The herald., 1898-06-21
LANDING OF TROOPS
HOW THEY WILL REACH THE
SHORES OF CUBA
Soldiers Will Surround the Cities and
Prevent Supplies From Inland
Reaching Blanco

WASHINGTON, June 20.-No doubt IL
entertained at either the War or Navy
Departments that Skaters expedition has
arrived safely off Santiago by this time.
AS matter of fact 1t is believed that the
first of the transports arrived near the
blockading fleet Saturday night. Accord
ing to the plans arranged for the debar-
ka,ion, the feet of transports was to lie
in safe position until Sampson had
cleared the way for landing. The selec-
ton of the landing place has been left en-
tirely to the judgment of Admiral Samp-
son and General Shafter and the first bus
mess in order upon the arrival of the
transport fleet off Santiago would be war
council between Admiral Sampson and
some of his naval captains on the one hand
and Major-General Shafter and his staff
on the other, the purpose being to settle
all the details of the debarkation. Mean
while the fleet of transports would lie out
at sea at least ten miles beyond the block
aiding squadron in order to be entirely safe
from attack by Spanish torpedo boats.
These craft are dangerous enough to full
f'edged warships, but transport would be
absolutely helpless against this attack. so
that the strictest possible watch must be
kept by the conveys until the troops are
landed the present being the most critical
moment in the whole operation.
The work of debarking the troops is not
tc be one of hours. but rather days accord
ing to the opinion of army officers. A
great deal depends on the point selected
for the landing. 1t was thought that Aqua
dores, east of Moro Castle, would be a
likely landing place, in view of the fact
A.. x.,1,a arf to1,
tremely useful for landing the heavy sup
plies and ordnance of the siege train. IT
is reported now, however, that this wharf
has been commanded by Spanish batteries
which have been SO placed as to give an
cnfilading fire upon 1t. If this be SO, then
the batteries must be first silenced by the
fleet, else there would not only be loss of
life among the troops, but the wharf itself
might be destroyed by the Spanish shells.
If the landing is made at this wharf no less
than two days, it is estimated, will be
consumed in getting the expedition ashore,
as only one ship can lie there at a time and
there is an enormous quantity Of ammuni-
ton and stores to be taken ashore. If the
landing Is made on the beach it would be
a tedious and time-consuming operation
although it will be possible in that way
to proceed simultaneously from all ships.
The army officials feel confident that
General Shafter will make an effort to open
up cable communication as soon as ho has
landed force, and they are expecting a
cablegram almost any moment announcing
the fact that he has succeeded Some sur
prise is expressed that the French cable has
not already been reopened, as the cable
steamer was at Mole st. Nicolas the middle
of last week with all the necessary material
and men for repairing the breaks and open
ing up the station.
The naval officials have long known that
supplies of all kinds, with the exception of
raw material, have been reaching Havana
from the south by the way of Batabano
and the short line of railway connecting the
town with Havana. They are not, however,
very deeply concerned at this fact, as it is
not believed to be the main purpose of the
campaign to cause the surrender of the
capital through the starvation of its inhabi-
tants.
If this program were attended with any
degree Of success it would mean the exter-
mination of the very element of Havana
which the government is disposed to pro-
tect, namely the civilians, for doubtless
there would be repetition in Havana on a
smaller scale of what Is going on in Santi-
ago, namely, all of the food supplies seized
by the military and the civilians left to
starve. Batabano is not a blockaded har-
Dor, and this exposes one Of the weaknesses
Of the blockade. as it leaves open a good
seaport connected directly with Havana.
This place was not included within the
blockading line for two reasons. In the
first place, the navy did not have a suf-
ficient number of ships to extend the
blockade lines without running great risk
Of having the blockade declared ineffective.
In the second place, owing to shallow water,
large ocean-going craft such as would
bring troops munitions of war and other
valuable material from Spain could not get
into the port, which thus became less a fac
tor for harm in the working out of our
plans. If brought from Spain in large ships
these supplies would have to be trans-shfp-
ped at some neighboring point to coasting
vessels Of lighter draft, and with the means
of information within its control our naval
authorities have no doubt of their ability
to cut off promptly any such coasters.
Nevertheless in view of the degree to which
the practice of carrying in supplies to Ha-
vana has extended, the naval officers have
determined to tighten the guard lines
around the south of Cuba.
AS soon as Santiago has fallen and Ger
vera's fleet has been disposed of, Sampson
will be able to spare a sufficient number of
vessels of the smaller type to make 1t al
most certain that nothing shall cross be-
tween Jamaica and Cuba on the south
without the inspection Of the American
ships.