The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-01
SANTIAGO TO BE STORMED.
MILES EXPEDITION TO ATTACK
THE Town ON LAND.

Siege Guns to BE Taken Along I'd
Mount on the Hills Overlooking
the City-EverythinGo ON the Trans-
ports at Tampa in Readiness fOr
Departure-Not Exceeding 15,OOO
Men to BE Landed.
New York. May 31.-A special to tho
Tribune. from Washington, says: ''Tha
President told some callers last night that
he expected Commodore Schley TO attack
Admiral Cervera WITHIN twenty-four hours
Gen. Miles made no secret before leav-
Ing Washington of the immediate depart-
ure of the army from Tampa, though he
declined 10 encourage any speculation as
to It's destination, FOR obvious military rea-
sons.
1T is known. however, that ever sinca
the first reports announcing the arrival Of
the Spanish squadron at Santiago lasg
Saturday night, he has been thoroughly
alive to the practically prohibitLve dangers
which would have TO be encountered by an
American fleet in fighting It's way pass
the elevated batteries and up the narrow
and tortuous channel of that harbor to
force battle with the spaniards, and has
steadily urged upon the authorities tho
necessity Of a land attack on the plain
as the quickest and most efficient method
of dealing Spain crushing blow,
"His plans have been fully matured with
that end In view. and the only questions
on which the departure of the army from
Tampa rested was some proof OF Admiral
Cervera's indlsputable presence at SAM
tiago with an American fleet outside OF
sufficient power to prevent his egress, and
TO destroy him II he attempted TO reach
the open sea.
In the transports at Tampa, in addi-
tion TO the large quantities of supplies
needed by the army whatever its desti-
nation, have been stored a number oe
powerful seige guns, which win be eff
fective for Smelling the entire basin in
which the harbor and city of Santiago
lie. when mounted on high positions among
the surrounding hills.
There Is believed to be only a single
contingency which could operate to modify
Gen. Miles plans for the land attack on
Santiago. and that may not develop until
the fleet of transports under the convoy
of Admiral SIMPSONS squadron, arrives
off Cape Maysi, In the Windward PASSAGE
500 miles from Key West and scarcely half
a days run from the proposed landing
place on the coast near Santiago. This -
tho possibility that Commodore Schley,
Spaniards and IN the absence of accurate
knowledge that military achievements
are at hand, may, on drawing the fire OF
the batteries, ascertain that their forn1id-
ability has been greatly exaggerated and
determine to force his way into the harbor
and complete the work without assistance.
SHOULD this occur the feet Of trans
ports and warships arriving in the Wind
ward passage will quickly secure the news
from scout ships and the alternative des-
tination of Porto Rico will be at once
adopted.
TThe promptness with which the de-
parture Of the army from Tampa has been
| effected after the last doubt of Admiral
CerVeras presence at Santiago was re-
moved will perhaps not be known for
several days, although confidence Is ey-
pressed that the celebrity of the movement
VIII prove remarkable in military annals.
! In fact, 1t Is intimated In high quarters
| that several of the transports have all
ready reached the rendezvous at Key
West, II, indeed the entire fleet Is not
| already on the way.
'At Key West an effective addition to
! the landing force has been provided in
| the marine corps battalion on the trans
| port Panther This force Is composed oE
trained men, and especially drilled to land
| under fire, and 1t is expected to be the
first force ashore wherever the attack
| Is made.
Gen. Miles counts on the active support
of the insurgent general Garcia, who was
! visited by Lieut. Rowan, and to whom
! couriers have already been sent Informing
! him of the purpose of the American army
70 invest Santiago if such an operation Is
necessary to destroy Admiral Cervera's
fleet.
"Gen. Callazo and Col Hernandez oe
| Gen. Garcia's staff, who accompanied
Lieut. Rowan by way of the Bahamas to
| Washington, have been constantly con-
| suited by Gen. Miles for the last three or
| four days, giving him invaluable informa-
ton regarding Santiago province and they
will accompany the expedition from Tampa
and act as guides for the army after the
| landing Is effected.
Gen. Miles dispelled all doubts TO his
own active part in the expedition by an
nounclng that he would be prepared to en-
! bark at Tampa on Wednesday in one OF
| the fastest small cruisers, which will take
! him quickly to the scene of the operations
'"rhe size of the force to be landed near
| Santiago does not exceed 1900 men, OF
| whom it Is expected that not over 5000 will
/ actually take part In the siege, the others
! being held IN reserve for use if extraordi-
rary resistance is encountered"