The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-04
A VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN.
cervera's Fleet ]. to lie Captured or
Destroyed and Then san Juan Taken.

DesNfo}eo anu Then Nan Juan Taken.
New York. june IA special to The
Tribune from Washington says:
The contingency, clearly foreseen and
provided for In the orders sent TO Major
General Shafter last Sunday, which
might render superiiuous the beginning
Of extended army operations in the vi.
cinity Of Santiago. has now acquired inn.
portant proportions, in view OF the ex.
tremely formidable naval concentration
which is reported of the southern coast
Of Cuba, and there has been a conse-
quent improvement in the prospects Of
an immediate invasion Of Porto Rico,
with the likelihood Of the occupation Of
San Juan itself before the middle Of
June.
Army officers In Washington believe
that the reported arrival Of Admiral
Sampson of Santiago, and the presence
there Of the peerless Oregon, signalize
the confidence Of the naval commanders
that Cervera's squadron may be de.
stroyed without depending on assistance
ashore, and that quickly following the
reconnoitering skirmish Of the Iowa, the
Massachusetts and the New Orleans,
decisive engagement would be under.
taken. Should this conviction prove
well founded the troops now ON the way
TO Mole ST. Nicholas will not 20 south
through the Windward Passage, and
promptly begin the vigorous campaign
which has been mapped out for the seiz.
ure Of Porto Rico.
Since the departure Of General Miles
from Washington the probability that
army cooperation would be imperative
at Santiago has materially diminished,
particularly since the effectiveness Of
Commodore Schley's communications
with the insurgents ashore became fully
known and clearly appreciated by the
officials here now charged solely with
supporting actual operations Of fleets
and armies.
The eommodore's certainty that he
had Cervera securely in the harbor has
given rise to unquestioning assurances
on the part Of the highest authorities
that he can be safely trusted to carry
the responsibilities which have been i'm.
posed ON him His demonstration that
the Santiago batteries were insignificant
TO degree that removed them
from serious consideration as essen.
tial elements In the defense
Of that harbor, although Theoretical
strategists had laboriously figured ont
that naval guns could not be sufficiently
Elevated to reach them, has cast grave
doubts on the efficiency OF the alleged
mine fields with which the channel has
becnI presumed to be protected, and 1t is
the impression Of naval officers here
who probably reflect the opinions Of the
naval commanders ON the scene, that an
attack on che Spanish squadron inside
the harbor would be attended with
scarcely gratcr hazards than an engage
ment with II In the open sea, and with
infinitely improved chances OF accom-.
plishiug Us o0rnplve defeat
In view OF tine exfrehue latitude now
allowed to the feet commanders, whose
discretion ALPHABETICALLY unlimited by the
war board or other officials distant from
the front, Il is evident that no one in
Washington, of whatever exalted au.
thority, can prcylict the character Of the
next report from the combined armored
squndrons Unquestionably 10 them
the crucial battle Of the var Is immi.
nent, unless all signs fail, and IL may
he a matter Of hours rather than days,
before the roccipt Of news Of an occur.
renee whichmay terminate the war, or,
In any event, draw the line sharply for
the conduct Of all succeeding operations