Evening star., 1898-04-23
Fighting by Land Forces Not Ex-
pected for Some Time.
FLEET MEANT TO BLOCKADE
Spanish Fleet Not Expected to
Come to Give Battle.
L II E ISLAND MPAIGN

thority conveyed in the army reorganiZa-
ton bill, taken up by the House of Rep
rescntatives this morning, is that the War
Department wants to be able to avoid, as
far as possible the use of unseasoned VOL
unteers in an army of invasion. The strict
discipline of he regular army better fits
soldiers to withstand the climatic condi-
tions and unavoidable hardships of such
ar invasion. The President does not want
to needlessly subject our citizen soldiers to
the dangers OF the Cuban climate AT this
season Of the year.
1t is expected in Congress that it may
te two or three weeks before there IS any
fighting by land forces on the Island of
Cuba While the orders TO the squadron do
not contemplate their provoking light. it
is realized that an engagement of some
sort is possible to occur 1t any time. and
it is not thought to be probable that more
than two or three Gays can go by without
an exchange of shots. The expectation
however is that the principal operations
for the next two or three weeks will be
dire ted toward the destruction Of COM
merce. There is NJ doubt ahcut the block
ace of the Cuban ports being made effec-
tive. and there is likely to ne almost Il pro-
tession OF prizes brought nto the gulf
ports Until experience Convinccs command
eIs OF merchantmen that their only safety
lies in not trying to avoid the blocl. sde
All engagement with the Spanish fleet is
not expected for n long time
Members Of the House and Senate who
are in close communication with the execu-
tive and the departments say that there is
no expectation that the Spanish feet will
ccmc into American waters to give battle
1t is with a feeling of disappointment that
this conclusion Is reached because IT opens
the prospect of g protracted warfare of ha-
raSsment. The decision of the British gov
ernment that coal shall be considered a
raunitcn OF war is regarded as effectively
putting an end to any operations by the
Spanish fleet Oh this side of the Atlantic
y dash against any city on our coast or
against our fleet by the Spaniards would
leave the latter out of breath-that is ont
OF ccal and helpless-when they got here.
Instead of any such desperate venture the
Spanish will probably content themselves
with prey!nS upon our commerce as disas
trouSiy and as long as they can until thew
render 1t necessary for us to send war yes
se!s against them in their own waters.
The Cuban Camput-n.
II is calculated that the two enemies we
VIII nave most to dread at present are the
yeho" fever In Cuba and the fftv-odd
shedh spanish vessels, launches, etc now
III Supah waters, one of which might sneak X
"P 'iiu get d torpedo under one or more or
o"t war vessels The latter danger can he
anu VIII De carefully guarded against but
~ 'eiio" lever Is more serious enemy
~ a'oid the dangerous climatic condi
'ioiis rs !auch use as possible is to be n,do
VI the cuban soldiers under Gomez II ;s
'Npee'e" tnat as soon as the military or
haHiza'ioh mas been completed. a base OF
supplies VIII be established at Matanzss ~,
~ lie other convenient point, where the
american soldiers can be kept on the hiph
grounds and junction effected vii n
Gomez's forces and the latter he sunnlica
with arms and put in condition to NEE,
the Spanish in the field. The best inforr,a
uon obtairable is that the Cuban a-mv
Will not be found strong enough for the
purpose, but will be Joined to the regular
1crces OF the United States, and assigned
10 sucn DUTY as they are best fitted for
So rs 10 protect the health of our own un-
accilmated soldiers as far as possible AS
soon as base of supplies has been es-
tabiished and held by strong force. time
Will he given for Gomez to get his army
together and to make a junction with our
to all the suffering Cubans who can be
reached from our base of supplies
No Immediate Invasion.
The present intention is to rely to a
considerable extent upon the Cubans to
ccEduct the military operations during the
reainy season. and If their operations are
not entirely successful before the close of
the rainy season, the island will be invested
by great army OF the United States
This is taking into consideration the most
extreme possibilities OF the Spanish hold
ing out on the island. The belief is that
the operations which can be entered upon
without great danger to the health of our
soldiers will be sufficient to speedily reduce
tie island to subjection, the squadron op-
Grating in conjunction with the land forces.
Strength OF the Insurgents.
The Cuban insurgent army in the field,
armed and equipped for service, is said to
number about 2O.OoO men. If arms and
supplies ere landed by the Americans 3d.
OU0 more can be Iut in the field in a few
days by General Gomez, commander-in-
chief of the insurgent forces.
Tie iDsurgent troops are scattered
throughout the eastern section of the is
land. General Calixto Garcia has about
1000 men Iii the provinces of Santiago de
Cuba and Puerto Principe. General Max
imo Gomez has about 1900 men in Santa
Clara There are 5000 insurgents in Ha-
vana province. 1000 in Pinar del Rio ani
5000 IN Matanzas province.
1t Is said that these men are well armed
and fairly we'll supplied with ammunition
Their greatest need is clothing. The army
is in rags. and presents very dismal ap-
pearance.
1t is said that General Gomez maintains
communication by means of post routes
and courier service established through
out the insurgent provinces. by wh;cn
means he can communicate speedily with
the Cubans who have not Joined the army
up to this time. but who are ready aad
willing to swell its ranks as soon as a port
is opened TO them and arms and ammuni-
tion can be furnished them.
The proclamation OF the President declar-
ing a blockade of certain ports in Cuba
leaves open a number Of important harbors
upon the southeast coast Of the island. The
country back of these ports Is stronghold
Of the insurgents. and there are no Span