The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-23

Tortugas, they began to disembark on
Cuban soil, landing in formation at two
points, so as to attack Santiago in the
help the work in front. Thus the mill
tary invasion of Cuba may be said to
have fairly begun, for though the Unit
ed States marines were the first of the
regular forces to land upon Cuban soil,
their purpose was not, after all, inva-
sion. but the establishment of a naval
base and a base for a cable station, in
both of which they were eminently sue
cessful. To the regular troops was left
the beginning of the formidable task
of invading Cuba in force by land.
Just at the close of Office hours a brief
cablegram came to the war department
from Lieutenant Colonel Allen. 1t had
been expected all day. To the surprise
of the officials the cablegram was dated,
not at Guantanamo, but at place call
ed Playa del Este, about 20 miles west
OF Guantanamo bay and about half the
distance between that and Santiago
bay. Its exact wording is withheld, but
the statement was authorized that it
said the troops were landing and that
preparations had been made to attack
Santiago at the side and rear.
The delay i'm receiving further cable
communications after the first Of last
evening is thus explained. The lines
were being carried westward, probably
TO be nearer the point selected as the
landing place in Cuba. In his dispatch
Lieutenant Colonel Allen said that he
had heard nothing from either General
Shafter or Admiral Sampson. This is ac-
counted for readily by his instructions
he was told specifically by General
Miles in cablePram sent yesterday not
TO embarrass Z neral Shafter by any
unnecessary suggestion. Thus, it will
be seen, to the delight of all true SOL
diers, that General Shafter like Admiral
Sampson. is not to be tied by exact
orders from Washington, but is TO be al
lowed the widest liberty of action, in the
belief that he, being on the ground, is
capable Of judging best the propriety
of projected moves.
The lieutenant colonel, however, who
is a member of General Miles staff and
directly in charge of the signal work
in Santiago province, communicated
briefly with General Miles. in cipher, the
fact that the debarkation of the troops
had begun and that a plan of attack
had been arranged.
Reinforcement of General Shafter ac-
tually began to-day i'm the departure
VI a itSihtHl anu d OF the
troops at Camp Alger for Santiago. They
go to Newport News and then by steam
er direct to Santiago. If the expecta-
tons of the projectors of this move are
realized. these troops are likely to oc-
cupy actually less time in the passage
than did the first contingent which left
Tampa directly, notwithstanding the
distance is twice as long.
Formal orders were issued placing
Gen. CIV v. HpnrV in cha of ha
new division of troops composed of
Duffields and Garretson's brigades.
which are to form part of the new
division. Probably some of the troops
now at Tampa will be attached also
in which case they will be dispatched
in separate transports. General Hen
ry is one of the most noted cavalry
leaders in the army, possibly in the
world.
Ii is evident from the nature of Gen.
eral Miles advices that in addition to
the troops now landing. II is supposed.
no; far from Playa del Este on the east
side of Santiago bay, the second land
Ing Is going on at point just about
the same distance west on the harbor
entrance. The two divisions probably
will be pushed steadily to take the
town OF Santiago de Cuba on either
flank, while to Garcia and Rabi's bands
OF insurgents may be left the task OF
bringing on the attack in the rear. The
distance on the west side Is slightly
greater than on the east, but Ii prob
ably is not greater by either route than
Is or Is miles. The country is noun
famous, but there is no reason to be-
lieve ii may not be traversed by the
United States troops within week,
even if IL should be necessary to con-
struct entertainments and abattis every
few miles in order to beat back the
Spaniards. With the beginning of the
military movement the navy viii draw
inshore to pound away at the forts at
the entrance and to draw the Gordon
of warships so closely around the
mouth as to make IL impossible for
Cervera's vessels to escape. even IL
they are disposed to take the most des-
perate chances.
News has reached here that 1900
tons of coal are being loaded at VAL
paraiso. Chile. AS coal Is worth about
SIS a ton there the purchase excited
great curiosity here. and IL has been
uspected that IL was being made on
Spanish accounts. If this should prove
TO be true and the fact become known
IL would seem to indicate a purpose on
the part of the Spanish naval COM
marder Camara. to carry that cele-
brated Cadiz feet around into the Pa
cifio and to use these colliers to supply
the fleet with coal. In this case the
object of attack would proba bly, be the
west coast of the United states, instead