Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-11
The Army Of Invasion.

the whole truth cannot be KNOWN py
the public, yet it is we'll understood
chiefly from Washington sources of in
| invasion is either now on its way to I
point near Santiago or is on the point
of emharkng. Admiral Sampson has
prepared the way by reducing the
Santiago fortiiications, and if the
bottled up fleet of Cervera and the city
do not fall into his hands before the
army arrives, they will be forced to
cry for quarter very soon afterwards.
The sailing of the army in the trans
ports that have long been waiting at
Tampa has been delayed by red tape,
and for the purpose of making sure
Spanish craft. OF course number OF
warshps convoy the transports, but it
was not desired to expose the latter
defenseless steamers with their pre-
cous freight to any unnecessary risk.
OF the $4,000 or $4,000 troops on the
Florida coast the embarking army
contains, it is said, $1,000 men. About
| two-thirds of these are regulars, and
the others picked volunteer regiments
and the famous regiment of Rough
Riders. This is an army with which
much can be accomplished, and the
Of IN la
brought about with little delay after
the troops are landed. The public has
come to the conclusion that all this
force is to be employed against Santi-
ago, and it may be right. The govern
ment is learning how to keep its
secrets. and it is barely possible thai
when the expedition is we'll out at sea
it may be divided, one division seeking
Santiago and the other a different OBJ
jective.
The distinction of leading this first
expedition is borne by a fellow Michi-
liam Z. Shafter. who thus, in the OPEN
ing scene. at least. of the drama of
war. holds the center of the stage to
the exclusion of such seniors as Miles
Merritt and Brooke. Gen. Shafter is
not a West Pointer The Civil War
was his tutor in military science. He
entered the service as lieutenant in
1861, ana in four years had worked up
to colonelcy 1t was with the rank
of lieutenant colonel that he gained ad~
mission to the regular army in 1866, and
he held that rank for Is Years. when
years in this grade he was appointed i
! brigadier general only a year ago. or
two months after MI McKnley's in
aueurati0n. If he goes TO Santiago ne
may find its encirclng hills pretty
steep for his 300 pounds. but fighting
VIII be no new business for him He
saw a good deal of itsin the war with
tlle. sou1h, s2nd the Indians Rave done
more or less since to keep him in prac-
tice. For 50 years he has been sta
toned in the West, and now is only a
year or two from the retirement age.
Gen. Shafter and his army will be on
! Cuban soil near Santiago in day or
! two. 1t viii be the first American
army to invade foreign shores since
| Gen. Taylor and his forces landed at
| Vera Cruz, over half a century ago.
| The moral effect of the capture of
Santiago ought to go far towards end
| ing the war. Cervera's fleet is the
only force Spain has on this side of the
Atlantic which would be at all formid-
able on the open sea. The rest of the
! Spanish naval force in Cuban waters is
made up of small craft, petty gun
more dangerous service than chasing
| tilibusters. With CerVera's vessels
| sunk or captured the situation this side
of the Atlantic is indisputably in our
hands. We can go where we WILL foY
if the Cadiz fleet should come over. it
would reach this side only to find Spain
| greatly weakened and our cause pro-
portionately stronger. That Spain
ought to be ready to seek peace as soon
as Santiago falls probably very few of
her governing men viii question, but
that she will then give in is quite an
other matter Spanish honor seems ia
demand that Spain should not only b.
knocked down, but tramped on So il
may be necessary to follow the capture
of Santiago and the capture or destruc-
ton of the fleet in its harbor, by the
siege and capture of Havana and per
haps Porto Rico campaign. The
fleet is doing its work and the great
army will be in readiness very soon for
any service required. But let us hope
the fall of Santiago will end the war.
1t is matter of notice that in the
public demand for rewards of the feats
of conspicuous bravery. all concerned,