The evening times., 1898-06-22
THE ASSAULT ON SANTIAGO
Yfas
American Troops 10 Land Will
in Eight Miles Of the City.
tUBANS AS SKIRMI' HERS
The Soldiers of Generals Garcia aud
Rabi to Occupy Advanced POSI-
General Skaters Army-The Mer-
rimac Does Not Block the Harbor.

With effective cooperation assured be-
surgents. naval officials say the debarka-
ton Of troops ought not to be attended
with any great danger.
Rear Admiral Sampson has advised the
Navy Department of the result of his
conference with the insurgent leaders
several days ago. and the authorities ex-
press satisfaction with the plan as 1t has
been communicated to them. This plan
contempiates the taking of advanced po-
sitions by the insurgent forces under the
fire of American men-of-war, and when
this feature of the program has been
carried out the troops will be landed.
The authorities feel confident that the
insurgents will be able to hold out until
re-enforcements can be sent to them.
and that by this means the Spaniards
will be unable to prevent the debarkation
OF the entire Army, with the quantities
Of supplies which accompanied 1t.
No official announcement will be made
as to the place of landing. for the rea
son that the authorities do not propose
10 make public to the enemy the plan,
which they would be thus in a position
to anticipate. One official said that 1t
was near enough to state that the main
body would be landed within eight miles
of the city, and that no time would be
lost in making the attack.
The debarkatiOn of the army will be
the beginning of an arduous campaign.
Officials are beginning to feel some ap-
prehension that II will not be the simple
task which they have anticipated. 1t is
known that Lieut., Gen. Linares has been
strongly REINFORCED. to what extent has
not been reported to the Navy Depart
ment, but the amount of credence placed
in the report is shown by the action OF
the War Department in sending eight in
stead of four thousand men to re-enforce
Gen. Skaters army. bringing his total
force up to 1900 men.
1t is believed that Gems. Garcia and
Rabi will be able to place five or six
thousand men at the disposal of Gen.
Shafter In addition to the 1000 Cubans
who are serving with the marines at
Guantanamo and performing bushwhack-
ing work Rear Admiral Sampson has
made several highly complimentary re-
ports to the Navy Department on the
bravery of the Cubans. and their gal
lantry is perhaps best shown by the fact
that thirty of their wounded are now
undergoing trea tment on board the So
lace.
1t will be necessary for Gen. Shafter
to use the Cubans as skirmishers. leaving
the Americans TO do the heavy fighting.
The Cubans will be assisted by Roose-
velt's Rough Riders. who are with the
army. The path which the army will take
in its march to Santiago has been prac-
tically determined upon. after careful
consideration between the Cubans and
Rear Admiral Sampson, and naval off,
GERS familiar with 1t say il il the best
that can be obtained. considering the
country over which the army will have to
move.
Admiral Sampson has officially inform
ed the department that notwithstanding
the sinking of the Merrimac 1t is still
possible for armorclads to go either in
or out of the harbor. provided the mines
in the channels and the batteries will
permit. 1t is evident from this that had
Admiral Cervera wished to do so he could
have steamed out of the harbor and at
tackled the American armorciads but in
stead he preferred 10 remain safely an
chored therein.
There is excellent reason 10 believe that
Rear Admiral Sampson will not expose
his ships 10 the mines in the harbors.
and the batteries. which can send a
piunging fire into his ships. but will wait
until the army is in possession Of the for
tificaticns and has destroyed the mines
and then If necessary he will employ his
feet against the Spanish naval force.
1t IS not believed however. that his ar
morclads will get into action with Ger
vera's ships. but that any naval opera
tons attempted will be confined to the
auxiliary torpedo boat destroyers and
torpedo boats. several of which have been
gathered in front Of Santiago de Cuba.