The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-22
AMxI0USLY WAITING A CHANCE
TO LAND
NEWS FROM THE FLEET
NOTHING GIVEN OUT AS TO THE
PLANS OF SAMPSON
ENGINEERS WILL GO FIRST
Generals Shafter and Garcia to Meet
Again Today-The Latter Has
Spies in Every Direction

WASHINGTON, June 21.-Now that the
army is about to set foot on Cuban soil, the
purpose of this move on Santiago was
pointed out today by an army official fully
acquainted with the general plan of action
He said Santiago de Cuba was not to be
made mild base of operations, as it was
not adapted for such use. Being far re-
moved from the rich and popuous portion
of the island, without railroad or ordinary
highways for transporting munitions Of
war westward, the town would be prac-
t.cally useless as basis of military sup
plies. For that reason, he said, there had
never been an idea of occupying this place
as the first base, and then gradually carry
military operations westward. On the
contrary, this occupation of Santiago was
but an incident of the general plan of occu-
plying several points. and in due time there
would be landings at the west end of Cuba
just as there had been al the east end
When that occurred each point of landing
would serve for the time being as base for
the surrounding country. Santiago could
not more be used as base for reaching
Havana than could Havana for reaching
Santiago.
Value Of Santiago
The occupation of Santiago, he pointed
out, would accomplish several incidental
but very desirable ends. First of these was
the capture of Admiral Cerveras fleet.
which would always remain menace and
an uncertain factor until entirely disposed
of. Another point which had come up was
the relief of Hobson and his brave band of
associates, and the raising of the American
flag on Cuban SOIL whether at the east or
the west end. would have powerful moral
pie and our fighting forces and dishearten-
ing to Spain. The humiliation to Spain
was In having our men and our flag planted
on her soil. whether the particular point was
to be used as base of operations or not.
1t would also convey notice to the world at
large that the United States was entrenched
on the island of Cuba as we'll as In the Phil
ippines. Next to Havana, Santiago is the
largest city in Cuba Its possession means
the possession of practically the eastern
end of the island, including all of the two
eastern provinces and we'll up to the famous
trocha. 1t embraces also the River Cauto
the largest river in Cuba, and the one used
by Spanards and insurgents alike for their
most effective naval incursions inland. AL
though shallow, 1t can be navigated by light
draught gunboats, launches, ETC., and 1t
provides q water highway much better than
roads. for tapping great stretch of the in
terror of the islanS.
No Danger of Disease
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT DANDY, Etc, June q.
The result of Rear Admiral SIMPSONS in
vestigation of the various proposed landing
places was laid before the army officers but
General shafter is not prepared to announce
the matter further himself.
General Garcia gave the Americans as
surances that they need have no fear of
contracting diseases on the southeastern
coast of Cuba. as the climate there is not
unhealthy, only extremely hot at this sea-
son of the year. The Cuban general de-
clared that his own troops, ill-fed and
poorly clothed as they were, were in good
health, and therefore the Americans need
not fear fevers or other serious ailments.
Cubans Surprise Shafter
General Shafter examined the condition
of the Cuban soldiers during his visit, and
was impressed with their hardy and SOL
dierly appearance. though he recognized
the fact that they need clothes and pro-
visions, both of which We're given them
during the day. The interview closed with
the understanding on the part of both gen.
erals that smdN bodies of troops are to be
landed at once at several points along the
coast, where they will be safe from attack
by the Spanish, and these will be able to
keep the enemy in doubt, for the present,
as to their ultimate intentions.
Among the troops that will be landed first
are number of men from the engineer
corps, who will begin work al once, prepar-
ing for the movement of the main body
Generals Shafter and Garcia will consult
further tomorrow.
1t was nearly dark before the officers re-
turned to the Segurenca, and then she
steamed back to the flagship and took UP a
position for the night.
Watching the Torpedo Boats
Before nightfall all the other transports
and the conveying warships had drifted
nearer to the shore and the Spanish soldiers,
watching from the bluffs on both sides of.
the entrance of Santiago harbor, must have
been impressed by the great array of vessels
standing off shore. There were nearly sixty
of them, including the troopships and the
men-ofwar, comprising Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet and the squadron of Com
modore Schley. The 5000 Spanish soldiers
and perhaps 1000 Spanish sailors guarding
the city and harbor of Santiago de Cuba
doubtless concluded that there was but a
small chance of overcoming the force of
American warships and some 10000 Ameri-
can soldiers and sailors which will be hurled
against them before the present week is
over
The dispatch boat of the Associated Press
left the fleet for the cable station Just at
nightfall, when the warships had taken
their positions in a semi-crcle in front of
the harbor entrance with the troopships
further out The sea was comparatively
smooth for the first time in several weeks
and the great fleet was almost motionless.
Not a Light Allowed
The soldiers, most of whom beheld the
shores of Cuba for the first time in their
lives, watched the steep mountain sides
through the gathering darkness.
The newspaper dispatch boats, which had
been steaming back and forth among the
transports since the arrival of the latter.
were held at every stage Of their passage
with the request to take letters to the near