The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23
Little Resistance Offered and No Casualties
Reported Among the Soldiers.
One Man Killed Battle Ship Texas While Cabanas
Was Being Shelled-Ten Mines Recovered
from Guantanamo Farbor.

the first of the regular forces to land upon
Cuban soil, their purpose was not, after all,
invasion. but the establishment of a naval
base and a base for cable station, in both
of which they were eminently successful.
To the regular troops was left the beginning
of the formidable task of invading Cuba in
force by land.
Just at the close of office hours a brief
cablegram came to the War Department
from Lieutenant Colonel Allen. 1t had been
expected all day. To the surprise of the
of1cials. the cablegram was dated, not at
Guantanamo, but at a place called Playa
del Este, about twenty miles west of Guam
tanamo bay, and about half the distance
between that and Santiago bay. The mes
sage said the troops were landing and that
preparations had been made to attack San
tiago at the sides and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable COM
muntcations after the first of last evening
is thus explained: 1.-The lines were being
carried westward, probably to be nearer the
point selected as the landing place in Cuba.
In this dispatch Lieutenant Colonel Allen
said that he heard nothing officially from
either General Shafter or Admiral Sampson.
This is accounted for readily by his instruc-
tions. He was told specifically by General
Miles in cablegram sent yesterday not to
embarrass General Shafter by any unneces-
sary suggestions. Thus it will re seen to
the delight of all true soldiers that General
Shafter like Admiral Sampson, is not to be
tied by exact orders from Washington. but
is to be allowed the widest liberty of action
in the belief that he being on the ground
is capable of judging best the propriety of
projected movements. The lieutenant col
onel, however, who is member of General
Miles's staff and directly in charge of the
signal work in Santiago province commune
Gated briefly with General Miles in cipher
the fact that the debarkation of the troops
had begun, and that plan of attack had
been arranged.
1t is evident from the nature of General
Miles's advices that in addition to the
troops now landing, as it is supposed. not
far from Playa del Este, on the east side of
Santiago bay, the second landing is going
on at point just about the same distance
west of the harbor entrance. The two di-
visions probably will be pushed forward
steadily to take the town of Santiago on
either flank, while to Garcia and Rabbis's
bands of insurgents may be left the task of
bringing on the attack in the rear. The dis
tance on the west side is slightly greater
than on the east, but it probably is not
greater by either route than fifteen or
eighteen miles. The country is mountain
Gus, but there is no reason to believe it
may not be traversed by the United States
troops within a week, even if it should be.
necessary to construct intrenchments and
abattis every few miles in order to beat
back the Spaniards. With the beginning
of the military movement the navy will
draw close in shore to pound away at the
forts at the entrance and to draw the cor
don of warships SO closely around the mouth
as to make it impossible for Cerveras YES
sells to escape even if they are disposed to
take the most desperate chances