New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-22
THE FLEETS TASK AT HA VA VA
TWO GREAT SHORE BATTERIES TO BE
SUENCFD FIRST.
THE nrrENCrs OF TIE CITY AND THEIR poor
GUSNERS- PROSPECTS FOR A PEACE
FIJI. BLOCKADE SLIGHT.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrT

GUXNERs- PROSPECTS FOR PEACE
FTI. BLOCKADE SLIGHT.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBrSrl
Kew West. Fla April oil Paper plans for IN
vestigating Havana I'D not receive much Mt
tention here from naval officers this afternoon.
In the activity which preceded preparations FOR
departure some ~ them paused long enough 70
doubt whether a peaceful blockade was pracu-
cable for any length Of time. Plans In detail
are known only to the COmmander-in-' h'el'
Captain Sampson. Captain Evans. IN command
Of the Iowa ard Captain Taylor ~ The Indiana
This council represents TIE thought, the energy
and the philosophy Of naval warfare.
In general way II may be known that
VIXEN firing is once opened the first Work VIII
be to silence the two great shore batteries COLT
monty called the Cojmar and the Santa cara
The Cojimar protects Havana along the east
II is not close to any large suburban popuia-
tions. and might he reduced without loss Of li'e'
except 70 the men manning the battery. santa
Clara, which lies 70 the west. IS almost on the
edge ~ the city Its reduction could hardly be
ACCOMPLISHED without destroying many build
irgs and possibly causing loss Of life. When
these two great batteries are s!lenced the ihhor
Of reducing the smaller ones Will not be so OH
fcult Some Of them not Formidable others
are dangerous.
It is probable that Moro Castle and Cabana
Fortress would be the next places shelIed' pe-
cause OF the prisoners In them. Their guns mr.
not formidable. but they command the harpor
and would have to be reduced before IL cou'd
be countermined 1t is generally understood
that the defences Of Havana mount between
sixty and seventy guns. Some or them arr
modern. Plenty Of ammunition has been STORED
during the Inst two months. Spaniards are
to. ing
VIGOROUSLY poor gunners. Their prac'lce du''"k
tho lac, few weeks may not have improved their
aim at an enemy but Il has probably insured
them AGAINST injury to themselves. Officers
commanding vessels Of the squadron are not
counting on the poor aim Of the Spanards. but
they expect that the batteries Of the Iowa and
the auxiliary ships will be operated rapidly
a,orgh IN render shells from the shore futile
I, is still a question how much Of peaceful
blockade can be maintained. officers FOR the
most part look for fire 10 be opened from Ma
vana The exact range Of the batteries on shore
is not known. but they can hardly cxceed 'he
range Of the big guns on the Iowa ana the IN
diana II fire is not opened from shore Inc Ncs-
colo ,,iu cruise of Havana for a while. keeping
ont Of range and possibly engaging In target
nractice But the common opinion is that II can
not be many days before firing is opened ana
the North Atlantic Squadron has an opportunity
10 prepare the way for the entrance OF troops
into Havana.
In the mean time torpedo boats may do som"
scouting along the coast 10 the west or havana
toward Mariel. which is the best landing place
for soldiers. 1t is presumed that Matanzas, on
the coast east OF Havana. Will be bockaded. the
earnc as the latter city. General Graham. who
arrived this afternoon. said he had come OF
his tour OF inspection, but II is probable that
he will remain in Key West while the Army Is
being modified al the Gulf ports.