New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-14
For ACTIVE OPERATIONS.
...var. MOVEMENTS LIKELY TO GIVE
WAY TO ARMY ACTIVITY
THE sITUATloN-TRooPS MUST BE
TRANSPORTED TO CUBA.


THE sITUATION-TROOPS MUST BE
TRANSPORTED TO CUBA.
washington April - (speoiaD.-The strategical
,,,ot,on with the Spanish arnorcd cruisers fairly
.ho way home leaving the American feet at
W. West practically in control Of the West Indies.
~, vindicates the conviction expressed by naval
,sr.s IA Tho Tribune. on Sunday The Naval
I.,.ricerce Office this afternoon received reports
t-,ro authentic sources that the TWO vessels, after
,okng full supplies OF coal, left Porto Rico last
t-rdav. bound due east. and they were sighted
oye~ FIVE hundred miles at sea on Sunday. follow
,nr q direct course for the Cape Ncrd Islands,
rhere they should be expected in q few days.
Their departure practically reduces the Spanish
,,rce In American waters 20 the army in Cuba
and the garrison Porto Rico, the few insignf-
con- surboats near those islands being less for
r,,dahle than the hotilla Of tugs and yachts re-
centlv purchased by the United States. All uncer
,ajrties regarding the disposition Of Spain 10 offer
snv naval resistance to the operations OF Captain
samnsou's Key West squadron having disappeared
Il only remains TO transport the Army to Cuba
when intervention is actually undertaken.
The heavier vessels OF tho American Navy vii.
have little 10 do beyond silenc.ng the big guns at
the entrances OF Havana and Santiago harbors.
leaving the eunboats and small craft to maintain
a thorough blockade. This will permit the free use
Of the batte-shps from the Porto Rico base in CO.
operation with the Flying Squadron, 10 prohibit any
menace from a spanish neet Wnich might start
across the Atlantic after hosti.ities begin. 1t Is
the general belief however. in the Army and Navy
Spain IS not going 10 offer any physical! resist
ance whatever 10 the freedom OF Cuba. but Will
surrender in presence Of superior force.
They believe ,he Spanish military authorities
have at last been forced 10 admit the futil'ty Of
fo-c.be opposition. and viii give way 10 the In
eyitable Their opportunity 10 make any resistance
even OF a perfunctory character. passed two weeks
ago. when their torpedo hot.la was driven back
on 81. Vincent. just at the time Spain was making
Intellectual attempts TO start another squadron from
CaG.z for It's reinforcement.
The prominent part that the Army VIII be called
upon 10 play in intervening and establishing
stable government in CuDa has given another i'm
Mics for the immediate concentTat on Of over haIf
Of the heSu!ar Army at CHI kamausm Naio, al
day. Army officers are giving the proposition thor
UlYlnest support. and report has been made to
Secretary Aser pointing out the remarkable fact
operation in the Army In thirty years.
1t Is claimed that effective intervention Will be
Improbable for at least TWO weeks. unless 1t Is
10 be- accomplished by raw force mostly Of vol
un;eers which has had battalion drills IN armo1es.
assisted by regulars whose officers have had no
practical experience in brigade evolutons or the
confusion. possibly Of disastrous nature would. 1t
In one week. and their landing in foreign country
the following week, to confront an army OF lvr"
which has already been hardened in the field for
While no concern is felt that the entire Resuar
bled az Chickamauga or Atlanta In four d.<s, OF
that through the arrangements already perfected
1000 volunteers fully equipped for service. could
not be gathered at one OF these points IN a week.
It is thought exceedingly unlikely that any general
would care TO embark such force In transports,
few days later. without having first whipped the
force into proper shape for
One Of the generals at the War Department re-
marked to-day that no difficulty would he found IN
landing g9c0 men IN cuba next week. but II was
exceedingly doubtful Of what use they would be In
Invasion is contempiated inside Of two or thrce
weeks and within tnat time conGIions may
change altogether rendering invasion for Atervcn-
ton superfuous although making It absolutely es-
sent!al promptly 20 establish stability Of govern