Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-21
H0WTOTAKEHAV
PLAN SUGGESTED BY A PASSENGER
ON THE SARATOGA.

Says Or Forces Must Cooperate with the
Insurgents For = Successful Campaign.
Bases of Supplies should BE Established
On a Northern aad Southern Fort.
The steamer Saratoga, which arrived
ct New York recently from Havana,
was the last American vessel to leave
Cuban por,s. She sailed from Havana
ct 6 O'Clock ol the evening Of April %,
just as the blocllading fleet had been
sighted by the Spanish iookoats. and as
she passed oct of the harbOr three guns
were fired FROM Moro Castle to inform
tie people that the United States fleet
had been sighted. Tho Saratoga belongs
to the New York and Cuba Mail Steam
ship company. which has sent number
OF vessels to Cuban ports with supplies
supposed TO be for the Spanish army.
| she left Havana with I'll refugees on
board, principally Cubans. She also
| carried 81, GOO, coo i'll specie, as we'll as
a large cargo Of sugar and tobacco.
According tn the story as told, the red
flag cf war was run up on MORO Castle
and three guns were fired Us the vessel
steamed past. Some of the passengers
on the Saratoga thought these shots
! were intended foG her, ana there Was
great excitement. This was increased
when the steamer passed Casa Blanca
and the soldiers and officers there yell
| ed at the passengers and condemned
them all to climate warmer than Gu
la s, az tho same time even the officers
shaking taeir fists.
Ii was not until the steamer got out
side the bar Dor that the passengers Oh
! the Saratoga knew what had caused the
excitement, and then they sighted eight
| United States naval vessels Two OF
thess vessels came alongside Of the Sara
toga and made an investigation to see
| whether the steamer was Spanish ves
sci or not. They were the Ericsson and
the Gushing. They allowed the Sarat0-
ga to proceed on finding that she was
al American vessel bound for New York.
Nearly all Of the passengers were SYM
pathiZers with tho Cuban cause and
were anxious TO see Cuba free. Every
passenger reported great excitement in
Havana and the constant drilling of
troops and preparation for the war. One
Of these passengers has travelled through
| out Cuba and has large business inter
ests there. He refused to allow his
name to be used, as it might injura his
business in Havana, but be said:
al have covered the island many
times during the rebellion and must say
that the insurgents are putting up
magnificent fight. II the United States
desires to make its campaign in Cuba
successful, it will have to cooperate
with the insurgents. It would not be
necessary for the United States to send
3 large force into Cuba, as such thing
would Be dangerous at this season OF
the year. The Spaniards are now rely
ing Gil the climate to kill off the Amer
lean troops that aae landed on the island
more than they are on their own force
of arms. What the Spaniards would
most dread would DO the cooperation
of the American forces with the insur-
gents. IL the United States would seize
one Of the small ports, say, in the prov
ince Of Santiago dc Cuba, ON the north
coast, and there establish base of sup.
plies, they would be making good
move. These small ports are practically
unprotected and could be taken easily.
After port was captured it would be
necessary to land artillery 70 defend the
place. Calixto Garcia of the Cuban ar.
my is in this vicinity, and soon COM
munication could be opened with him.
If he was supplied with sufficient arms
and ammunition. he could push on
through the other provinces carrying
all before him. He could do this with
his own troops and the Cubans who are
not now fighting by reason Of lack of
RIMS and ammunition.
"They could then push forward into
tho province Of Puerto Principe, and
from there meet General Gomez and
Join forces with him i'll Santa Clara
province. While this was being done
another small port on the south coast
should ba taken as another base Of sup
plies. II port like Trinidad was taken.
railroad communication could be opened
up with the interior. This plan would
not take three weeks TO carry cut, and
then the united Cuban army could move
on Havana. am confident that at least
100, eco Cubans would DO in the army
II they had the arms and ammunition
This plan that L have outlined
would not Iecessitate the sending Of a
large number Of United States troops
into the island, as all that would be
needed would DO sufficient number OF
artillerymeI to protect the base Of sup
plies. and they could work in conjGnc-
ton with the naval vessels, which
would protect them from on attack at
sea. Havana could then be captured
with the assistance of the balance of
the American fleet. With Havana taken
the war will come 20 an abrupt end -
New York Tribune.