Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-07-23

oib bdIltSSnipS ana monitors hHorh
the best means of offensive warfare,
while their armor belts protect them
from such fire as the San Juan batteries
can bring to bear. The Notifications
there are much like those OF Santiago,
with Moro Castle at the entrance
of the harbor and number of
lesser Notifications leading into the
city. These. however, are viewed with
less awe, since an examination of the
MORO battery at Santiago has shown
them to be antiquatcd and capable of
little effective resistance.
The movement of the Ships from Sam
tiago to their new field Ct action will
begin at once, and it is probable that
some of Admiral SIMPSONS ships were
detached today and proceeded with
Gen. Miles first expedition toward
Porto Rico. They will be needed to
cover the dcbarkation of the troops on
Porto Rican soil. The others will fol.
low as soon AS the full army expedition
is ready to make a landing, when the
attack will begin simultaneously from
land and sea.
1t has been finally decided that none
of the troops that participated in the
actual fighting before Santiago shall be
employed on the Porto Rico expedition.
There are two reasons for this: First,
the men have suffered severely from
hardships, the climate and from fevers,
and are entitled to rest second, it is
deemed to be very bad practice to ALLOW
the soldiers who have been exposed to
yellow fever to be brought into contact
with those fresh from the United States
There is also still another reason, q
purely military one Ten thousand
Spanish troops are at lIolgun, Mama
Milo and other points within striking
distance of Santiago, and might not
lose an opportunity to recover the
grotnd lost at Santiago if the place
were left insutlicicntly protected.
Therefore Shaftcrs entire army is to be
kept on guard on the high hills in the
rear of the town until the men have
stamped out the yellow fever. Then
they will take turn at the Spaniards
if they can be found and il may be that
| Skaters march will end at Havana.
He will work as far from his base as
possible after his army is thoroughly
refreshed, hunting the enemy wherever
| they are liable to, be found.
! Cant Retake Santiago.
Army and navy officials say there are
no difficulties. from a military stand.
/ point, in retaining possession of San
tiago and the eastern end of Cuba, now
that the United States has secured a
foothold there. With the Withdrawal
of Gen. Toral's forces east of Asser.
radcros there will be no Spanish troops
in the surrendered zone. The Spanish
garrisons at llolyuin and Manzanillo
therefore. constitute about the only op
position to the quiet retention of tht
territory now occupied by us. 1t vii
be difficult, however. for the Spanish
forces TO get from IIolguin or Man
2anillo, as the roads are impassable fo'
an army large enough to make the at
tempt to retalie Santiago, and. in any
event, contro; of Santiago harbor b,
the American forces gives the key tt
the situation, as the guns OF the war
ships in the inner harbor can command
all the approaches to the town.
1t was this that made the approach
of the land forces SO difficult while Ger
vera's fleet was in the harbor, and which
left Santiago helpless and ready to sur
render as soon as Cerveras 5 fleet de
parted. 1t is probable that several o
our ships will be stationed within til,
harbor sufficiently off the city to avoi'
contagion, and yet near enough to Civ
complete defense in ease an effort j
made by the Spaniards to re-posses
the city.