The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-19
TO BOMBARD HAVANA
AND TIC OCCUPY CUBA BY A LAND
FORCE RIGHT AWAY.

1t is u" feved that The Policy of Delay
IL Endcd and that Immediate Measures
VIII re Taken to Occupy Cuba and
Reduce the Forts.
Miami, Fla, May 1S.-The admins
tration at Washington has ceased to
act on the defensive. 1t will be aggres-
siVe from now on. Havana is to be
reduced and cuba invaded whether the
Spanish warships in Atlantic waters
are destroyed or not.
The first step in the new policy was
taken yesterday Commodore Wat
son has started for Havana with Unit
ed States Squadron No. ) to work in
harmony with the sqdadrons under
Rear Admiral Sampson and Commodore
Schley. 1t is a formidable fleet, cap
able of making a fight against the
squadron under Admiral Cervera. But
it is likely that it will join Commodore
Schley's squadron, which is due off Ia-
vana. The combined feet thus formed
would be equal to a conflict with all the
wafships which rumor has placed in
West Indian waters.
1t is not expected that Commodores
Schley and Watson will begin at once
to lombard Havana. They are to
wait, sleeping on their arms, so to
speak, to meet the Spaniards If they
make dash to get under the big guns
of Havana Harbor. If the Spaniard
come there will be a great naval bat
tie, the outcome of which can hardly be
doubted. If the Spanards do not come
the bombardment of Havana will be-
gin when the soldiers of the United
States are ready to crowd Blanco from
the rear of Havana.
In conjunction with the movement of
Commodore Watson there Is activity
in the army, which indicates a speedy
movement for the landing Of troops
Perhaps they will go on Cuban soil un-
der the guns of come of Commodore
Watson's fleet.
Commodore Watson took his fleet
from Key West sinGly. He has been
coaling for several days and the fuel
is piled high on the decks. His fleet
consists of the powerful monitors Pur-
itan and Miantonomoh, the cruisers
Cincinnati and Helena, the auxiliary
cruiser st. Paul, the torpedo boats,
Ericsson, Dupont, Foote and Gushing,
and the gunboats Bancroft, Hamilton,
Dolphin, Morrill,, Eagle Hawk and
Wasp.
This squadron would De able to dis
pose of the squadron under Admiral
Cervera probably. without the aid of
the Massachusetts, the Texas, and the
Brooklyn, under Commodore Schley.
Cervera is supposed to have the crui-
sers Vizcaya, Maria Teresa, Cristobal
Colon and Admirsnte Oquendo, and the
torpedo-boat destroyels Pluton and
Furor But Commodore Watson hard
Iy would like to meet Cervera if he
has been reinforced by the cruisers
Princess de Asturias, Cardenal Cisner-
os ana Catalina, the destroyer Terror
and the torpedo boats supposed to be
under the command of the torpedo ex-
pert, Admiral Villamil.
my two of the three American fleets
could dispose of the combined Span
is'1 feet. Any dash on the part of the
sr;.Gards to get under the shelter Of
; avana's big guns will be interesting
Shouli the dash be made at night Com
IscGore Watsons torpedo boats would
rave a chance to demonstrate their use
fC,Ness
EUt the movement essentially is Of
G.nsive, not defensive. 1t is to be fol-
lowed by the invasion of Cuba, and
t.-e war is to be pushed to a speedy
ending.