The herald., 1898-05-21
QUFSADA IS CONFIDENT
THAT cERvERA HAS REACHED
SANTIAGO
PLANS FOR CUBAN INVASION
Are Modified by Recognition Of the
Extra Hazardous Nature of
the Undertaking
Associated Press Special. Wire


WASHINGTON. May 2o.-If the Spanish
fleet is at Santiago de Cuba, the fact IL
probably not known officially at the Navy
Department this morning, Notwithstanding
the fact that the department has been
using all of the machinery of the Consular
Service in addition to the services Of num-
erous scouting vessels, to get In and keep
track of the elusive foe. The War Board
went into session early in the day, prop
ably to consider and weigh newspaper re-
ports as to the movements of the Spanish
fleet. The fact that the first report came
from Madrid was regarded as In Itself a
suspicious circumstance, for 1t is hardly
to be supposed that the Spaniards are such
simple strategists as to advise us of their
plans in that manner. The other report
regarded as confirmatory of the Madrid
cable, namely, that from the steamer Adu-
la, upon close reading, failed to indicate
whether the warships seen from that vessel
were American or Spanish. Although the
general belief at the department was that
the whereabouts of the Spaniards is still
doubtful.
General Miles had another long consulta-
ton today with Secretary Long and these
repeated meetings are construed here to
mean that point has been reached In
the campaign where the army finds 1t
necessary to call upon the navy for con-
voys to take the troops to Cuba. 1t Is
realized that this work is extra hazardous
at present. Conveys always are exposed
to destruction at the hands Of a determined
enemy, and with squadron of fleet Span
lsh cruisers and torpedo gunboats Of great
speed, lying in wait somewhere near Cuba,
nothing but the most formidable convoy
such as would be afforded by all of Samp-
sons and Schley's ironclads, save the
monitors. would suffice to give reasonable
degree of protection against attack. There
are indications that the military expedition
will make Its real start from Key West,
unless the atmosphere clears through the
destruction or disappearance from Cuban
waters of the Spanish fleet. If the start
is made from Port Tampa the ships with
their heavy loads of troops and stores will
| be exposed to attack almost thirty hours,
not allowing for the possibility of spending
much additional time off the Cuban coast
waiting for an opportunity to land. On
the other hand, If the start is made from
Key West, the final stage of the journey
will be reduced to the daylight hours of one
day.
While the report from Madrid that the
Spanish squadron is at Santiago is re-
ceived with some misgiving, yet the Off
cials Of the. Cuban delegation here con-
slider the report accurate, as 1t bears out
what these officials pointed out when the
Spanish feet first reached Martinique as
to the probable course the Spanish admiral
would take. Being well acquainted with
the Cuban coast, its facilities for landing,
ETC., Senior Quesada said at the outset that
Admiral Cervera would seek to elude the
American feet and by circuitous route
would make for Santiago. This, Mr..
Quesada pointed out, was .the natural
move by which the Spanish Admiral would
escape battle, and would be most secure
in making a landing on Cuban soil. The
present reports appear to bear out this
theory. Mr.. Quesada said today that the
Spanish admiral would find himself serious
ly handicapped at Santiago. 1t will be
useless for him to attempt to land provi-
sions and supplies to succor Blanco at
Havana, as there is no railroad communica-
ton between Santiago and Havana, and
an overland trip would take six weeks or
two months. Besides, the Cuban troops
overrun the eastern end Of the island sur
rounding Santiago, and it would be i'm
possible for Spanish supplies to be carried
overland through a country full of Cuban
bands There are said to be about three
thousand Cuban troops in the immediate
neighborhood of Santiago, but reports re-
Gently brought to the Cuban officials here
show that they lack ammunition sufficient
for an effective assault on Santiago. If
the Spanish fleet is at Santa go, Mr. Ques-
ada says. about all 1t can accomplish is
to secure base of operations in a fairly
well fortified harbor, and also to lay in
coal from colliers which are understood to
have preceded the fleet there.
Insurgents Advancing
NEW YORK, May 20.--A copyrighted
special from Port au Prince to the Even
ing World says that information has
reached that place that General Gomez at
the head of an army of $1,000 insurgents,
Is closing I'M on Havana. His advance
guard, led by Quintin Baldera, the dis
patch says. had skirnish with and put to
fight 500 Spanish troops. Santiago de
Cuba. according to the same report, is
menaced by 5000 insurgents under General
Garcia.
The dispatch also reports that Spanish
warships have been sighted off Yucatan
conveying three transports carrying
troops and provisions for Havana.
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