1t is by no means certain. however,
in cuba, although the government is
placing everything in readiness to land
them if needed The hope Of the author
tiles here is that the coming naval batte
which in all probability will not be
fought till the last Of this week and per
haps even later than that. VIII assure
negotiations for peace, Spain, OF course
taking the initiative If that should be
the volunteers would probably be held IN
their camps until the latter part of June
Peace negotiations are necessarily slow
and Will require three or four weeks for
final arrangement.
People outside Of Washington may
hardly appreciate the indefinite situation
with regard to the outcome Of hosuHtieS
at present. The situation is fraught with
all sorts Of possibilities, the most impor-
tant of which are the possibilities con-
nccted with the movements of the Span
ish feet AS soon as that fleet was sight
ed in the West Indies the newspapers OF
the country announced that naval bat
tie could be matter of hardly forty
eight hours AS matter of fact it may
be a matter Of twenty-four hours or Of
three or four weeks. Warships during
the beaten tracks of ships and it is all
most like hunting for the traditional nee
die in a haystack TO hunt for them OF
the high seas If the Spanish fleet sue
coed in getting coal they may cruise
around in the Caribbean sea or they may
scatter and come north to haraSs cities
along the Atlantic coast. Their cruisers
are swifter than any warships that we
have ana they can attack and get away
before our Warships can punish them
I he prOba bilitieS are, however that they
VII! be cornered in Southern waters
where ii will be necessary to fight and IN
that way the authorities here hope the Is
sue viii be made up in short order.
The city is settling down to the bust
ness Of a war with clock work regularity.
The most intense interest is shown in
all official circles over the war develop
ments Senators and members OF Con-
gress crowd around the newspaper bulie-
tin boards. when passing between the
residence section of the city and the
Capitol. Extras are cried on the street
at all hours Of the day and of the early
evening for the great New York papers
have special trains bringing their edl-
tons with great Aaring hea lines into
Washington five hours after they appear
in the metropolies. Army and navy OIL
streets for they wear their distinctive
uniforms now by order of the depart
ments. This is unusual in Washington,
where these officers generally dress as
lnents. Then the uniforms OF the Nolun-
tcers are beginning to appear ana "ithll
week or 50 when the "OD3 troopS nave
concentrated here the city VIII take or
the character OF a great mllltalE camp.
Nevertheless at the departments aH''
at the Capitol business progresses IN q
most matter of feet manner ana. save
the unusual activity in some quarters
one would not suspect that the admins
tTation was engaged IN engineering
great war. In this latitude summer
weather already prevails and the Maine
boys will find it a great deal more com
Portable camping out on ChickamauSJ
field than the high hills of Augusta.
One of the remarkable things i'm Speak
er Reeds career is the manner in whiCf
he retains the personal friendship of hi-
political opponents who have in recon-
years been most bitter towards him pollt-
ically. Today there is not a man in tn
House who has many close persona
friends and admirers on the Democra
side the speaker. Democrats and Pop
rlists seek his friendship ana are Drout
to be on intimate terms with him. Prob
ably no man in the history of the coun
try is more remarkable in this way. Rep
resentative James Hamilton Lewis o
Washington state. a dude but very
bright and at one time heralded as til,
Democratic leader prides himself in hay
ing the speakers close personal friend
ship and, when Mr.. Reed asked him th'
other day to help translate a Greek let