New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-17
BOUND FOR GUANTANAMO.
SHAFTEP,s FORCE WE'LL STARTED.
BASE TO BE ESTABLISHED on GROUND
HELD BY MARINES.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO The TRrBrSE.l


Washington. June 16-The hota Of forty-six
warships and Transports constituting the first
expedition for the invasion Of Cuba, under
Major-General Shafter. reached Fort Jefferson,
Dry Tortugas at sundown yesterday, and unless
something has occurred beyond the knowledge
Of the authorities herr to upset General Shat-
ters plans the fleet is tonight fairly on its way
to Guantanamo Bay where the first base or
supplies will be established early next week on
the ground already reconnotred with such brill
fancy by Colonel Huntington's gallant force of
marines.
At this point some time Will be spent in estab-
fishing reasonably impregnable position before
the aggressive campaign against santiago Is
actively begun, the deliberate delay being In
tended to accomplish the double purpose or en-
abling the men and hol ses TO recuperate AFTER
their cramped confinement on the troopships as
well as to make sure that the selected position
OF the supply camp and its means Of communi-
cation with the ships will not be open to efec-
tive assault by the Spaniards.
MORE TROOPS TO BE SENT
The return of General Miles and his staff to
Washington tomorrow is expected to result IN
the Immediate dispatch Of an auxiliary fleet or
transports after General Shafter TO reinforce
his command up 10 the full number originally
contemplated when the expedition was organ
ized General Miles has already urged that the
four thousand men who were left behind at
Tampa should be promptly sent forward ana
not held as reserves on American SOIL. MS luea
being that II General Shafter needs reinforce
ments at ali they had better be with MN at
Guantanamo. thirty miles away from santiago
than at Chickamauga or even Fernandiha
General Miles will urge that the two transports
al New Orleans and four at Fernandina De ir''-
mediately put to use to carry FOUR thousa"u
mo, u.bo II not needed in the light OF future
dovelonn,onts at Guantanamo will at least be
in hotter shane to start for Porto Rico than II
they remained in Florida With this reserve
force guarding the base Of supplies ueHe'd'
Shafter will possess just so many more men ior
the active campaign. and will be able 10 prose-
cute his operations against Santiago Win III
creased ylgor and rapidity
IDEAS OF SPANISH WARFARE CHANGED
The promptness with which the Spah'a'us ~
tackad the marines at Fisherman's POINT anu
the method of their warfare have dlsapusea '"e
minds Of many ovcr-conhdent oihclals' VINO die
to-day frank IN agreeing with the warning u
tered by General Miles several weeks ago ina.
the Cuban campaign might not be snort anu
would certainly be dangerous. If not dlsdsuouS'
y undertaken with an insufficient force Fortu-
nateiv tho regulars under General Smarter are
accustomed 10 Indian nghting, and VIII be per-
fectly Al home In meeting the Spanish tactics
The war Department officials, however. are
convinced that at least fifteen thousand spanish
,roous are stationed in Santiago Province. ana
Il is recognized that they have the tremendous
advantage Of occupying intrenchments or tneir
own selection. with the knowledge that they
may fall back on similar positions. and in this
manner stubbornly resist the advance OF the IN
yadlng force. Military men OF the highest abI-
lty declare that the only way OF conducting such
a campaign az that before General Shafter Is TO
resort 10 the tactics Of the enemy. and that the
sprcdiest and surest way OF forcing the Span
iaris 10 fall back on Cervera's ships as a last
line of defence is 10 60 against them in all drec-
tions with A superior force. General Miles VIII
urge these matters strongly on the President.
and thsre ls not the least doubt among Army
officers tonight that his recommendations Will
be promptly approved.