The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05
GREELY's EXPEDITION.
1t Was Probably Successful in Cutting
All the Cables.


WASHINGTON, June Alt developed for
the first time to-day that an important
cable-cutting expedition, projected by Gen.
eral Greedy, chief of the Signal Service,
and in charge of the strategic supervision
of cable and telegraph lines, had met with
success, and that General Blanco was prob
ably isolated from the outside world par
ticularly from the Spanish authorizes at
Madrid. The advices received were inde-
pendent of those by the, Associated Press
dispatch boat VIA Kingston, but they bore
out these dispatches and gave additional de-
tails. They show that the French cable,
from Santiago to Haiti, was interrupted at
6:S0 last night, and no messages have passed
over that line since then. Word has not yet
come as to the interruption of the two Brit
ish cables, leaving Cuba by way Of Jamaica,
but General Greedy is satisfied that these
also have been cut. He conferred with act
ing Secretary Allen at noon to-day, and the
two exchanged congratulations on the indi-
cations that this much-desired purpose Of
isolating BEanco had been accomplished at
last
The expedition was planned eight days
ago, and was entirely apart from the naval
work in connection with cutting the cables.
Authority was given General Greedy to tit
out ship and place 1t urder the direction cf
signal service officers, skilled in work on
cables. Lieut.. Col James Allen and Captain
Martin HELEN, both of the signal corps.
were placed in charge of the expedition. A
steamship suitable for this kind of work
was secured in New York. 1t was equipped
with the latest devices for graphing ca
bles, and was as complete in its outfit as the
cable ships used by the cable companies.
She arrived at Key West the latter part
of last week, and on last Sunday morning
the expedition started from Key West, the
gunboat Dolphin acting as convoy. The trip
to the east end of Cuba took day or two
and the actual work of graphing for the ca
bles began last Tuesday Within four days
the work has been accomplished. The
promptness with which this has been done
is regarded as a tribute to the skill and
pert knowledge of Colonel Allen and Captain
HELEN. Colonel Allen has been stationed
at Key West for some time. and Captain
HELEN is the signal officer on Gen. Miles's
staff.
No apprehension is felt among officials
here that any international complications
can arise over the cutting of these cables,
owned by British and French companies.
There is good reason for believing that both
the French and British officials accept the
view that the cutting of cables is war
measure against which there can be no pro-
test. Despite reports to the contrary the
French cable company has been co-operat-
ing with General Greedy and the author
tiles here to the fullest extent possible and
there never has been any friction, Is
there likely to be, over this last phase of
the cable question. The only possible ques-
ton which could arise is as to the right
of cutting cables outside of the three-mie
limit of Cuba, which is hostile terri
tory. 1t is understood that this point is
not likely to be raised, as Colonel Allen and
Captain Allen proceeded with full knowl-
edge as to the desirabillty of performing
their work inside of hostile territory.