The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-22
PLAN OF ACTION

ofthe Government In Regard 10 tho Move
on 'Sanitago-occupation OF that CITY
bni IN Incident In the General scheme.
WASHINGTON. June n.-Now that
the army is about to set foot on Cuban
soil, the purpose OF this move on Santia-
so was pointed out to-day by an army.
official fully acquainted with the general
plan OF action. He said Santiago dc
Cuba was not to be made a military
base of operations, as It was not adapted
for such use. d q
Being far removed from the rich and
populous portion Of the island, without
railroads or ordinary highways for,
transporting munitions OF war west-i
ward, the town would be practically use.
less as a base OF military supplies, For
that reason, he said, there had never
been an Idea OF occupying this place as
the first base, and then gradually ex-
tending military operations westward,
On the contrary. this occupation If SAM
.iago was but an incident Of the general
plan Of occupying several points and in
due time there would be landings 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 sur
rounding country. Santiago could no
more be used as a base for reaching
Havana than could Havana for reaching
Santiago. The occupation OF Santiago,
he pointed out, would accomplish sew
eral,lncldertal but very, desirable ends.
First of these was the capture of Ad-
miral Cerrera's fleet. which would al. I.
ways remain a menace and an uncertain
factor until entirely disposed Of.
Another peat 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 al.
ways had been most solicitous in relIey-
Ing and protecting It's citizens, and Just
now there was added reason why the
strongest efforts Of the government
should he put forth for the. rescue OF this
heroic band. Great Britain had sent an
expedition into the heart OF Africa to
rescue one of It's imprisoned heroes,
General Gordon, at Khartoum. The
United States should do as much and
the. raising Of the American flag on Gu
ban soil, whether at the east or the west
end would have powerful moral In
fluence, alike stimulating TO our own
people and our fighting forces. and dis
hcartenlng to Spain. The humiliation Of
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. I. would also
convey Information to the world at large
that the United States was entrenched
on the island of Cuba as well as the !
Philippines {.5. +. u,
Next to Havana, Santiago Is the
largest city In Cuba. Its possession
means the possession OF practically the
eastern end of the Island, including all
of tho two eastern provinces and well UP
to the famous trocha. II embraces also
the river Cauto, the largest river In
Cuba, and the one used by Spaniards
and insurgents nike for their. most ef.
fective naval incursions Inland. al.
though shallow. It can be navigated BY
light draft gunboats, launches, ETC., and
It provides water highway, much bet-
ter than roads. for, tapping great
stretch Of the interior OF the Island. With
Santiago occupied, therefore there Will
be the advantage of local base Of oper-2
atoms; the elimination Of the Spanish
fleet as a factor in the the war, the re-
lease Of Hobson and his band. and the
establishment Of an American force un- Z
der the American flag on Spanish soil.