The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-28

Tampa, Fla. May FIT is altogether
unlikely that. when the order comes &C
| tually to embark for Cuba the troops tina:
are in this vicinity. the fact viii be made
known very definitely TO the people OF the
north. They may have 20 learn OF i;
! through accounts of the embarkation sent
from here by mail and presumably by
| the time these mail accounts are pub
llshed the expedition will be so near the
Cuban shores that the publication will
| not be OF the slightest advantage 10 the
| Spanish enemy. However. 1t must not be
assumed that. because the censorship Is
narrowing down. the time for the embark
alton is very near. II may be- and i
might be quite distant. ] know that con-
servative officers are much inclined TO
oppose a DESCENT on Cuba now before
Autumn If an expedition could have
gone in April or early in May. they say,
much might have been accomplished.
But it could not go and now II is too late.
That 1t is going 10 be possible to move
any large body Of infantry in Cuba in
June is very unlikely. To take advantage
of what good roads there are "a landing
must be effected near Havana. and 10 ef-
feet a landing near Havana a very strong
expedition is presumably necessary. and
it may have a good deal OF fighting 20
do. The difficulties, not only of trans
portation. but of sanitation. loom pretty
large the nearer we come 10 q summer
campaign In Cuba.
But suppose the expedition were post
poned until autumn: how late in autumn
should it be postponed TO? October IS not
healthy month in Cuba; far from IT, 1t
is one of the unhealthiest Of the year.
The accumulated mass Of vegetation
stimulated by the rainy season Is then in
full process Of decay. Even up TO the
middle of November these especially un-
healthy conditions prevail. II the expedi-
ton awaits a healthy season IN Cuba. it
viii have to wait until December. And
If It must wait until then one wonders
why war was declared in April and many
thousands Of troops brought down to this
hot climate to remain an summer.
1t appears altogether unlikely that any
such postponement as that will be made.
1 predict that, If the events Of The next
few days clear the naval situation, the
influences which tend to compel this ex-
petition onward viii all at once become
dominant. The troops VIII begin TO en-
bark in good order. They are already so
disposed that they ought 10 be able 10 fall
into line for embarkatlon much as com
panies formed for a well ordered process
sion wheel into the moving column
steadily and with precision.
Meantime the morale Of the expedition
has unquestionably improved There Is
certainly no longer any doubt as TO who
commands Il. Major-General William r. (
Shafter, United States volunteers. com /
mands IT and is likely 10 continue 70 com /
mand it. General Shafter IS a commander Z
whose QUALITIES appear larger with lon /
ger acquaintance. This is one OF the 4
characteristics Of greatness. AT least An
other characteristic OF greatness which .
he possesses Is industry. The modern (
major general may not. as a matter q
actual fact. be the mathematical prodigy
that Mr.. Gilbert's words IN The Pirates
OF Penzance" describe but he must al
least be a very working maj IN time
of war. General Shafter is certainly this.
! am toerably sure that this war will In
crease his reputation
The new brigadiers are giving us taste
OF their quality tn the brigade drills and
other exercises IN preparation f9r actual
which they are putting ,helr
troops through Brigade drills have hith-
erto been an una s,atuabis luxury for the
regular army. II Is now getting 'hem IN !
full measure. have heard the men com
plain Of only one thing IN connection with
them. and that IL that thev sometimes
come too long after breakfast. when the
regulars stomachs have begun % suggest
thoughts Of dinner. ] think the soldiers
whom Iheard making this complaint were
whom heard mak.ur talscoup,siH were
on the only occasion when have gone
out to see a brigade 6ril have had %
get I'd very early ~ the morning Eut
the regular solder is certainly the great
est eater ever saw. I can vGueh fsr fae
Tact that the food served 70 the regular
.roops here is varied. good and abundant.
have happened IN a. the serving % g..
and have psrtaken or j. and ] aave seen
sstoaiEhlng portions served cut 20 nua-
yry soldiers. But even these ratlons Do
cot appear % sIrcs Whole street, -
pie shops" hailt % rough boards. hsxs
.prurE up tn he nssEhborhoo6 Of -
amps These places seem O. sci more
3lss than anything s.se but fs@y often
.eg o.her 4 nda n food ara they ALEC EEL
srosiz 51ls quantities - beer TIE pros
.erisy ~ ,5sae pc Shops seems 20 - a
.esectloa upon ire army c9mn .saar5at.
~ & Is ar gz5sst one
To Tetaru = maneat 20 re h-lrasa
.r1s I may cay that 81 is MISTER ~
atlsfa--ion. loaErg a. iais natter from
military po.1t q view. 20 zee tnese
-oleuess, grown s3Segy i1 ire ssrv.ee.
vAo are naw or. gad3er- ssae-ats % go-
nsssrs." sa6 wh0 ~ - r'are e tHs var
uust 4 az proAaogi.ty res7sr1 20 seasr
sgsuenfs. performing tha tarRes a-e gre
rFEstousd serT5ce - b-Rafe c0uyz r9srH
T3ta easy Esccesz ar1 eoreaea~e- r le {
30 satsrfs ets1- % SEE t1at go arnr :
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-4rk. PezzsT 51ansz ard sfassa eazsss .ss y
avs hasa ready m4ca feisrr aksHea r 3
7sa1s movements than tbe Texa - 4
rmT- r.
INVASION RUH0RS l.
gsssalaFe9r. zEay s1-Thsrs 80 fesa- p
a. ;sss morning - 80 aires. eay ra- p
~ ta4t fseseFs1 - a wss Etaat - g. e.