The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-02

the cnannel py SINKING one or
moro worthless hulks at the en-
trance. That he did not follow up
the tremendous advantage he gained
in the utter decentralization Of the Spanish
land forces, is taken as an indication that
he had this object ultimately in view. for
the naval authorities had informed him that
vessels to be used as ohstructons were al
ready on the way to him, and should arrive
in day or two at least
'It is hardly thought possible that the
Spaniards will venture on an aggressive
movement, but will rather remain at
anchor in the upper harbor, trusting to the
scattering of Commodore sschley's vessels
by the terrific hurricanes which are to be
anticipated on the Cuban coast at this sea-
son of the year. The knowledge of this
danger will probably hasten the placing of
Instructions to navigation in the channel at
Santiago, in order that the egress of the
Spaniards may be completely blocked
should the American fleet be forced to seek
shelter at Mole st. Nicholas, which is the
nearest harbor of any security
"The approach of the cyclone season and
the necessity for speedily relieving Commo-
dore Schley of his vigilance is of incalcu-
liable Importance, in view of the proposed
military invasion, as it will be impossible to
land troops at the most convenient coast
point in stormy weather. Whether all the
rryI,fo t. -
invest Santiago has left Tampa or not,
army officials at Washington declare frank
ly they do not know, and with the rigid CEN
sorship now exercised at Southern ports,
which effectually checks the dissemination
of the desired information, it is impossible
to speak with certainty. Secretary Alger
has admitted to the members of Congress
who control appropriations that an imme-
diate invasion has been ordered, and that
operations in Porto Rico would promptly
follow. The orders which were telegraphed
to General Shafter last Sunday have been
divulged by the President to no one except
Secretaries Alger and Long and Generals
Miles and Corbin, and it is extremely un-
likely that these officials would abuse the
sary that any other government officials
should be informed of such affairs, as they
are charged only with sending supplies for
ward to Tampa, when their jurisdiction and
interest are supposed to end.
"It is known that most of the pioneer
force, including the siege gun trains. the
engineer detachments and a good-sized
force of cavalry and artillery. could have
passed beyond Key West by this time with
out any one ashore having been the wiser.
The guns and engineer implements have
been loaded on the transports for several
weeks, and the men to handle them have
not been near the general camps. Several
infantry and cavalry transports were ready
for departure last Saturday The Panther,
with nearly eight hundred marines aboard,
under Lieutenant Colonel Huntington, has
been under steam at Key West for fully
three weeks, and with this nucleus, rein
forced by Calixto Garcia's army Of insur-
province, so formidable force would be as
sembled as t, prevent any aggressive move
ment from the little body of Spaniards
hemmed UP in Santiago City. 1t is strongly
intimated that the first important news of
the invading army will not come from any
other American point. but from Santiago
itself.
''The army as we'll as the navy has sud
denly lost interest in Havana and Philip
pine affairs and even the alleged move
ments of the Cadiz fleet have ceased to
cause any apprehension. Interest at this
time is centered exclusively in the Santiago
campaign, and confidence is general that on
its prompt and skillful conclusion depends
more than anything else, the future course
and limitations of the war"