The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-15
PLANS PERFECTED
For a Jolnt Land aud Naval A,i.e4 81.
u n iInyaIln In Nase NYAr 4. DrrIhTrti.

Fer a u int Land aud Naval Atiseisl oil
iinysnn la Case War Is Declared.
NEW YORK, April ia special to
the Times from Washington says. \
The plans for the Joint land mud on.
val attack on Havana have been prae-
tically decided on. They have been the
subject OF elaboration OF nnmber OF
meetings Of the naval Strategic board,
fconnells OF the Joint war aud navy
board and OF conferences between the
governmental and military officials.
From the first It was considered abso-
lutely essential that there should be o
Joint movement OF the land and naval
forces OF the United States against the
Spanlards IN Cuba. and the only; thing
left for discussion was the best course
to be pursued In carrying out this plan,
ono difficulty that has continually pre-,
scented Itself is the fact that the navy. Is
ready for an advance or Havana with,
In an hour afler the declaration OF war,
while the army could not possibly
throw any considerable force In Cuba
In less time than forty.elght hours.
Should the fleet Of Captain Sampson
"hih shhkii hht tENdoI ltuuJ 4ists
been asked, Or should II, as soon as war
was determined on, proceed 10 carry
out Its instructions and invest Havana
from the sea? 1t Is now decided that the
fleet Will Mt once move on Havana, in-
vest It and at the same time hold open
the Florida straits for the free trans
portation OF troops into the island. A
part OF the fleet VIII be employed for
this purpose as well as to keep open the
gulf to tho west OF Havana for u like
purpose. ~ ~
As soon as the army Is ready. which
will be within forty-elght hours. q con-
siderable body OF troops would be
thrown into the province OF pinar del
Rio, in the neighborhood. probably OF
Bahia Honda and IN advance upon
Havana will be begun at once. & The
fleet will cooperate with the land
forces from the moment they land In
Cuba and both VIII attack Havana
simultaneously.
Even IL the resolution finally passed
by Congress does not recognize the
present republican government In the
Island, the plan OF the army Is to unite
with the armies OF Gomez and Garcia
as allies against the Spaniards. It Is
probable that troops will be sent to join
these revolutionary armies in Puerto
Principe or Santa Clara, or that ships
will be sent to transport some OF the
Cuban troops to the vicinity OF the
capital. In any event. IN effort will
be made to cooperate at once with the
armies OF the revolutionary leaders In
the work Of driving the Spaniards out
of the island. With the establishment OF
a stable and independent government
In free Cuba, the army will have moth
Z! ing to- do ut least In the preliminary
part OF the campaign. Its task Is to
sweep the Spaniards out OF the island.
To do this most effectively It will at
once seek the closest alliance with the
revolutionary troops.
As soon as war Is declared the war de-
partment will Issue, upon the call Of the
President, orders for the enlistment of
atleast 10000 troops. At first there was
some talk of 10000 volunteers being SUI
ficlent for the purpose. BUTT was soon
found that this number would not be
sufficient to keep up the sarrisons along
the coasttogether with a body OF troops
sufficiently large to defend the country
from Invasion. 1t would not be at all
adequate to the task OF supplying re-
Inducements for the army OF occupa-
ton, or Of forming 4 nucleus of still
larger army for any operations on n
larger scale than is now contemplated.
Certainly not less than $4,000 troops
will be called for at once and 1900 will
be assuredly organized within a short
time after the opening of hostllitics
Orders for the organization OF great
volunteer force are now prepared, and
can be Issued instantly upon declara-
ton of war.