The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-20
ARMY MOVEMENT IN ABEYANCE
ALL DEFENDS UPON RESULT OF
NAVAL DEVELOPMENTS.

No Immediate Movement ON Cuba
Anticipated-Genern Opinion That
Invading Army VIII Not Move for
a MOnth-An Advance Guard Of
Regulars May Go Sooner TO Aid in
Relieving RecOnccntrHdos and to
Throw Up FortiGcatiOns.
New York, May IA special to the
Times from Washington says: The
plans for the invasion Of Cuba by the
United States forces remain unchanged
The elusive performances of the Spanish
squadron have postponed a part at least
of the programme, but it has been al
tered in no important particular.
''The determination to dispatch to the
of not less than 5000 men, competent TO
meet and cope with the forces of Captain
General Blanco still stands But the
time has not yet come when 1t is practi-
cable to do this for the simple season that
the army Is not ready to be sent to Cu0a.
THE 5000 regulars massed at Tampa
are prepared to go anywhere at any time.
The majority of the volunteers gathered
at Tampa, New Orleans, Mobile and
Chickamauga are not prepared to go any
where and will not be until they are uni
formed, armed, equipped and have some
training in the art of war, All this viii
take time.
THE best judgment of military experts
is that 1t viii require not less than a
month under the most favorable circun-
stances to put 5000 volunteers in condition
to reinforce the regulars for the army of
Cuban invasion. 1t is thought by many
trained officers that more time than that
ought to, and is likely. to be taken
1t Is recalled that Gen. scott spent six
months training and drilling his army be-
fore he invaded Mexico. and it is not
contended that the invasion Of Cuba is
any less formidable undertaking than the
conquest of Mexico. The inglorious ex-
perience of Bull Run is a favorite illus
tration of the unwisdom of putting re-
cruits to the serious business of war too
soon.
"There is one portion of the Cuban pro-
gramme, however, which may not be de-
layed much longer; that is the dispatching
of an expedition made up almost II not
entirely, of regulars from the Tampa
camp to make a landing on the Cuban
coast, throw up fortihcauons and clear
the way for the coming of the army prop
er later on. 1t is not settled that this will
be done. but strong arguments are being
used in favor of the project
at is urged that we went into this war
largely in order to save the reconcentra-
dos from starving, but that as a result
of our present plan Of campaign, we are
making their starvation sure and render
ing IL likely that many of the insurgents
will suffer something akin to the same
fate. Some move towards relieving these
people, it is urged, is commanded by every
consideration of humanity, even II 1t be
at great risk
"a force Of 5000 regulars, landed at an
available spot on the coast Of Cuba, would,
II is contended, be able to do something
toward relieving this suffering by estan-
fishing a depot of supplies, which could be
drawn on by the insurgents.
Further, 1t IS argued in favor Of the
seizure of a landing place without delay,
that the undertaking is becoming more
difficult every day and that the regulars
could not be better employed than in pro-
viding fortiflcations to protect the debar-
kation of the main army when 1t is ready
to move.
"The longer the occupation of landing
place is delayed. 1t is pointed out, the moro
time Captain General Blanco has for
throwing up Notifications and mounting
batteries along the coast, which VIII cause
trouble when the real invasion begins.
THE advocates of this movement be-
lieve it would be easy for a force of the
strength mentioned to hold its own with
the protection the warships afford.
There is no prospect. however, that
even preliminary movement of this ma
ture is likely TO be undertaken Immediate
ly. For the present, at least, all military
movements viii await the result of the
maneuvering of the squadron in West In
dian waters"