The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-01

Washington, May 31.-The best in
| formation obtainable strongly indicates
! that the important military movement
now in progress viii be directed
against Santiago and in cooperation
with the fleet under Commodore Schley
and the allied insurgent forces. Our
forces are expected to speedily capture
/ the city of Santiago and the fleet, or
/ destroy both.
There seems to be little doubt that
the plan of campaign also contemplates
the reduction of Porto Rico, and the
president is being strongly urged to be-
ing 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
I be possible, according to their view. for
the Spanish to assert that they accept
in full the demands of this govern
ment'S ultimatum, and are preparing
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 such q case would be how TO secure
Porto Rico without offending against
international law, for it can be safely
accepted as the truth that the admin
istration is determined that Spanish
rule in the western hemisphere must
cease.
1t is fntimated from high sources
that the landing of the expedition now
embarking at Key West may be divid-
ed and one division sent to cooperate
2 NTH Al Co N Porto
Rico. 1t is believed that the govern
ment now has a sufficient number of
regulars and seasoned volunteers to
carry both of these plans to q success
full issue. Transports in sufficient num-
bers and capacity already have been
secured and it is the opinion of high
officials that one or both of these plans
are now being carried into execution
General Miles, who left here last night
to take command of the military
forces. is known to have the entire
confidence OF the president, who, in to-
days cabinet meeting, said that he
fully expected that General Miles
would prove entirely worthy of his
trust Members of the administration
are agreed that the war from this time
on will be prosecuted at all points with
the utmost vigOr.
SANTIAGO'S DEFENSES.
can be stated that for the last five
days he has held frequent conferences
with a prominent Porto Rican, thor
Oughly cOnversant with the situation in
that island. and able to give exact in
formation as TO the Spanish defenses,
etc. As to Santiago province, the sit
uation was explained today by an Off
cial well acquainted with the conditions
there. He pointed out that it is the
easternmost section of Cuba, and the
one completely isolated from General
Blanco. so far as railroad connections
are concerned. For that reason it will
be impossible for Blanco to hurry re-
Inducements TO Santiago, and the
/ Spanish forces already there constitute
/ all that it is possible to assemble for
/ its defense. These forces are under
4 General PandO, with headquarters at
Holguin. about 100 miles northwest of
Santiago de Cuba PandO has a. force
of about 5000 troops. and is strongly
entrenched. A short railway connects
him with the port of Gibara, on the
north coast, where there are about !, 900
{ Spanish troops. But while PandO is
strong at HOlguin, he is harassed by
/ the presence of small Cuban bands.
/ Besides HOIguin and Gibara, General
Pando has garrisons of from 1000 to
/ 8. 900 men at Mayantanamo and Bara-