New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-08

at Santiago. as evidenced by their failure to
secure that essential cooperation to carry OUT
the plan OF siege adopted before General Shat-
TOR ,eft Tampa cannot be substantated by the
fects As soon as Admiral Sampson arrived
off Santiago and assumed complete command
of the fleet after Commodore Schley had Sc
curely bottled Cervera. he determ'neh 'ha' IL
would he impracticabe 10 force an entrance 10
the harbor on account of the !mpregna bil!y OF
it, fortiaca,ions and the impassabty OF its
channel thoroughly mined with an elaborate
electrical, system. Admiral Sampson as the
leading ordnance officer Of the American Navy.
WAS familiar with the dangers Of this inethoo
OF submarine mining. he knew that the mines
AT Santiago were laid by a famous Ehslsn eA-
merit. and in his opinion II one Of his vesseis
endea vored 10 pass Estreia Point I. would GER
,ainlv meet the fat, Of the Maine. and enectuai-
" block the channel against further operations
In this emergency he decided 10 CORK he oo'
tie and Hobson's heroic eXplot speeu"! ~
suited Had the Merrimac aceoTp"sheu "e.
,u,nose there was single feasible plan OF
campaign to destroy the Spanish neet ana '"a'
required extended military operations. Inc pos
session OF the city Of Santiago never eh'eieu
The minds Of the military authorities Inc 'o'e
objective was Cervera and his arh'"'eu ''u
ers and to aid the Navy in capturing or de-
TO Cuba.
CONCERTED LAND AND WATER AHeAOH''
About The time of his arrival II was d'sco'e''u
that the Meirimac offered no impeachment "i'a'-
ever 10 the navigation OF the chail'e'' INV
strategic conditions became eXacu! d. '",
we're over month earlier and new scheme OF
operations had to be adopted Whoever hrs'
suggested 1; IS iminaterial. although 1t IL "e-
II nrovded for concerted land and water as
saints upon the batteries at the mouth oi lce
barbor in order to give the American miiitar!
force absolute control of The mine fields thereby
enabling the fleet enter Santiago la! ana en-
gage the Spanish squadron in duel TO ce''h
Under this project it was necessary io' 'he
NAVY TO silence the batteries. but this does not
appear &c have ever been accomplished. IL WAS
also unfortunate that General Shafte's eH
treme left under the command OF General pui
field failed to advance sufficiently to secure
posItion from which MORO could he taken Per
hans Il was due TO General Skaters illness pre-
venting him from reaching the extreme hon'' or
nossibly IL was the enthusiastic bravery and ex
cessiye zeal OF his splendid troops that carried
the American line rresistbly to the Immediate
outskirts OF the city. but at any rate IN inc eX
element Of the battle the right and cea'ra
divisions were swept far in advance Of the posi-
tions they we're intended to occupy, the Spanish
branches were taken and the American line.
finding II impossible to advance further. was
con,pelled 10 hold It's position or retreat The
latter alternative being wholly out OF the ques'
tion the entire corps is now holding on gfihi''
living down night and day In the renches' VI"
men on short rations unable 10 s'aho ere''
without being promptly made the target Oh Inc
terrible Spanish Mausers. and waiting anXiousiy
for the achievements that being hurried
forward as fast as transports can be secured.
THE PRESENT PLANS.
The sole objective Of the Santiago expedition
has disappeared. and II there IS any paTt'cuid'
advantase IN securing the city II is seh'-
mental rather than material one us suIIe"
der il however. 10 be accomplished and unless
its garrison suddenly and Unexpectedly eVacu-
ates the place. II is now demonstrated 10 '"e
satisfaction Of the War Board and the othe'
higher Washington officials tha' the result mus
be accomplished through the original pian' Va
first securing control Of the hsrbor entrance and
admitting the warships to complete the WORK
The operations against MORO. however. cannot
no resumed until the Army is considerably rein
forced and until General Miles reaches the
front In the mean time Admiral Sampson
having no active duty for his vessels to perform
may land a. least 1000 well-equipped men
with machine guns and other field pieces 70
support the Army and relieve 1. OF many OF 'he
vlcissitudes OF the state Of siege
The gravity Of tho situation Is recognized on
all sides. although the ultimate sweeping sue
cess Of the American operations is no ior an
instant doubted by any ore. and tn" authorizes
are confident tonight that General Miles. WIN
his remarkable military skill and Intense en-
orgy will speedily bring the affair to a crafty
ing conclusion.