The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-24
returns. muster rolls, etc.. will be promptly
forwarded when due
SCENE OF CELEBRATIONS.
Where shafter Has Landed His Troops

Where shafter Has Landed His Troops
and May Put Ashore His Artillery.
WASHINGTON. June 2s.-"Baiquiri," not
"Daiquiri." is the name of the port where
General Shafter landed most of his troops
in Cuba The military maps in the War
Department give the first letter Of the name
as B. although some otl.er maps spell it
with a ID" The press reports yesterday
were conflicting and led to the belief that
troops had been landed at several points 1t
is thought here, however, that but one land
ing In military sense has been made, but
naturally with so large number of trans
ports to be discharged the troops have been
scattered up and down the beach for sever
al miles. The cable station is several miles
from where the debarkation is going on.
The officials here say that this work cannot
be completed for several days, although of
course the troops without their supplies may
be all ashore before that time. One fact APP
pears namely: That General Shafter is ar
ranging himself the details of landing, ad-
vised by Sampson and perhaps Garcia, and
that the military authorities here have al
lowed him to exercise his discretion in this,
for they do not know whether he will make
more than one landing, or just where that
landing is
One beneficial effect from the landing at
Baiquiri, will be to distract the attention of
the Spanish from the harbor of Guam
tana1no. The mines having been probably
all removed and the fort that commanded
the lower harbor having been silenced, with
the disappearance Of the Spaniards from
the country surrounding the bay the navy
will be In full possession of what it has long
wished for-an absolutely safe and land
locked harbor, in which all of SIMPSONS
feet and the transports as well, can find
refuge from any West Indian cyclone.
General Greedy received a dispatch to-
day from Lieutenant Colonel Allen, of the
signal service in charge of the cable sta
bic station established at Playa del Este,
Cuba. 1t did not relate to military opera
tons Colonel Allen will make Playa del
Este, the cable base, but in addition to this
military cable line will be stretched from
that point westward along the coast, to the
headquarters of General Shafter. BY this
shore loop General Shafter will be brought
into direct cable communication with the
War Department. Colonel Allen is now
hurrying forward preparations in this drec-
tion- He has all the material ne ,essary for
the shore loop, with instruments and opera
tors ready to work the line as soon as the
army headquarters are fixed
1t is not quite clear thus far at what point
General Shafter and his main body of
troops has established their base. The Of
fetal dispatches to the secretary of war and
secretary Of the navy spoke of landing at
Baiquiri, and a demonstration at Cabanas.
Other messages stated that the landing was
going on simultaneously at two points, with
view to making an assault on Santiago in
the front and rear. These press dispatches
80 n IHrrsu zNCk,11 HI 1sV1f
Of landing; At whatever one of these points
General Shafter takes up his base the mill
Playa del Este and thence to the War De
partment. Being strictly a military line,
the cable from headquarters to Playa del
Este VIII not be open for commercial pur-
poses, although the authorities are in
structed to give the press such facilities
are possible under the circumstances Most
OF the unortcta4 messages, however, will
have 70 be handled from Playa del Este in
order to prevent Cutting the military loop.
army oinclals nave been scanning the
with a view to locating the troops and fix
Ing their formation on the eve of the adj
vance. Baiquiri is about fifteen miles due
east from the mouth of Santiago harbor
small river runs inland at that point af-
fording additional facilities for landing. The
map shows road direct from Baiquiri to
the entrance of Santiago harbor, and thence
along the harbor to the city of Santiago.
mites west of Baiquiri, circiing along the
coast up to the mouth of Santiago harbor.
Juragua, the other point mentioned in the
dispatches, is midway between Baiquri and
Santiago harbor 1t also has a small
stream, giving additional facilities for land
ing, and the railroad appears to take its
start along the coast from that point Back
of this railroad and highway the interior
shows mountainous formations, which
would make the progress of an army diff
ncult. 1t seems from an examination of
the army map, that General Skaters
troops at Baiquiri or Juragua will move
westward along the highway perhaps util-
n onhi inc
Santiago from the southeast Distinct from
this landing, which is east of Santiago har-
Dor. 1t seems evident that at least a part
of General Skaters force will land west of
me harhor, thus allowing an attack of
Santiago from the northwest.
The dispatches state that a demonstration
was made against Cabanas. which is shown
on the military map to be small place
just west of Santiago harbor and not more
than two or three miles from the mouth.
Further to the west is Acerraderas, where
Generals Rabi and Garcia have a large
pedient for this C9ban forces to- make ths
inland circuit clear around Santiago and
form junction with General Shafter to the
therefore will be to the west at Acer-
raderas. cooperating with such of Skaters
troops as land west of the harbor. A road
runs from AcerraderaS to CabanaS. No
road Is shown along the west line of Santa
go harbor and the march of the American
and Cuban troops making the assault on the
west side of the city may be slow and
laborfous, through the thick tropical under
brush. swamp and rock.
Besides the military map the War De-
partment has large amount of confidential
material. showing the landings, roads. etc,
all along the present field of operations.
These include large photographs of Baiquiri.
One of the photographs shows Baiquir as
a scattered group of huts on the edge of a
rugged declivity running down to the ocean.
Huge powders cover the rising ground APP
parently making travel back of the town
impossible. Another picture shows extern
sive tramways. elevated tracks and the
elaborate plant of large mining concern.
The plant seems to assure large facilities
for handling heavy artillery when it is
brought ashore.