Evening star., 1898-05-02
NAY CHANGE PLANS
Mobilization Possible Of the Campaign Al
Cuba's Iavas!en.
Cruisers looking for the Spanish
Fleet-Divisisn Of Admiral
sampsea's Force.

The onlcials OF the War and Navy De-
psrtments naturally refuse to give any IN
formation as to the operations proposed for
the invasion of Cuba. There is reason to
believe. however. that the plan of cam
paign as originally mapped cut will be
promptly executed and that q joint naval
and military demonstration will be made
In the vicinity Of Matansas before the close
Of the present week. with a view to landing
Of q large military force and tho establish
ment Of line Of communication with the
insurgent army in the interior Of Cuba.
According to one authority. this expedition
will start from Florida ports by Wednesday
or Thursday next. Several merchant
steamers have been chartered for u-o In
the transportation Of the troops.
They will be accompanied by a feet Of
naval vessels sufficient to protect them
fl ON attack by Spanish naval forces As
has been already stated. Brigadier Gsnersl
Shafter will have command Of the advance
military division, and It is expected that II
will consist Of 5000 seasoned veteran SOL
diers, including the four colored regiments.
Although the place of landing is as yet an
official secret, there is reason to believe
that it will be not far distant from the port
of Matanzas.
The movement Of this expedition will be
governed to a considerable extent by ths
operations of the powerful Spanish fleet
which recently left Cape Verde Islands, and
which there is reason to believe Will soon
make its appearance somewhere of the At
lantic coast. In anticipation of such Wis
itation several of the fieetest vessels Of the
auxiliary navy have been sent to sea to
loolr for wifi ox-io Of oil q
information of their whereabouts to the de-
partnent at the earliest possible moment,
in order thai arrangements may be made TO
give the visitors the warmest kind of re-
ception.
In the execution of this plan Admiral
SIMPSONS large fleet engaged in the block
ade of Cuba has been separated into two
divisions. One OF these will he in command
of Commodo re J.C Watson who has been re-
lieved of duty in charge of the Naval Home
at Philadelphia for that purpose. and is
now on his way to join the fleet. The other
division Will be in command of Admiral
Sampson, who will also have command of
the combined divisions. The cruiser Gin
cinnati, commanded by Capt. c. NJ. Ches-
ter. now engaged in blockading duty, has
been selected Commodore Watson's flag
ship. 1t is probable that Commodore G. c.
Remey, who has been temporarily placed
in command OF the naval supply depot at
Key West, will shortly be assigned to the
separate command of the other division of
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet in order to leave
Admiral Sampson entirely free to exercise
supreme command over both divisions. In
that event the New York will undoubtedly
be Commodore Remey's flagship.
What the Plans Contemplate.
These plans contemplate, it is said, the
use of one of the naval divisions in block
aiding the ports of Cuba and the employ
ment of the other for the destruction OF
the Spanish fleet now supposed to be near
ing these shores. All the armored vessels,
including the battle ships Iowa and Indiana
and the monitors Terror, Puritan and AM
phitrite and the cruiser New York, will
probably be selected to give battle to the
Spanish fleet, while the remaining portion
of the North Atlantic squadron will be
utilized in maintaining an efficient block
ade of Cuba. 1t is also possible that the
battle ships Massachusetts and Texas and
the armored cruiser Brooklyn of Commo-
dore Schleys flying squadron, may also
join the fleet selected to meet the Spanish
Warships
In case, however that the latter are des-
tlhe0 TO the South American coast for the
purpose Of intercepting the battle ship
Oregon and the gunboat Marietta, now on
their way north to join Admiral SIMPSONS
feet, it is more than probable that Commo-
dore Schleys squa drcn will be dispatched
to Brazil to protect the Oregon and Mariet-
ia on their voyage to this country. The
Oregon arrived at Rio de Janeiro Satur-
day. Carefully prepared instructions have
been cabled to her commanding officer.
Capt. Clarke, as to the precautions neces-
sery to evade meeting with the Spanish
men-of-war unless reinforced by other
American warships.
1t Is expected that the Oregon and Ma
rietta will leave Rio on their journey north
tomorrow. No official Information has yet
reached the Navy Department as to the
actual destination of the Spanish naval
fleet, and future movements will depend
mainly upon such Information as may be
received within the next day or two. 1t is
expected that the first news of the Spanish
fleet will be received from one of the aux
iliary scouting vessels sent out to find
them.