The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-20
ONE REASON Of THE
MANY LONG DELAYS.
A Lack Of Equipment for Large
Army Being Mustered In.
Even the Necessary shelter Tents
Have Hut just been Purcha.ed,
and the First Supplies Have Only
Vow Been Secured-The Navy IL
Ready to Cover the Landing OF
TrOOps-Speculations Over Fleets.

WASHINGTON. May 19.-With every dis
position on the part OF the executive to
make the present war short. sharp and de-
cisive. it Is beginning to be realized that
the shortcomings OF our military service
are so many that delays are inevitable and
that much work is necessary TO put the ma
ton in efficient fighting shape.
Every day brings forth some weak spot
that has to be strengthened. or some hid
den defect. such as the discovery at this
late moment that every regular army OFF,
Ger who accepted volunteer appointment
would forfeit his command in the regular
army. and SO be liable to be let out of the
service entirely at the end OF the war.
Few officers cared to risk the future In
that way. so rush was made towards con-
gress to secure the corrective legislation.
Again 1t has been found that the equip
ment OF the army. small as II Is In compar-
tson with tho great army Of the rebellion. Is
sadly lacking in efficiency. Nearly
month after the formal declaration of war,
the war department today purchased
number OF shelter tents. and 1t has just
secured the hammocks that experts say are
essential 20 existence in Cuba.
These preparations involve delay. so that
herculear efforts OF the officers of the
army. no positive start has vet been made
towards its goal by the army of occupa-
tion Probably II Is this fact. rather than
any other unreadiness on the part of the
navy. that causes the campaign to lag IN
its conception. for the navy department has
announced that It stood ready at any mo-
ment to furnish cover fer the troops, pro-
vided they were started from one point.
Gen. Miles had an interview this after
noon with Capt. Crowninslield. chief of the
navigation bureau. and ii Is surmised that
this very subject was under discussion.
The rumor was Hf1oat that Gen. Miles and
his staff were 10 leave Washington tonight
for Tampa. but this again proved 10 be pre-
mature.
To maintain the sasny of 90 900 for six
months will cost $50 600. according to the
estimate prepared by paymaster General
Stanton. and the leading officials are be-
ginning to fear that hostilities may run
along beyond this period. The reason is
the growing conviction on the part of some
officers that they must not reckon on any
substantial assistance from the Cuban reb-
els In the campaign. and. moreover. that
the Spaniardss in Cuba are In their strong
est sphere. that OF defensive
Naval authorities are relieved of a good
deal of embarrassment by the consent Of
the French authorities at Martinique to
allow the scouting vessel Harvard to re-
main in s.. Pierre until her repairs are
completed. II VAS supposed a; fist that
she would be allowed only seven iays. and
at the end Of that ;irne would Re forced out
20 risk attack at the hands of some am
hushed Spanish cruiser or torpedo boat.
Work on the three monitors, Mahopac
Cannonicus and Manhattan. az League Isl
and. has advanced SO far that the depart
ment expects 10 have them IN service with
IN a week or two.
They have been supplied with tubular
boilers In the place OF the rusfed-ou. h,ii-
ers they have carried since the war. Those
monitors will be valuable addition 10 the
coast defense ships. Mr.. Nlblack. lats
United States naval attache at Berlin and
Rome. reported at the navy denar,men,
today. and had same anidsing stories TO
tell OF his experiences In every seaport of
Europe. trying 20 buy a ready navy in
thirty DAYS, He has been assigned to duty
as watch ard division officer on the To-
pe&a, one Of the ships he helped 10 pur-
chase In EnEisad
The absence II official news Of any char
aeter from the fleets a; the navy depart-
ment today gave the widest fed for spec-
ulstlon. and ali sorts OF stories were asoa,
- 70 me Whereabouts ot vessels and the
Gnmlnence q an engagement Tho report
that caa,e from Madrid - the bemoargf-
nsent OF Santiago ~As reeglved wsfa cre-