The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-06-08
Uncle Sam win Drive Spain From
the Western Hemisphere.
DECISIVE BLoW Io BE STRUCK.
After Successfully Landing an Important
expedition OF several Hundred
Armed Men the steamer
Florida Returns 10
Key West


ments, and in the keen air of expect
ancy everywhere prevailing. The au
thoritat1ve statements made by Gen
eral Miles and others that the orders
for an advance had been issued, left no
further doubt on that point.
The report from Key West that the
steamer Florida had returned there
after successfully landing an import
ant expedition in Cuba was supple
mented by the information here that
the expedition was in command OF
General La Cret, the we'll known Gu
ban leader, who has with him 400
picked Cubans, thoroughly armed and
equipped by the United States.
While there continues to be entire
official reticence as to the exact points
of invasion, the eoncensus of opinion,
drawn from the most intelligent
sources, is that the eastern end of Gu
ba, constituting the province of San
tiago, with Santiago de Cuba as is
capital, and Porto Rico, will be among
the objective points.
For this reason the situation in San
tiago province and Porto Rico was
thoroughly canvassed.
General Lee has left Tampa for Jack
sonville, on the eastern side of Florida
peninsula, to open headquarters there.
But one inference can be drawn from
this movement. namely, that Jackson
vile is to be made base of operations
against Porto Rico. The town is
admirably situated for this purpose;
in fact, it far surpasses Key West as a
base for operations even against any
of the eastern points of Cuba.
The terminus of an excellent railroad
system leading from the north and
west with good steamboat connections
with New York, with navigable river
affording good harbor, and distant
only 1900 miles from San Juan in an
air line.
There seems to be little doubt that
the plan of campaign contemplates the
reduction of Porto Rico and the presi-
dent is being strongly urged to begiI
this movement even before any serious
attempt is made upon Havana. His
advisers point to what they regard as
the danger of a retreat on the part of
the Spanish government.
1t might be possible, according to
their view, for the Spanish to assert
that they accept in full the demands
of this governments ultimatum. and
are prepared to withdraw their troops
from Cuba.
In such case the United States would
be placed in the disagreeable position
before the world of continuing to make
war upon the country which holds out
the flag of truce. The dilemma that
would confront us in that case would
be how to secure Porto Rico without
offending against international law,
for it can safely be accepted as the
truth that the administration is deter
mined that Spanish rule in the western
hemisphere must cease.
Now that General Miles has gone
it can safely be stated that for the last
five days he has held frequent confer
ences with prominent Porto Ricans
thoroughly conversant with the situa-
ton in that island, and able to give
exact information as to the Spanish
stte:. 9Th. defense, etc. there.
AS to Santiago province, the situa-
ton was explained by an official well
acquainted with the condition there
He pointed out that it is the eastern
most section of Cuba, and the one COM
pletely isolated from General Blanco.
so far as railroad connections are con-
cerned.
For that reason it will be impossible
for Blanco to hurry achievements to
Santiago, and the Spanish forces al
ready there constitute all that it is
possible to assemble for its defense.
SUCCESSFULLY LANDED.
Four Hundred Men With a Pack Train
Reach Cuban Soil.
Key West, May 31.-Nearly 400 men,
of arms and ammunition, sailed for
Guatanamo on the Plant line steamer
Florida on the night of May 21.-These
men and the equipment constituted an
expedition able to operate independ-
emily and to defend itself against any
body of Spanish troops which might
oppose it.
The exposition was under the COM
mand of Colonel Jose Lacret, formerly
Insurgent commander in Matanzas
province. He assumed the direction of
affairs Immediately on the landing Of
Interpolation. Until then General
Joaquin Castillo was in control.
In the landing of the expedition the
United States army was represented
by Captain ]. A. Dorst and Tomas Es-
trada Palma was represented by ]. e.
Cartaya, who has been the landing
agent of nearly every filibustering ex-
petition for more than a year.
Messrs Castillo and Cartaya will re-
turn to Key West. General Julio Sam
gully, on the way to report to General
Maxine Gomez. was also on the boat
This is the most powerful anti-Span-
ish expedition ever sent to Cuba. About
300 of the men are Cubans; the others
are Americans. The engineers corps
of the expedition is composed entirely
ST Americans, under Aurelian Ladd.
The men were dressed in canvas uni
forms, furnished by the United States
government, and the commissary de-
partment had rations enough to last
Is days after the landing. The pack
train consisted OF T5 mules and IS
horses. The expedition carried 1000
rifles and 100000 rounds of ammuni-
ton for General Calixto Garcia
Tho a@,pafifffor &c counnosed of hardy