Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-14
BY LAND AND BY SEA-.


New York, April IA special TO the
Times from Washington says:
The plans for the Joint land and ma
val attack upon Havana have been
the subject of deliberation of
number of meetings OF the naval STRAIT
egic board, of councils of the joint
war and navy board, and Of confer
ences between the governmental and
military officials. From the first 1t
was considered absolutely essential
that there should be a Joint movement
of the land and naval forces of the
United States against the Spaniards
in cuba, and the only thing left for
discussion was the best course to be
pursued In carrying out this plan.
one difficulty that has continually
presented itself is the fact that the
navy is ready for an advance on Ha-
vana within an hour after the declara-
ton of war. while the army could not
possibly throw any considerable force
in Cuba in less time than As hours.
Should the fleet of Captain Sampson
walt until the army is ready, has been
asked. or should 1t, as soon as wal
was determined on, proceed to carry
out its instructions and invest Havana
from the sea?
II is now decided that the feet will
at once move on Havana, invest it, and
at the same time hold open the Florida
straits for the free transportation Of
troops into the island. A part of the
fleet Will be reserved for this purpose,
as well as to keep open the Gulf to the
west of Havana for like purpose.
As soon as the army is ready. which
will be within As hours. a considera-
BILE body of troops will be thrown into
the province OF Pinar del Rio, in the
neighborhood, probably, OF Bahia Hon
da. and an advance upon Havana will
be begun at once. The fleet will CO.
operate with the land forces from the
moment they land in Cuba, and both
Will attack Havana simultaneously.
Even II the resolution finally passed
by Congress does not recognize the
present republican government In the
island, the plan OF the army is to unite
with the armies of Gomez and Garcia
as allies against the Spaniards. II is
probable that troops will be sent to
join these revolutionary armies in
Puerto Principe and Santa Clara or
that ships will be sent to transport
some Of the Cuban troops to the vlcin-
ity OF the capital, In any event an
effort VIII be made to cooperate at
once with the armies of the revolutions
airy leaders In the work OF driving the
Spaniards out of the island.
With the establishment OF n stable
and Independent government In free
Cuba, the army will have nothing to do.
Mt least in the preliminary part OF the
campaign. Its task is TO sweep the
Spaniards out OF the island. To do this
most effective II will at once seek the
closest alliance with the revolutionary
troops.
The war department is certain that
Gomez and Garcia have respectable
Dspaiaa n the ems ~ "a .fo m Of gg1 a
This conclusion is based upon the fact
that they have been able to hold back
the Spanish armies and even win not
able victories against some of the best
officers OF Spain. These revolutionary
troops, aided by some American regu-
lars and supplied with arms and am
munition, will be able, It is thought, to
do very effective work against the
soldiers under Blanco and Pando
As soon as war is declared, the war
department will issue, upon the call of
the President, orders for the enlist
there was some talk OF 10000 volunteers
being sufficient for the purpose, but 1t
was soon found that this number would
not be sufficient to keep up the garrl-
sons along the coast, together with a
body OF troops sufficiently large to de-
fend the country from invasion. 1t
would not be at all adequate to the
task of supplying achievements for
the army of occupation, or Of forming
a nucleus OF a still larger army for any
operations on a larger scale than is now
contemplated. Certainly not less than
&c. 900 troops win he called for at once.
and 1850 900 will be assuredly organized
within "a short time after the opening Of
hoStlllties Orders for the organization
of IA great volunteer force are now pre-
pared and can be issued instantly upon
declaration OF war.
Until war is declared or recognized as
existing. nothing further can be done
As soon as II is declared. with a clause
IN the resolution authorizing the orga-
nization of n volunteer army, these
orders will be transmitted TO the proper
quarters, and at least 10000 men will
be ready to respond to the call OF the
President. TO go wherever the govern
ment thinks 1t advisable to send them.