The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-06-03

weak affairs at best. but il l. not ex-
pected that he will undertake 10 send his
ships through the narrow. tortuous chan
mel In single file In order to destroy the
Spanish cruisers when that result may
be readily accomplished with Infinitely
less hazard.
Having satisfied himself OF the lmpo-
tsnoy Of the land fortincations. It Is con-
sidered probable that he will now blockade
the channel by sinking one or more worth
J less hulks at the entrance. That ne did
not follow Up the tremendous advantage
ne gained in the utter generalization Of
the Spanish land forces is taken as an In
dicati0n that ne had this object ultimately
In view. for the naval authorities had in
formed him that vessels to be used as OBJ
structions were already on the way 10 him
and should arrive In a day or two at the
best II is hardly thought possible the
/ spaniards win venture on an aggressive
movement. but will rather remain at an
| ch0r In the upper harbor, trusting TO the
| scattering Of Commodore Schley's vessels
/ BY the terrific hurricanes which are to
be anticipated on the Cuban coast at this
season OF the year. The knowledge OF
this danger will probably hasten the plac-
ing Of distractions 10 navigation in the
channel az Santiago in order that the
egress OF the Spaniards may be complete
ly blocked should the American feet be
forced to seek shelter at Mole st Nieho-
| las. which Is the nearest harbor OF any
security.
The approach Of the cyclone season ana
I the necessity for speedily relieving Com
modore Sehley- % his vigil are OF vast
importance in their effect on the military
invasion. as II will be possible to land at
the most convenient coast point in stormy
weather. Whether all the military force
with which il is proposed to invest San
tlago has left Tampa or not. army officials
here declare frankly they do not know.
and with the rigid censorship exercised
at southern ports which effectively check
the dissemination of the desired informa-
ton. Il is impossible to speak with GER
tainty. Secretary Alger has intimated TO
the congressional committees who con-
trnl appropriations that operations In Por-
TO Rico would promptly follow. The or
ders which were telegraphed to General
1
dent to no one except Secretaries Alger
and Long and Generals Miles and Corbin,
and Il Is unlikely that these officials
would abuse the confidence reposed in
them. II is not necessary that govern
ment officials should be informed OF such
affairs. as they are charged with sending
supplies to Tampa, when their jurisdiction
Is brought TO an end
II is known that the pioneer force in
Guiding the siege guns, trains, engineer
detachment and good sized force Of cav
airy and artillery could have passed be-
yond Key West by this time without any,
one ashore having been the wiser. The
guns and engineer implements have been
loaded on the transports for several weeks
Snd the men to handle them have not
been near the general camps. Several in
fantry and cavalry troops were ready for
departure last Saturday and II these YES
sells have not slipped away il is difficult
to explain why they were loaded so long
ago.
The Panther with nearly 500 marines
aboard. under Lieutenant Colonel Hung
ton. has been under steam at Key West
AhllN NhANN NtthS tAlu WITH TINS Au-
cleus reinforced by Calixto Garcia's army
of insurgents who have so long controlled
Santiago province so formidable force
would be assembled as to prevent any
aggressive movement in the little body of
Spaniards hemmed in at Santiago city.
1t is expected that the first news of the in
vadng arm will not come from Tampa or
any other American point. but from San
liago.
The army as well as the navy has sud
denly lost interest in the Havana and
Philippine affairs, and even the alleged
movements OF the Cadiz fleet have ceased |
10 cause any apprehension. Interest is |
centered exclusively in the Santiago cam
paign and confidence is general that on
its prompt and successful conclusion de-
pends more than anything else the future |
course and limitations of the war.