The evening times., 1898-06-20
MONDAY, JUNE 20. 1888.
Coming Event. at Santiago.

Although the report that Shafter had
arrived before Santiago, published in
some papers, may have been an as
SUMPTION it probably is true that he is
there now. and disembarking his troops
at the pier of the Aguadores iron mines,
eight miles east of the city and not far
from the Morro Castle. We may there
fore expect to hear of fighting almost
Immediately. We do not credit the
theory that Cervera and Linares might
wait for attack behind their main line
Of defense, before making any move
ment in opposition to our invasion. The
affair at the Bay of Guantanamo show
ed different tendency, and the sim
plest elements of grand tactics would
seem to admonish the Spanish general
to vigorously resist our landing since
the nature of the shore ground, backed
by steep and rugged hills and dense
thickets, probably offers Linares a
chance, as he would view it, to harass
and demoralize our soldiers, and cor
respondinsly raise the spirits of his
own, before we could force the first
breastworks.
1t is possible, as one dispatch asserts,
that the Cuban auxiliaries have been
able to clear the neighborhood of Aqua
dores, SO that fair foothold can be
gained at once, but that is perhaps
rather to be hoped than accepted with
out reserve. The Spaniards would not
be likely to release their hold upon the
most desirable landing place in the
vicinity, furnished with an iron pier, and
the terminus of a railway leading
straight into Santiago. If they have
been driven out of the locality the Gu
ban force must be much greater than
reported there, and the matter is open
to doubt.
This does not affect the prospect as
to the feasibility of landing. That will
be accomplished, but the losses to which
our Army will be exposed in getting
ashore and in condition to hold it,
own will be important or otherwise ac-
cording to circumstances. At Guanta-
namo the detachment which is to re-
enforce the marines will not encounter
the same difficulties. There we already
hold an -entrenched position sufficient
to cover the movement, and, as likely
as not, the Spanish forces have been
withdrawn from that point to impede
the advance of our main body further
west.
Before the end of the present week
the campaign will be well under way
1t is now said that Admiral Sampson,
has positive information to the effect
that Lieutenant Hobson and his men
have been taken from the Morro Cas-
tie and moved to the city, two of them
to the hospital. 1t is further reported
that, in consequence of this. the order
not to fire on Morro has been rescinded
and that it will be demolished by a
shell or two from the Vesuxius. We
do not vouch for the truth of these
stories, but it is not improbable that
the Spanish authorities have come to
realize that exposure of honorable prs
oners of war as defenses against the
attack of an enemy is recognized by
civilized nations as intolerable inhu-
manity, and would, if persisted in, lay
Spain open to the resentment and con-
tempt of Europe.
If ii be true that the Moro problem
is out of the way, the Navy will have
little more to do, except to blockade and
possibly to send torpedo boats into
the harbor General Skaters plan is
supposed to be to fight his way to the
heights which overlook Santiago and
its bay. and there mount siege guns
and throw up earthworks. We are not
in the least apprehensive as to the re-
suit. We look with confidence for the
destruction OF Cervera's squadron, and
have but the remotest idea that he
will permit It to be captured in condi-
tion for, use. AS to the remainder OF
the operation, we venture to express
the hope that the game will be worth
the candle. The impression abroad ID
that Santiago is too inconssauential q