Year: 1873

on the subject Is regarded BY many a. being
CALCULATED TO LESSEN THE HOPE
lately entertained OF peaceful solution OF che
difnculty. But at prescnt nothing onlciaI has
transpired to warrant definite statement con-
cerning It.


Meeting OF tho Csbinct-secrcfary Fish
and Secretary Robeson Report Prog
ress-Grant, sherman and sheridan n in
Council-Discussion as to the Required
Military crations-CompIim 20
United states Army Omoers.


WASHINGTON Nov ss. 1873.
The regular Cabinet meeting to-day was not
unusually long. The Spanish relations were, OF
course, the principal subject under discussion.
Secretary Fish was at the White House some time
before the hour Of meeting In conference with
ell the dispatches received and sent since
the last meeting touching upon the virginius in
its new attitude The Secretary OF the Navy, who
has just returned from his tour OF inspection OF
the Philadelphia and Brooklyn Navy Yards, gave
an account OF the progress OF work on the various
ships of-war which are now being fitted for sea.
What further transpired at the meeting has not
yet been divulged. Mindful Of all contingencies,
MILITARY PREPARATIONS ARE STILL BEING HAsTENED.
80 that we shall be prepared as far as possible in
the event OF q rupture. The presence OF Lieuten-
ant General Sheridan in the city enables the gov
ernment to have the benefit Of the advice and the
experience Of the two highest oicers OF the army.
General Sheridan has since his arrival had several
interviews with the President the Secretary OF
War and General Sherman. Tonight General
Nth It
sidered not unlikely in case Of war that General
Sherman will himself command the armies in the
field


THE ARMY CHIEFS IN COUNCIL.
The consultations held to-day between the distin
guished military officials of the government had
special reference to the most expeditions and
effective method OF organizing the army and it's
base OF operations. There is q difference OF Opin-
ion in regard to the best point OF departure for the
transports. New Orleans has the advantage of
contiguity to the island and abundant facili.
ties for storage of military supplies. New
York possesses greater means OF transportation.
being the principal centre Of the steam carrying
trade of the United States but during the winter
season the passage from New York to Havana Is
delayed and endangered by the tempestuous
weather TO be encountered in rounding Cape Hat
teras, while adverse weather is almost unknown
IN the Gulf patrolling fleet in Florida Channel
would afford sufficient protection to transports
starting from New Orleans, while on the long voy-
age from New York they would be in constant
jeopardy of being Overtaken by some fast sailing
cruiser. The opinion OF these officers is that war
coming so Unexpectedly, as would be the case If
present negotiations are broken on, the govern
ment would be compelled to nave


AN INVADING ARMY


at the earliest possible moment. Volunteers must
aft ba t,a afrE Eafan So tfa
properly organize volunteer army for foreign
war would be labor OF months, Notwithstanding
the experience Of our late war. 1t is therefore
suggested, as a matter expedition, to issue


A CALL FOR vOLUNTEERs--N0T LESS THAN 5000
portion OF which TO be Immediately despatched
to the frontier to garrison the various posts and
iorts In the Indian country. The regulars now oc-
cupying those posts would be transferred East, to
rendezvous, in all probability, at New Orleans, at
which point in the opinion OF General Sherman
the whole available regular force could be concen-
tratcd and be ready to move within the space OF
so days. The remainder of the volunteer force
could be organized and equipped to follow the
regulars. It is now suggested that


ONE HUNDRED MEN BIZ ADDED TO THE COMPANY


STRENGTH OF THE REGULAR FORCE


as after his extended tour Of observation through
Europe General Sherman believes our officers to
be the best in the werld and fully capable OF CON-
mandins this number OF men, 1t is held by these
officers that it would be the part OF wisdom
and foresight TO organize at the beginning
an army OF sufficient size to prosecute
the campaign vigorously and TO an immedi-
ate and victorious hnality. Their opinion
is that the strongest force OF the Spanish soldiery
and Cuban volunteers that can be mustered on the
island win not number over $4,000 men, badly
ofcered and poorly armed; and Tor this reason
even as army OF invasion, they think that an
equal number on side, with our brave and
elicient officers and men, our improved arms and
artillery, wbuld be entirely sufficient to accomplish
the desired results. The impression is that


FOUR BATTLES WOULD END THE CONTEST IN THE


FIELD,


and that the siege and captulation of Havana
would be the most difficult part OF the campaign.
Ii the emergency arises 1t is the opinion OF the
military officers that Congress should act with the
greatest berality in the matter OF appropriations.
as it would otherwise be cause OF hindrance to
military operations, both as regards the ccononi.
cal purchase OF supplies and the rapid movements
OF troops. II is estimated that by the accumula-
tion OF supplies in sufficient quantities the ex-
pedition could be provlsoned for at least six
months, which would obviate the necessity of de-
pending solely upon uninterrupted communication
between Cuba and the base Of supplies.


PRoFFERrNG THEIR SERVICES


Tenders Of service continue 10 come to the
government from prominent onicers OF both the
North and the South. One of the latest who Offers
his sword is General N. B. Forrest, the celebrated
Confederate cavalry general.


THE THROWING OF THE vIRGINIUs CASE INTO


CONGRESS-,


should the two administrations at Washington
and Madrid fail to come TO an agreement, will not
be the nrebrand 1t would have been two weeks
ago. This Is everywhere seen by those who have
talked the past day or two with the Senators and
Representatives already here. Few OF them mani
fest any desire for the acquisition Of Cuba, and it
seems pretty evident that the ST. Domingo
scheme and the experience OF negro rule In
Louisiana and South Carolina have checked the
feeling for the annexation Of territory burdened
with degraded populations. New England as re.
presented IN Congress is strongly conservative on