The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-02

In the Meantime BE viii Prob
ably Close Up the Harbor.
Then, IL Compelled 10, lie Can safely
in the Channel Have Already Been
sent-Bo Ia bal dment of Tuesday
Was Merely Tentative-The Blow
when stricken VIII he Decisive.


Tribune from Washington says:
Commodore Schiey's reconnaissance a.
Santiago bay. so far as its result is known
10 the authorities here, confirms the inn
presssoF OF Gen. Mics and other military
officials last week. that from the moment
Ceryera's squadron entered Santiago, the
cooperating OF land and naval forces
would be necessary in the conduct of
successful campaign against him. unless
he undertook TO to;c his way out of the
trap before he was surrounded and over
whelmed
1t is true that Commodore Schiey's ex-
change OF shots with the shore batteries
has demonstrated that they were weak
affairs at best, but /, IS not expscted that
he will undertake to send his ships up the
narrow. tortuous channel in single file ir
order 20 destroy the Spanish cruisers
when that result may be readily accom-
plished with Infinitely less hazard. Hav-
ing satisfied himself OF tile impotency OF
the land fortihcations. It is considered
probable that he viii now blockade the
channel by sinking one or more worthless
hunks at the entrance.
That he did not follow up the treynen-
dous advantage he gained In the utter de-
mobilization of the Spanish land fortifica-
tons. IL taken as an indication that he
had this object ultimately in view. for the
naval authorities had Informed him that
vessels 10 be used as distractions we're al
ready on the way TO him. and should ar
rive in a day or two at the latest.
1t is hardly thought possible that the
Spaniards VIII venture on an aggressive
movement, but viii rather remain at
anchor IN the upper harbor. trusting to
the scattering OF Commodore Schley's YES
sells by the terrifying hurricanes. which
are to be anticira ed on the Cuban coast
At this season of the year. The knowledge
OF this danger VIII probably hasten the
placing OF the distractions 10 navigation
in the channel al Santiago. that the
egress of the Span.ards may be completely
blockaded should this American feet be
forced 10 seek shelter at Mole st. Nicholas,
which is the nearest harbor of any secur-
ity.
The approach of the cyclone season. and
the necessity for speedily relieving Com
modore Schley OF his vigil, are OF vast inn
portance in the effect upon the military
invasion, as Il will be impossible 10 land
troops at the most convenient coast point
In stormy weather. Whether all the mill
tary forcs with which il Is proposed to
invest Santiago has left Tampa or not.
army officials az Washington declare
frankly they DO not know, and with the
rigid censorship now exercised at South
ern ports. which effectively checks the
dissemination of the desired information,
it Is impossible 10 speak with certainty
Secretary Alger has admitted 10 tbd MEM
hers Of congress who control appropria-
tons that an immediate invasion has been
ordered and that operations n Porto
Rico would promptly follow.
The orders which were ieiegraphed TO
Gen. Shaftsr last Sunday have been d.
vulged by the president 10 no one except
Secretaries Alger and Long and Generals
Miles and corbin. and IL is extremely I'M
likely that these officials would abuse the
confidence reposed IN them. II is not
necessary that government officials should
be informed OF such affairs as they are
charged with sending supplies 10 Tampa,
where their Jurisdiction is brought 10 an
end.
II Is known that the pioneer force. in
Guiding the s.ege guns trains. the engi-
rgeer detachment and good sized force
of cavalry and artillery could have passed
beyond Key West By this time without
anyone ashore having been the wiser.
The guns and engineer implements have
been loaded on the transports for several
weeks, and tho men TO handle them have
not been near the general camps. Sew
eraf Infantry and cavalry transports were
ready for departure last Saturday. ard Il
these vessels have not slipped away IL is
difficult 20 explain why they were loaded
SO long ago.
The Panther. with nearly so marines
aboard, under Lieut.. Col. Hullngton. has
been under steam at Key West for fuHy
three weeks, and with this nucleus. REIN
forced By Cal!xto Garcia's army Of insur-
gents who have 30 long controlled Sanu-
ago province. So formidable a fierce would
he assembled as 10 prevent any aggres-
sive movement from the little body OK
Spauiards hemm II IN a. Santiago city.
II - expected thst the f}rst news Of the
invading army Will not come from Tam
ia. or any other American point. ban
Santiago itself.
The army a. we'll az the navy. has sud
denly lost interest in Havana and the
Philippine affairs. and even the alleged
move r7aqflts OF the Cadiz fleet have ceased
- cause any apprebens'o-. Interest at
this time IS conferred exclusively in the
Santiago campaign. ard confidence Is gen.
eral that on its prompt and successful
conclusion depends. more than On any
thing else the future course AID liu.ta
lions 81 the war.