The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-25
IN ON SANTIAGO.
Tie Military Invasion of the Island
of Cuba Now Progressing
az Several Points.
The CoMINs ATTACK ON SANTIAGO.
erty OF Action Unhampered by 6
gestions from Neutrality-suspicious. and
American Armies and Fleet to Act In
Conjunction.

WASHINGTON, June 23.-Yesterday,
Just a week after the United States
troops left Tortugas, they began to
disembark on Cuban soil, landing in
formation at wv points, SO as to at
tack Santiago in the real and on the
TANKS with the navy to help the work
in front.
Thus the military invasion of Cuba
may be said to nave fairly begun, for
though the United States marines
were the first of the regular forces to
land on Cuban soil, their purpose was
not after all invasion. but the estab-
lishment of a naval base and a base for
a cable station, in both of which they
were eminently successful. 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 de-
partnent from Lieut.-Col. Allen. 1t
had been expected all day. To the
surprise OF the officials the c~ablegram
was dated, not at Guantanamo, but at
a place called Playa del Este, about 20
miles west of Guantanamo bay, and
about half the distance between that
ing is withheld, but the state
ment was authorized hat it said the
troops were landing, and that prepara-
tiOns had beer made to attack San
tiago on the TANKS and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable
communications after the first of Tues
day evening is thus explained: The
lines were being carried westward,
probably to be nearer the point Sc
lected as the landing place of the
troops.
In his dispatch Lieut.-Col. Allen said
hat he had heard nothing officially
from either Gen. Shafter or Admiral
Sampson. This is accounted for read
lily by his instructions. He was told
specifically by Gen. Miles in a cable
gram, sent Tuesday, not to embarrass
Gen. Shafter by any unnecessary
suggestions. Thus it will be seen.
to the delight of all true soldiers, that
Gen. Shafter like Admiral Sampson, is
not to be tied by exact orders from
Washington, but is to be allowed the
widest liberty of action in the belief
that he, being on the ground, is capa-
BILE of judging best the propriety OF
projected movements. The lieutenant
colonel, who, is a member of Gen.
Miles staff and directly in charge OF
the signal work in Santiago province,
communicated briefly with Gen. Miles,
in cipher. the fact that the debarkation
of the troops had begun and that a
plan of attack had been arrang ed at a
council of war.
1t is evident from the nature of Gen.
Miles advices hat in addition to the
troops now landing, as it is supposed,
not far from Playa del Este, on the
east side of Santiago bay, the second
landing is going on at point just about
the same distance west of the harbor
entrance. The W. divisions probably
will be pushed forward steadily TO
take the town of Santiago on either
flank, while to Garcia's 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 probably is not greater by either
route than Is or Is miles. The oun
try is mountainous, but there is no rea-
son to believe it may not be traversed
by the United States troops within a
week, even if it should be necessary tc
construct intrenchments and abattis
every few miles in order to beat back
the Spaniards and drive then in to-
wards Santiago.
With the beginning of the military
movement the navy will draw close in
shore to pound away at the fortsat the
entrance and to draw the Gordon of
war ships so closely around the mouth
as to ma Ike it impossible for Cervera's
vessels to escape, even if they are dis
posed to take the most desperate
chances.
The reinforcement of Gen. Shafter
actually began yesterday in the de-
parture of a regiment and a battalion
of the troops from Camp Alger for San
tiago. They go to Newport News and
thence direct by steamer to Santiago. If
the expectations of the projectors OF
this movement are realized, these
troops are likely to occupy actually
less time in the passage than did the
first contingent, which left Tampa di-
rectly, Notwithstanding the distance is
twice as great.
Formal orders were issued placing
Gen. Guy V. Henry in charge of the
new division of troops composed of
Duffield's and Garretson's brigades,
which are to form part of the new divi-
sion. Probably some of the troops
at Tampa will be attached also, in
which case they will be dispatched in
separate transports.
Gen. Henry is one of the most noted
cavalry leaders in the army, possibly
in the world.
News has reached here that IL, 600
tons of coal is being loaded at VAL
paraiso, Chilli. AS coal is worth about
SIS a ton there the purchase excited
great curiosity here, and it has been
suspected that it was being made on
Spanish account. If tins should prove
to be true, and the fact will soon be
known, it would seem 60 indicate a
purpose on the part of the Spanish
naval commander, Camara, to carry
that celebrated Cadiz fleet around into
the Pacific and use these Golfers to
SunDly the naat with anal T.