Evening journal., 1898-05-30
WORK FOR INFANTRY
An Army Officer Outlines a Cuban
Campaign.
The First Shock of War Would Come
Upon the Sea, and Land Forces
Would Find Bat Lit
tie to Do.

The movement of infantry from this |
military department has aroused inter
est in the possible operations of that
arm of the service, should war be de
clared. An officer of rank, when ques-
tined, discussed the matter thus:
n "All of the regular army, no doubt,
much of the national guard, and per
haps number Of volunteers may
eventually be called upon to do duty
along the seacoast. Our coast line, in
cluding the Atlantic, the Pacific, and
the Gulf, is so extended that many
thousand men win be needed to estab-
lish even fringe of protection by land
forces. But, on the other hand, very
lew OF these troops will ever catch sight
OF fighting Spaniard. The enemy
would scarcely dare to land men at any
point, and the only active service of our
land forces would be in connection with
the capture Of Cuba.
1T has been suggested that while
landing in force and a formal occupa-
tion OF American territory would be out
of the question, considering Spain's
meager resources, yet swift Spanish
cruiser might run into some feebly pro
tected point, and land troops for few
hours of destructive villainy. Such
troops, 1t is said, might effect heavy
losses by the prompt use OF fire and ex-
plosives, or they might exact a large
ransom before retreating from the
coast. These conjectures are far from
comforting to the residents of the
smaller coast towns or to the isolated
dwellers beside the sea. It's conceiv-
able, of course, that they could do bui
little damage, and could simply indulge
their natural love for guerrilla warfare.
] think, however, that such raids are
mere imagination. Although our prep
afations for coast defense arc of course
notsideally complete by any means.
they are, nevertheless, far more com
plete than the public, for obvious rea-
sons, has been told. Every town of i'm
porrince is now protected by batteries
on shore, by mines and torpedoes of
shore. And our navy, if small, is rapid
~ growing. The number of effective
fighting ships cannot be increased az
rapidly as one could desire But the
man that worries because we haven't
battleship for every 20 miles of coast
ought to remember that we shall have
far more fighting ships than the enemy
can send to attack us, and thatif the
eneniy's ships are kept out OF mischief
wherever they chaucc.to be. ali tAe
rest of the coast is as safe as II war
were being fought on Mars.
~What is necessary in order to pre-
vent Spanish war vessel from find.
ing herself alone. like a deserted stage
girl in black gown. is an abpndunce
OF small boats of high speed, boats that
can maintain a perfect line OF recon
noissance, and still be able to get out
Of the way promptly should,the enemy
attempt TO rid himself of impertlnent
observers, because IL there were plenty
q OF these small fast boats on our side, no
Spanish vessel could get near our coasts
without tho news coming quickly to
one Of our war vessels, which would
then be on hand to prevent the Span
iards attempting to land troops or to
shell the shore.
That's no doubt the reason why the
government has bought so many fast
tugs and yachts within the last few
weeks. These so-called dispatch boats
and transports will serve as naval pick
cts aud will be indispensable to the eff
cient maintenance of q naval trocha.
"The first shock of war will take
place, without doubt upon the sea. No
troops would probably be moved from
this country until the supremacy of the
sea was definitely decided between our
selves and Spain. Because Spain could
defect our navy She might establish q
blockade of Cuba and she might Oblige
any ytroops we had already sent there to
share the horrors of a reconcentradosit-
nafioh Infinitely worse than that which
shocked the world. But should tho
Spanish feet be forced from the west
ern hemisphere Spain might then aban'
don Cuba and sue for peace without oul
landing one soldier upon the Queen o
the Antilles. Indeed. tit would be fool
R hardy for Spain to attempt then TO re
tain her grasp of Cuba.
"Should we decide to open n port fol
the insurgents. the undertaking woul,
require merely such a garrison a,
would keep the Spaniards from recap
turing the town. The insurgents un
doubtedly would soon open line o
communications from their prlncipa
field of operations to that port. Then
IL the insurgents could secure alonl
this line unlimited supplies, ammuni
tiop and arms. including the ptest fiel,
artillery, and, if along the same lin
could be sent in some hundreds o
American officers, why, I imagine tha
the insurgents would shortly contro
the island without the American troop
being obliged to attempt a regular in
vasion.
"The occupancy of a port in that fash
ion would not require large body o
land troops. And as all ports in Cub
except Havana are said TO be fairly fire
from yellow fever 1 suppose our troop
in any other port wouldn't suffer
much as one might imagine from dis
ease. For, Of course, no sooner woul
we take the port than we would Sc
to work all the methods of recent san
tary science. Why, think even Ha