Evening star., 1898-06-21
THE INVASION OF CUBA
Occupation Of Santiago Only Part of the
Plan.
An Authoritative Review of the Fu-
ture Operations Preceding the
Fall of Havana.

Now that the army is about to set foot
en- Cuban soil, the purpose of this move as
part of general campaign, was pointed
out today by an army official fully ac-
quainted with the general plans Of action.
He said Santiago de Cuba was not to be
made a military base of operations, as it
was not adapted for such use. Being far
removed from the rich and populous por
ton Of the island, without railroads or or
dinary highways for transporting munitions
of war westward, the town would be prac-
tically useless as a base of military sup
plies. For that reason. he said, there had
never been an idea of occupying this place
as the first base and then gradually extend
ing military operations westward. On the
contrary, this occupation of Santiago was
but incident of the general plan of oc-
cupying several points, and in due time
there would be landing at the west end
of Cuba just as there had been at the east
end. When that occurred each point of
landing would serve for the time being as
base for the surrounding country, and
Santiago could no more be used as base
for reaching Havana than could Havana
for reaching Santiago.
Desirable Ends Attained.
The immediate purpose In occupying San
tiago, he pointed out. accomplished several
incidental but very desirable ends. First of
these was the capture of Admiral Cerveras s
feet, which would always remain a menace
end an uncertain factor until entirely dis
posed of. Another point which had come
up was the relief of Hobson and his brave
band of associates. While this might seem
a minor matter, yet the government had
always been most solicitous in relieving and
protecting its citizens, and just now there
was added reason why the strongest efforts
of the government should be put forth for
the rescue of this heroic band. 1t was sug-
gested that Great Britain had sent an expe-
dition into the heart of Africa to rescue one
of its imprisoned heroes, General Gordon,
at khartoum. Then. too the raising of the
American flag on Cuban SOIL whether at
the east or the west end, would have a
powerful moral influence, alike stimulating
to own people and our fighting forces
and disheartening to Spain.
Humilfating to Spain.
The humiliation to Spain was In having
our men and our flag planted on her soil.
whether the particular point was to be
used as a base Of operations or not 1t
would also notify the world at large that
the United States was intrenched on the
Island of Cuba az well as in the Philip
plnes Next 10 havana, It was pointed out,
Santiago is the largest city In Cuba. It's
possession means the possession Of practi-
cally the eastern end Of the island, includ-
ing all of the two eastern provinces and
well up to the famous trocha. 1t embraces
also the river Cauto, the largest river In
Cuba and the one used by Spaniards and
insurgents alike for their most effective
naval incursions inland. Although shallow.
it can be navigated by light-draught gun
boats. launches. etc., and it provides a wa
ter highway, much better than roads, for
tapping a great stretch of the interior of
the island. With Santiago occupied, there
fore. there will be the advantage Of a local
base Of operations. the elimination of the
Spanish fleet as factor in the war. the re-
lease of Hobson and his band, and the es.
tablishment of an American force under the
American flag on Spanish soil.