Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-15


be Thrown Into the Island and
viii Advance With the Insurgent
Troops Against the Capital City.
New York, April 1.-THE plans for
the joint land and naval attack on Ha-
vana have been practically decided on.
They have been the subject of delibera-
ton OF a number of meetings of the
naval strategic board Of councils of the
joint war and navy board and OF con-
ferences between the governmental and
military officials. From the first it was
considered absolutely essential that
there should be joint movement of the
land and naval forces OF the United
States against the Spaniards in Cuba,
and the only thing left for discussion
was the best course to be pursued in
carrying out this plan One difficulty
that has continually presented itself IS
the fact that the navy is ready for an
advance on Havana within an hour af-
ter the declaration of war, while the
army could not possibly throw any con
siderable force into Cuba in less time
than 4S hours. Should the fleet of Cap
tain Sampson wait until the army was
ready? has been asked Or should it,
as soon as war was determined on, pro-
coed to carry out its instructions and
invest Havana from the sea?
IT IS NOW DECIDED
that the feet will at once move on Ha-
vana, invest it, and at the same time
hold open the Florida straits for the
free transportation of the troops into
the island. A part of the feet will be
employed for this purpose, as we'll as to
keep open the gulf to the west OF Ha-
vana for like purpose. AS soon as
the army is ready, which will be within
4S hours, a considerable body Of troops
will be thrown into the province of
Pinar del Rio in the neighborhood of
Bahia Honda and an advance upon
Havana will be begun at once. The
fleet will cooperate with the land forces
from the moment they land in Cuba,
and both will attack Havana simultan-
eously.
Even if the resolution finally passed
by Congress does not recognize the
present government in the island the
plan of the army is to unite with the
armies of Gomez and Garcia as allies
against the Spaniards. 1t is probable
that the troops will be sent to join these
revolutionary armies in Puerto Principe
or Santa Clara, or that ships will be
sent to transport some Of the Cuban
troops TO the vicinity of the capital. In
any event, an effort will be made
TO COOPERATE AT ONCE
with the armies Of the revolutionary
leaders in the work Of driving the
Sipaniards out OF the island. With the
establishment Of a stable and independ-
ent government in free Cuba, the army
will have nothing to do at least in the
preliminary part Of the campaign. Its
task is to sweep the Spaniards out Of
the island. To do this most effectively
it will at once seek the closest alliance
with the revolutionary troops.
The War Department is certain that
Gomez and Garcia have respectable
armies in the eastern part of the ISL
and. This conclusion is based upon the
fact that they have been able to hold
back the Spanish arms and even win
notable victories against some OF the
best officers OF Spain. These revolu-
tionary troops, aided by some American
regulars and supplied with arms and
ammunition, will be able, il IS thought,
ia do very effective work against the
soldiers under Blanco and Pando