Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-20
Special 70 the Register.
Wv No =,

Special 10 the Register.
Washington, May 19.-Naval
circles here are again intensely
excited by the prospect of great
naval battle in West Indian waters
within As hours.
knowledge of the arrangement OF
the ships OF the two American
fighting fleets. which was settled
il the formation of a new flying
squadron with sailing power al
most equal to that OF Admiral
Cervera's fleet, makes it practically
certain that the Spaniards will
not much longer be able to escape
a battle unless they desert the
Caribbean sea and take to the
open ocean, or seek refuge in a
roundabout course in the harbor
of San Juan, Porto Rico.
Enough was admitted at the
Navy Department to show that the
new flying squadron has already
begun the advance through the Yu-
catan passage west of Cuba into the
Caribbean Sea, bent on finding and
giving battle to Carvera's fleet
if it is still lurking off the coast Of
Venezuela or Central Am'ri5a.
where it was last reported.
The expected battle may Ut
course take place at any hour, but
it is felt here that it can hardly be
delayed beyond Saturday.
The swift fleet which has gone in
search of the Spaniards was prob
ably made up of the armored cru
isers New York and Brooklyn and
the protected cruisers Cincinnati,
New Orleans, Montgomery, Marble
head and Detroit, although on this
subject no definite information has
been allowed to get out by the Off
Gals here
With every disposition on the
part of the executive to make the
present war short, sharp and de-
cjsive, it is beginning to be real
lied that the shortcomings of our
military service are SO many that
delays are inevitable and that
much work will be necessary to put
the nation in efficient fighting
shape.
Every day brings forth some
weak spot that has to be strength
ened or some hidden defect, such
as the discovery at this late mo-
ment that every regular army Of
hcer who accepted a volunteer APP
pontment would forfeit his COM
mission in the regulars and so be-
come liable to be left out of the
service entirely at the end of the
war Few officers cared to risk
thelr future in that way, so a rush
was made towards Congress to Sc
cure the necessary corrective legis-
Iatlon. Again, it has been found
mat the equipment of the army,
small as it is in comparison with
lhe great army of the rebellion, is
Sadiy lacking. Nearly a month
alter the formal declaration of war,
Inc War Department to-day pur-
chased a number of shelter tents,
ana 1t has just secured the ham
AioekS that experts say are essen
uai to existence in Cuba. These
preparations involve delay, so that
IL Is not remarkable in spite of the
Aerculean efforts OF the officers Of
ule army, no positive start has vet
oeen made towards it's goal by the
army of occupation.
PROBABLY, it is this fact. rather
Uat any unreadiness on the part
vi the navy, that causes the cam
palgn to drag in its inception. for
'"e Navy Department has an
Nouiiced that it stood ready at any
moment to furnish convoys for
'ue troops transports, provided
."ey were started from one point.
0en. Miles had an interview this
'i'efnoon with Capt. Crownin-
,N'elo' chief of the navigation
0uFsau' and it is surmised that