New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-21
GEN. SHAFTER'S LANDING.
DIFFICULTIES THAT BESET HIM On HIS
ARRIVAL
Tny TELEGRAPH TO THE 1RTBuNE.l

ARRIVAL
rny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.l
Washington June 2O-Thc arrival Of the Firth
Army Corps under General Shafter az the rem
devious off Santiago, which. in the opinion oi
Army and Navy officials. has occurred by this
time develops the most Interesting contingency
or the war. and there is frank curiosity among
the highest officials we'll as on the part OF
the American public 20 receive authentic re-
norris describing the debarkatiOn Of such d great
military force upon the shores of country heIu
b, an active enemy The difficulties inVoVeu !"
this landing are thoroughly appreciated oy Ni''',
tarv and naval men. who are unable 20 coi''VA'
their uncasness regarding its practical eNecu-
tion.
According the plans arranged oetore zen
eral Shafter sailed his fleet OF thirty TRANSPORTS
will lie al n safe distance from shore "i'Ae
yar council is being held between the command
ing officers Of the two forces ana theT onei
stafr officers Admiral Sampson has propapy
become familiar with the most acces5l"'e anu
least dangerous localities in the immediate
vicinity of Santiago through his communica-
tiorq continuouslv maintained with the Cupa"'
oehore He is nlso possessed Of the power |"
batter down any fortihcatons when may ""Ne
been established In tho neighporho'" VA
most desirable landing places, ana Whe'ne' ''0
uosltion in Guantanamo Bay now he'N ~ vs.,
marines forty miles ea q OF santiago u -
at Asorradero. which was seized 3eN'id' "'''
ago by the Cuban General Rabi. ten N'l's W.
Of the main objective point IS se'eO'e' W
depend largely upon the condition OF 'he uo'r9
on their arrival and the amount "l 0"U''
* considered expedient to exercise.
The most advantageous point Of deoarKa'lo"
under ordinary circumstances for the inlua''o"
~ r. sharp and speedy investment OF Sah''ASo
&c found at the Carnegie steel Company "haH
r., Arualores which is barely SIX miles east "l
Moro Castle. this wharf being au"''' ""''
adapted for landing the heavier supp"es' '"-
siege train. ordnance and horses. Bui III" "P""
lsh are reported to have placed batteries ."
such position as to commanH 'he i''
with an ennladng fire Of heavy artillery ""'."
might easily destroy the wharf Hsen "' S'.''
,,,, or create havoc among the troops aftei tley
have landed Possibly Admiral Sanpso"
heavier ships might succeed in dishou"''"o
these batteries but grave fears are eAP''9
tha, the ships guns could not reach some '.
,h, masked positions far up on the mus anu
that the landing at this place "oud "e '''''
ually followed 10y disaster.
ONLY ONE SHIP AT A TINE.
I, would not be possible moreover. to lana
+ more than one vessel at a tme aonesne '''''
wharf ana when the enormous store oi SHPp'''S
they carry IS cousd red II IS doubtful II 'he
.4,-,,, ,.ose.ls -ou'l discharge their men horses
and freight az this point. working t""h'y 'ou'
houre cons.cdtively. within week or ten days.
The Alternative u landing tho Army Oh '"e
b.,,n u!l al.o be an exceed ng.y tedious oiera-
,., o, account - the heavy weights To be
moved and f. is deemed probable that com
h,n,,,on of both methods wil De forced upon
General shaftcr. the heavier guns and supplies
hc.o, landed at the wharf afte. sufficient troops
have been landed simultaneously from number
~ The vessels to ascend The hills and seize all
the country within range of Aguadores
-bore < very lttle choice between Aserradero
and Guantanamo. although the latter IS n mu'h
Greater distance from Santiago. the r'lds from
Tho former being sleeper and the enemy pe.hS
t creator force to the west Of Santiago. accord
INK ~ the last reports. IN any event Nheth'r
,h. dobarkation is made under aggressive span
th fire ar altogether without interruption, the
,.,t - culptving the transports Will he one II
.,c..tirc difficulty and VIII severely test The
elaborate prcparatons which were made during
tho long delay IT Tampa. The sign'h'ant IN
sfructlon given 10y General Miles 20 me Nuoah
+ leader General Garcia. 10 gain possession Oh Il"
available points upon which artillery may be
placed sufficiently indicates the Intention oil
General Shaftcr 10 get the heavy ordnance
ashore as early as possible in order to give a'e-
quate protection 20 the troops almost al '''
,utset
II il IS not found feasible 10 utilize the
Aguadorcs wharf General Ludlow. the chief or
cnrineers Of the expedition VIII be compelled
80 uut into use the elaborate pontoon bridge
which was taken along as a temporary per
This structure while similar To those ordinarily
us.d in military operations for crossing rivers
is constructed upon a much greater scale. II
Is calculated to noat steadily in the open sea
I'm calm weather and TO bear the heaviest l'a'S
/ which have been taken upon the expedition
Ruf I'm case bad weather or choppy sea pre-
walls IT'S use on the unprotected coast VIII be
inpossible and recourse to the comparatively
| smooth harhor OF Guantanamo VIII pe inpeFA-
tive At any rate, II the Guantanamo base IS
I selected and the great majority OF Army OIL
GERS are confident that it viii he necessary the
ao,oor ~ landing will he mlnim!zed and the
,ransnort feet. which Will he compelled for some
time AT least to remain at the scene OF prelimi-
nary operations VIII enjoy the advantages OF "A
secure harbor.
LONG MARCH FROM GUANTANAMO
Tho chief objection to the Guantanamo base
is involved In the long march overland To SAN
uago. through wild and rugged country con-
stantlv exposed to the guerilla tactics praciised
-. tb. sp,niaris. 1t is the impression also nat
Standards nave taken dhN di'"0N "a '''N -
generating delays encountered by the War De-
rartment In getting General Shaflers eApedl-
tion at,oat to make elaborate preparations for
| ,sis,in,, rho attacking army and they lave
nrobably completed intrenched fortiilcatons ana
! oubushe, at many points along the pro'a'
line Of march 1t is expected. however. that the
C,ban soldiers will be able to drive most cf the
Standards back upon the last defenceS around
! Santiago and in case of thelT iaiut" llcle Is
hat
viii prove euu1l 10 the task OF clearing the way,
/ osneflaly as his force is LARGELY composed -
Ind