Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-25

the Spanish troops there of the approach
of Miles forces.
General Miles figured upon this contin-
gency, as is shown by the number OF cav
airy he took with him. and while the SPAN
iards are reterating along the coast the
American troopers could proceed swiftly
along the San Juan road. and at Cayey cut
on retreat towards the capital. Granting
that Miles cavalry reached Cayey in ad-
vance of the Spanish retreating from Ponce
and Guayama the enemy would be confined
in a territory from which they could not
escape, for if they attempted. 10 proceed
further along the coast the American
troops at Fajardo would oppose them.
In this respect General Miles plan is 4
brilliant piece OF strategy which can be
compared with a game of checkers.in which
the Spaniards are Jumped every move
they make. Plans for cutting of retreat OF
the troops in San Juan are even more per-
feet, and if any of the Spanish soldiers
ever cross San Antonio bridge to the main
land II would be impossible for them to re-
turn. 1t would be equally impossible for the
Spanish garrison at Areclbo to advance
eastward to San Juan, for the landing OF
troops at Barceloneta is calculated TO iSo-
late San Juan from the west, while that at
FaJardo will prevent communication from
the east. and the advance from Ponce will
pioCh departure or eiltrslUCe lEOHi VI W lhS
city from the south. In view of the fact
that San Juan is situated on a little island
separate from the mainland, General Miles
plan is destined to be more effective, for,
once the American soldiers are intrenched
on the heights of Bayamon mountain, the
capital will be besieged from the land and
sea.
Captain General Macias will be invested
more completely than Torai was at Sam
of San Juan would not take time to COM
municate with Madrid before captivating,
because he would be threatened by Samp-
sons warships and Miles artillery at the
same time.
Despite the fact that the bridge over San
Antonio channel is the only means of ac-
cess to San Juan, it would not be impossi-
bic to enter the city IL Macias refused to
surrender. for the joint naval and artillery
attack would be so concentrated that the
enemy could not resist the advance with
infantry. Sampson would, of course. re-
duee the batteries which defend the city
and the approach from the mainland first
and cover the avenue into the city by con-
stant bombardment. Sampson, owing to
the character Of the bay. would be power
less to prevent the Spanish forces from
marching towards the bridge of San Anto-
MO to prevent the advance Of Miles and
Brooke. but this would be attended to by
the artillerists on the heights of Bayamon,
who could fire shot and shell into the city,
preventing the enemy from marching his
forces out towards the east.
General Miles plan is such that the city
will be threatened from three points of
the compass. the formation of the spit of
land on which San Juan is situated being
such that il cannot be entered but from
one direction. over the bridge of San An
tonic, and for this reason it Is probable
Miles would delay long while before at
tempting to storm the city with infantry
and depend upon the effectiveness Of the
bombardment of the warships in the bay
and the artillery on the mountain to sub
due the Spanish capital into a surrender.
II is the intention to make the attack
upon San Juan as quickly as possible, and
to this end the war department is bend
ing its efforts. 1t is said that there will
be a general exodus Of troops from Chick
amauga within a short time. The next
expedition will. according TO the war de-
partment, leave Newport News August 1
for Fajardo while the troops from Tampa
will leave about the same time and pro-
coed to Barceioneta. The transports Le-
ons. Concho. Rio Grande and Aranas were
sent from Santiago to-day to Tampa and
upon arrival at the Florida port will be
Immediately loaded with troops for Porto
Rico.