The herald., 1898-04-14
lTnf CAPTURfO OF HAVANA
WILL FOLLOW DECLARATION OF
WAR
THE FORCES OF INSURGENTS
Expected to Take Care Of the Land
Side While American Ships Shell
the Town
: Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, April 13.-The Times
Washington correspondent says:
It is now determined that as soon as
war Is declared Captain Sampson will
steam for Havana and attack it by sea
and that land force will hasten to his
aid and invest the city on the west, thus
cutting it off entirely from the coast OF
the island except by means of an inner
harbor. Havana can be readily and
safely shelled from the sea without ex-
posing the attacking vessels to dam
aging fire. This is the opinion of Cap
tain Sigsbee who made careful study
of the defense of the city during his stay
there. 1t is also the opinion Of Gen. Lee,
who has made even closer study of the
defenses of the capital. 1t is also ex-
pected that the revolutionists of the
province of Pinar del Rio, who are by
no means suppressed or exterminated,
will hasten to the aid of the army Of
occupation, while Gomez and Garcia Will
move straight on Havana from the east
The Spanish troops who have fought
in vain against unarmed and starving
bands of revolutionists will hardly be
able to withstand such concerted at
tack by the revolutionists, who have
successfully resisted them in the field,
and the we'll disciplined and well armed
troops of the United States. The fall of
Havana is thought to be matter of
few days only, and with Havana will
practically fall the entire Spanish au-
thority and forces in the island. The
flying squadron, which has stripped for
battle and is riding uneasily in Hampton
Roads with it's fires banked and its
decks cleared for action, will be
launched at once, it is thought for its
prearrangcd attack on the Canaries. Its
purpose is to divert the Spanish fleet
destroy it's base of supplies in the Can
aries, cut its line of communication and
seize a point of great advantage for es-
tablishing base of action for our navy.
1t will then hurry to the coast Of Spain
Spanish waters.
Ocean Greyhounds
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The Navy
Department has decided to buy the
Transatlantic liners st. Paul and st.
Louis. The vessels at present belong
to the American Line and under the
terms Of the subsidy act are at the dis
posal Of the government in times of
emergency.
There Is also under consideration the
purchase of another auxiliary cruiser
from list Of three or four whose merits
are known, the Yorktown of the Old
Dominion Line being especially we'll re-
garded.
1t is understood that Captain Sigsbee,
the Names commander, will be as
signed to the command Of either the
st. Louis or st. Paul, but no orders to
this effect have been issued and no Off
cial confirmation can be had. Captain
Sigsbee was seen but said that he had
not been consulted or advised on the
matter.
Naval Exercise
WASHINGTON, April 13-It is Off
cially announced that the flying squad
ron sails this afternoon on a forty
eight hours practice cruise.
1t is the impression at the Navy De-
partment, however, that the squadron
will go outside of the capes and there
await any further orders which may be
sent to it by dispatch boat.
Under Steam
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, April 13.-
L AC lily lib III COIIlIIldHu VI
Commodore Schley, left Old Point at 2:zO
this afternoon under sealed orders. The
warships proceeded slowly toward the
capes.
Privateering
NEW YORK, April 13.-The present
policy of the State Department is in full
accord with the precedents established
by former administrations and the gen
eral granting of letters of marque to
privateers will not be advocated in case
of war with Spain, says the Washington
correspondent of the Herald.
While no authoritative statement can
be obtained on the subject it is certain
the administration believes interven-
ton in Cuba can be secured if Congress
acts in accordance with the recommend
ations contained in the Presidents mes
sage within the strict limits of interna-
tional law by reason of damages sus-
tained by citizens of the United States
in the island of Cuba and by the United
States itself in the loss of the Maine.
The deleg alton to the President of the
right to intervene would be in line with
the powers granted in the cases of AL
giers and Tripoli and would carry as in
cidental to 1t the right to grant letters of
marque and reprisal and to use the gov
ernment war vessels for purposes of re-
prisal. without giving Spain just cause
for declaration Of war and without
constituting an act of war upon the
part of the United States.
A Cruiser Purchased
WASHINGTON. April 13-A dispatch
to the Herald from Washington says:
Admission is made at the Navy Depart
ment that the Brazilian cruizer Mic
theroy has been purchased subject to
an inspection by a naval committee to
be appointed by Minister Bryan.
The Nictheroy, which is equipped wit
a dynamite gun. will, naval authorities
say, be available for siege duty provided
che is still in good condition. The Mic
theroy was built at Newport News five
years ago and sold to Brazil six months
after her completion, being converted
for that government into man-of-war
She Is steel vessel of 1880 tons displace-
ment and her one screw propels her al
the rate Of 10 knots an hour. Her en-
gines and boilers are protected by cosl
and her armament consists Of one 15-
inch pneumatic dynamite gun, one l.
inch quick-firing gun, two a9-inch quick
firing, eight 6-pounders, ten l. Founders
and four Howell torpedo tubes. By thz
terms Of the contract under which sha
will be sold to this government she will
be delivered at any point on the coast
of the United States that the departmen nj
may designate. There has been soma
toll n Of hi,