The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-11
TO OCCUPY CUBA.
First Naval Denomination TO He
Made Against That Island.

Made Against That Island.
Plans have been fully matured for the
naval and military demonstrations to be
made the moment this Government is
ready to assume the conditions of war.
While the naval strategic board has OBJ
served the greatest secrecy in connection
with its deliberations, yet the surface
showings. and the movements of the
fleets. coupled with the well-known pur-
pose of the Government. tells very plain
ly of the campaign that has been map
ped out.
The matter of gaining control of Cuba
at the very outset has been the subject
chiefly discussed, and this has occupied
the most attention. The assembling of
Capt. SIMPSONS fleet at Key West, with
in easy striking distance of the princi-
pal Notifications of Cuba, is ample evil
dence that the naval forces will first
move on Havana. and If resistance is
offered, will she'll the towns, lombard the
forts. and force an entrance
Should the armed forces on land about
Havana continue to resist after the forts
have been rendered inoffensive. then il
would be necessary to subjugate them.
The work of the Navy will be to make it
possible to land troops on Cuban soil.
They will also stand between the island
and any aid Spain may seek TO send. The
principal force of Capt SIMPSONS power
full fleet will be needed to invest Havana.
The harbor is thoroughly mined, and the
Notifications are stronger there than at
any other point on the island. Since the
L.. lafN larr1
trouble is feared in taking Havana.
One serious problem for the Govern
ment to solve is the disposition of 1884,
Spanish troops should they quietly lay
down arms and surrender. An immense
fleet would be needed to take them from
the island. and convey them wherever
il should be determined they should be
taken.
While the fleet now at Key West which
may be termed the Fighting. Fleet" is
paying its respects to Cuba. it will devolve
upon the Flying Squadron" to prevent
any Spanish warshps from approaching
the island. The wide steam radius Of
that squadron will enable it to sail rap
idly about the seas and keep watch for
the enemy. 1t will also devolve upon the
squadron under Commodore Schley to
drive away the two Spanish warships at
Porto Rico, and prevent their being re-
enforced by other Spanish warships-
The largest portion of SPANS tle- s
al Cadiz and Cape Verde Islands, so far
away that they need not be considered
for the present. The flying squadron will
closely watch the movements of the war
ships across the Atlantic and intercept
any that may attempt TO reach this side.
Whether the Spanish possessions on the
other side of the Atlantic are to be at
tackled remains for future consideration.
This is no doubt true with reference to
Spain herself. While present plans do
not contemplate that Spain may assume
such aggressive policy as to compel sub
jugation, the prevailing sentiment Is
to the effect that a fight in Cuban waters
will terminate the war. Others. however,
do not take that view of the situation
and fear il will be continued indefinitely.
The former view is held in Army and
Navy circles AS for the Philippine Is
lands IL is the opinion that the strategists
have deemed 1t OF great Importance that
our squadron on the Asiatic station, COM
posed Of the Olympia, Raleigh, Boston,
Monocacy and Petrol move upon the:
Philippine Islands and prevent the Span
ish SQUADRON stationed there from leaving
to Join the Spanish forces on the Allan
tic. ANY movement of an unfriendly ma
ture is most naturally expected TO draw
the fire of the Spanish squadron in Philip
pine waters. and a naval conflict at that
point is being prepared for. An engage
ment of the two squadrons there may ne
cessitate future action not now contem-
plated
The Asiatic squadron has received or
ders and is in fighting trim. ready for ac-
ton the moment the word is given. The
United States squadron. while not as
large in the number of vessels, is more
formidable than SPANS possessing
more offensive powers