The San Francisco call., 1898-06-14

this size for at least sixty days. Every detail for the landing of this party has been worked out by the engineer corps of the army. It will be laborious pro- cess at best, and will take full day or more. The point of landing has been so chosen that there is little danger of an interruption from the Spanish forces, but should they attempt to make trouble Admiral Sampson's ships will insure ample protection until the troops can care for themselves.
 The Spanish Cadiz fleet is almost as much of mystery to the naval officers here as was Admiral Cervera's flying squadron during the two weeks inn mediately preceding it's ingloriouS bottling up at Santiago. To-day a re- port came that the squadron was unfit for sea. That would have been credited except that the department has had in- formation as late as Saturday to the effect that the squadron was already at sea and was about to depart. About a week before that it had been told that the Cadiz fleet had sailed. Having in mind these conflicting reports, the War Board scarcely knows where to give credence, though it would seem to be an extraordinary circumstance that the least doubt could exist as to the pres ence in or absence from the harbor of populous citysuch as Cadiz of a whole squadron of warShipS. However. the weight of opinion seems to incline to the presence of the fleet at Cadiz, owing to the bad condition of the ships. It may be noted, however that although acting upon this belief, as shown by the beginning of the military invasion of Cuba, the War Board is taking no chances of a surprise, and, by means of scouts, has provided for securing timely warning of the approach of any hostile force to the seat of war
 The news of the attack by the Span iards upon the United States marines at Guantanamo Bay Saturday night was not confirmed by official adrices up to the close of the day here. However there is no disposition to question the accuracy of the press reports, and the newspapers had a rather sobering effect upon the element that has insisted upon rushing troops forward regardless of their unpreparedness.
 Saturday nights action shows that the Spanish are not afraid to charge boldly upon United States troops and the prospects of a bushwhacking war fare disclosed by the Spanish move ments are anything but agreeable to the persons who have been hoping for a short campaign. A good deal of sur prise is expressed at the failure of that report to mention any substantial aid received from the insurgents by the United States marines camped on the crest of the hill. Re-enforcements were sent from our own ships, but it does not appear in the reports that the ma rines had help from the men best call culated from their experience in jungle fighting to be of service in an encounter with Spanish guerrillas. Without any dlsparagement of the fighting ability of the marines, who appear to have ac- quilted themselves with the greatest credit so far as concerns their bravery and steadiness under fire the question has been raised in the minds of the eX- perts whether failing in any substan- tial assistance from the Cubans who were reported to have been so numerous in the vicinity would not soldiers trained in Indian fighting be of more service in Cuban jungle campaign. Nothing so severely taxes the courage and endurance of troops as to be shot at from cover by an unseen foe, and only troops trained in our latest skirm- ish drill can render effective service in such attacks.
 The Navy Department has concluded that it has purchased as many small vessels for the auxiliary fleet as it re- quires and an intimation to that effect was conveyed to Admiral Erben, in charge of that service, to-day.
 The work for the troops now on the way when they have reached Sampson's squadron is already definitely planned. The first point of attack will be the city of Guantanamo, some fifteen miles inland from the bay of the same name and connected by rail with Caimanera. The latter place is already under the American flag, but it is not likely that Admiral Sampson will allow the ad jacent city to remain in the possession of q Spanish garrison. Guantanamo Bay is to be the base of supplies and the shelter for the American fleet, and consequently must be absolutely free from any menace of danger. On the shores of the bay will be dumped thousands of tons of coal from colliers sent there for the purpose and this will obviate the necessity of frequent return to Key West or even of coaling at sea.
 MOLE ST. NICHOLAS, June 12.-I The expedition from Tampa under Gen. eral Shafter, conveyed by American warships, is anXiously awaited by the fleet off Santiago de cuba. Operations will begin immediately after the ar rival of the transports, which are eX- IT., ~1.-1r