New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-15
ARMY MEN HAVE THEIR DOUBrs
SOME OF THEM AT KEY WEST THINK THEIR
BRANCH OF THE SERVICE rs BEING

SOME OF THEM AT KEY WEST THINK THEFT
BRANCH OF THE SERVICE rs BEING
NEGLECTED.
Key West April 14.-While no detail OF Isho.
or expense is being spared In rushing the Navv
to the greatest possible fitness for AGGRESSIVE.
and defensive operations there is a strong feel.
ing here that the Army branch Is being neg.
lected. so far this place is concerned. Ths
Army officials at the barracks here where two
batteries Of artillery are stationed complain
bitterly that they are being handicapped bv
somebody's lack OF wisdom. and cite as an IN.
stance Of this the fact that despite the stress ~
the war situation four 10-inch and two S-inch
guns for the Notifications here were shpped
from New-York on the slow schooner Daisv
Farlin. Contrary winds might easily have de.
Iayed the schooner two three weeks but
fortunately, she made the voyage In thirteen
days. 1t might have been done In three daya
however. had the guns been shipped by rail to
Tampa or Miami. The Daisy Farin arrived
here on Tuesday last.
Captain Morrill, who commands the post
being short of men for police and manual duty
made a requisition for more. and. In conse-
Quence two companies OF the 10Th Infantry have
been ordered here from Fort Mssoula, Montana
With them will come Lieutenant Colonel Dag.
gett, Of the infantry who by virtue OF rank will
supersede Captain Merrill as commander. The
latter has telegraphed to Washington protest.
ing against this as unwise and unjust.
With the exception Of the report that four
companies OF troops are on their way here to
do garrison duty. there Is not much information
obtaInable regarding the military plans. and no
steps appear to have been taken to provide FOR
the transportation Of troops to Cuba The naval
men say they do not know OF any available
transports in the Gulf, and some people think the
insurgents may be relied upon TO conduct the
land operations, but those who are familiar with
the circumstances say such an idea Is untenable.
Dr. Clendenin, chief medical Army officer on
this island. made an inspection yesterday Of the
Ellinger cigar factory and the Marrero factory,
with the view Of converting them into hospitals
The work Of terrifying Key West is going on
without interruption A number Of Nordenfeldt
rapid fire guns. bought by the Government In
Europe. and Of Finch mortars are expected
here daily. The carriages for the latter have al
ready arrived.
Army men also comment on the proposition
for the defence OF the Tortugas by placing In
fantry there. They say the Navy does not want
place which is only good for rendezvous and
could not be properly fortified In less than two
years. and which, even then. would not be worth
defence. The Tortugas are merely barren keys.
These could easily be taken off. At present
they serve only as q coang station. but all the
coal Is brought by schooners and barges. which
could be brought quite as well to Key West.
The naval men here are much interested In the
study Of types OF the new gunboats. like the
Wilmington and the Helena. Those who are ac-
quainted with Cuba recognize how valuable YES
sells Of this class could be in such harbors as
Matanzas, Sagua la Grande, or In the Cauto
River where light-draught well-armed and
heavily manned boats are just the thing for
good service.
Surmise appears to have settled into convic-
ton here that the statement attributed to Presi-
dent Mckinley. and partially confirmed by Vice
President Hobart, many Senator'S and General
Lee, namely mo hostile shots until after April
10" was true, was made for good reasons, and
will govern events. II seems as II every prepa-
ration possible In the way OF provision and
precaution had been made, yet the wharves are
as busy as ever. the harbor at night IS illuni-
mated with the flash Of electric signals, torpedo
boats dash to and fro. and the booming Of guns
engaged in target practice is constantly heard
during daylight houra