Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-06-01
COULD TAKE HAVANA
BUT EXPERTS SAY IT WOULD BE
 MORE THAN CHlLD's PLAY.

Out With spain-Navy Alone Would Not
 Suffice - Opinion of an Engineer Who
 Has Visited Havana.
 The consensus of opinion is that one of the first moves on the part of the United States i'll the event of the break ing out of hostilities against Spain would be upon Havana. There have been divers opinions expressed US to the suc- cess that an expedition against that city would meet with. Some of the more en- thusiastic of the younger officers have taken it for granted that the capture of this fortified place would be mere ehild's play that couple of our big fighting ships would speedily raise the stars aud stripes over Morro castle. Expert opin- ion, however, regards the task of captur- ing Havana as more serious one.
 Three or four years ago two officers of the United States engineer corps visited Havana and examined all the fortitica- tions of the harbor and of the city. These two gentlemen are probably more thoroughly qualified to speak about the defenses of Havana than any others in the United States. One of them said to the correspondent:
 Havana can be taken by the United States forces, but not by naval expe- dition alone It would require an army in conjunction with our ships to capture the town and silence the guns of it's bat teries. The entrance to Havana harbor is narrow. On the right side lies the city, and on the left are its most important defenses. No hostile war vessels could enter that harbor and live unless the Spanish batteries on the left side were first silenced, for not only would they be subjected to the broadside fire from the forts, but the entrance could be easily guarded by means of movable tor pedoes.
 "The first fort that commands the entrance to the harbor is Morro castle. But this is an anticipated structure, with thin walls and poor equipment of guns, and it would be very easy matter to destroy it. AS fertilization Morro castle is not worth consideration But just beyond Morro and farther in- side the harbor, yet fully commanding the entrance, is the Cabana fortress This is very strong position. It is as large as Fort Monroe and has re- gently been fully equipped with the most modern guns. It is admirably sit uated for the defense of Havana and it alone could probably prevent the pas sage of an invading fleet.
 ''Both the Cabana fortress and Morro castle are situated on all elevation of 40 x Ga1E DaIz ,-,I,5. line of the harbor, strong batteries have recently been placed On the land side of the Cabana fortress are strong bas- tions, protected by earthworks and guns that sweep the entire plateau When we attempted to make an examination of this part of Cabana we were stopped and threatened with imprisonment if we did not get out But we saw enough to give us fair idea of the strength of the position.
 ''It would be folly for war fleet to attempt to force the entrance to Havana alone. At point off the coast, consid- erably to the left of the entrance to the harbor, there is what we call dead angle. From this point it would be possible for vessels to shell the forts with comparative safety, but it would be long range firing and at consider able elevation. The ships at this point would be protected from the guns of Morro and Cabana to quite an extent by slight rise in the plateau between them and- the forts, which would pre- vent the guns ill the forts from sight ing the vessels.
 "On the seacoast of the city itself. and to the right of the harbor, there are some batteries facing the ocean. Back of the town there are Notifications and earthworks defending it from land at- tack So far as we could see at the time of our visit, these Notifications were of only moderate strength and poorly arm ed. understand, however, that within the last year Spain has strengthened them and equipped them with modern artillery.
 Under these circumstances the cap ture of Havana could be effected only by hard fighting by both land and naval forces. The Spanish are not to be de- spised as fighters. They make brave soldiers, and in great engagement such as this would be they would give us hard tussle. They do not seem to be making much progress with the in- surgents, because the methods of war fare needed against the Oubans are very much like those we used against the Apaches, and no one in the Spanish ar my seems to know how to cope with them. In the defense of Havana against an attack by our forces. however, the Spanish soldiers would, no doubt, ren- der a good account of themselves, al- though have no doubt that the conflict would close in our favor New York