New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
WAR ON A GREAT SCALE NOW.
OPERATIONS TO BE PUSHED.
cERVERA'S FLEET RELIEVED TO BE
BOTTLED UP AT SANTIAGO.
IMPORTANT NEW PLANS FOhhED.
PORTO RICO. AS WELL AS CUBA. MAY BE
INVADED sOON-WHAT THE SECOND
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS MEANS.
rsy TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.l


rny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
washington. May 25.-If. as the President and
his advisers are now disposed to believe. the
sron,sb Can. verd squadron has been cut off
from egress to the sea In the land-locked harbor
y. Santiago de Cuba. new and important turn
NAV he expected to be given in the next few
aocs 70 naval and military operations In the
1yes, Indies For two weeks the necessity OF
hunting down and dispos!ng Of the elusive Span
,sb feet has left suspended all plans for the
invasion and capture Of Spans West Indian
possessions. The presence l.: the Caribbean Sea
OF Admiral Cervera's cruisers had led directly
to the abandonment of Admiral Simpsons feint
On San Juan de Porto Rico. and had tied UP at
Tampa and Key West the transports gathered
10 carry an American army Of invasion to Cuba
CERvERA's FLEET POwERLEss.
If. however. as now seems to be the definite
understanding of the Administration. the Span
tsh squadron is blockaded in the bay Of San
tiago de Cuba. its influence as a factor In the
naval and military situation in the Antilles has
vanished even more completely than II 1t had
never made its cruise across the Atlantic from
the Cape verd Islands The narrow and tortu-
Gus channel which offers an exit from Santiago
Harbor. though it guarantees the blockaded
fleet practical immunity fl attack. also makes
comparatively easy and simple the task OF seal
ing the passage. either by sinking ohstructions
or by stationing q few heavily armed and
armored warships off the mouth OF the bay.
To attack the Spanish ships in the inner har-
Dor would perhaps entail too serious losses on
an American feet. but all the purposes of an
actual encounter could be easily served simply
by sealing the exit from the bay. and forcing
the Spanish Admiral. If he seeks again TO play
an offensive role in West Indian waters, to risk
a battle at obvious disadvantages. with the
blockading men-of-war. No outcome Of Ad-
miral Cervera's cruise could possibly have been
more satisfactory 10 the Administration than
his reported retirement behind the defences Of
Santiago Bay Powerless to interfere further
with the general development of this country's
military plans in the West Indies. his squadron.
II shut up In Santiago Harbor is regarded by
the Administration as sure to suffer destruction
or 10 fali nnally Dy surrender INTO American
hands.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CALL.
The buoyancy OF the authorities here over the
new phase given to the situation in the Antilles
by the reported smothering Of the Cape verd
squadron in and-locked port was reflected
to-day In the renewed activity noticeable In
both naval and military circles. Not the least
significant indication Of the Presidents purpose
to push the war with vigor and on a scale
mensurate with the task the United States has
undertaken was contained in the call for
volunteers issued this afternoon BY the terms
OF the Presidents proclamation the States and
Territories OF the Union are to be asked TO fur
n!sh $1,000 additional troops OF the first force
OF volunteers called into the field 112OOO have
already been mustered n. and the remaining
1900 are expected TO be under arms within
week Probably less delay will be experienced
IN raising the 5000 men now asked for than
was encountered in mastering in the various
State militia organizations under the call OF
April 90 BY June 20 next however. all Of the
10000 volunteers summoned into service will
ton Of the expanded Regular forces the I'm
mune," the Rough Riders and the engineer
enlistments authorized by special legislation.
the total strength OF the military establishment
will have been raised to 27S.5OO officers and
men. Adjutant- t-Generai Corbin Will issue
order tomorrow showing the quotas OF the vari-
Gus States and Territories under the new call.
New-York's share will be about thousand
WORK AHEAD FOR A BIG ARMY.
1t is not surprising that with the issue OF the
second call for troops. rumors should at once
be set afoat Of active operations Immediately in
View Not that the Presidents call for an add-
uonal force Of volunteers not entirely just-
ned on general grounds Of military prudence. As
has been pointed out In these dispatches. the
necessity Of sending at least 10000 or 25,OOO
men to the Philippines not foreseen when
'"e frst requsition for troops was made. Nor
"sd Tie contingency Of garrisoning Porto Rico
Win an army Of 1900 or 10000 been seriously
considered.
PROVISION has now had to be made however.
i0f al ieast 10000 troops to seize and hold these
'p"'''Sn colonies. and with the detachment Of at
ieas' o"oo or 10000 men for home defence. 1t
mas become apparent that the first call for vol
uh'eers cannot furnish enough troops to under
TAKE with safety and thorouehness the projected
campaign against Havana, or afterward to hold
anu pac'iy the Island OF Cuba. Rumors are
especially persistent to-day that actual military