Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-01
GEN. MILES PLAN APPROVED
Eminent English Military Authority
Relieves Campaign II Wisely
Planned.

Copyright, 1898, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, May S1.-tNew York World
Cablegram-Special Telegram. 1.-THE high
est military experts here approve the eau
tlous and deliberate plan of campaign pur-
sued by General Miles In relation to the in
vasion OF Cuba. 1 have been favored with
the following signed opinion by General Sir
James Bevan Edwards, M. p, Of the en-
gineers, who served with distinction in the
Crimean and Indian mutiny, also in China,
later in the suakin expedition and a leading
English authority on Notifications, who
says:
I'm reply to your request for my opinion
as to the invasion Of Cuba, the difficulties
to be expected and how they may be over
come, / regret to say l have no personal
knowledge OF the island or Of the means of
defense OF the Spaniards. There are, how
ever. certain definite principles which must
be observed which are applicable all over
in sea and military expeditions. In the
first place the command Of the sea must be
assured before embarking on such an UNDER
taking, and this involves the destruction,
capture or sealing up of the enemy's ships;
otherwise your expedition Is liable at any
moment to be seriously interfered with and
it's safety imperiled. In the next place the
forces required for invasion must be Of suf-
uCieut strength 10 ensure the ueIeat OF the
enemy and the capture of his strongholds.
Invasion should not be undertaken, there
fore, till you have complete command Of
the sea, your army thoroughly organized,
completely equipped and of sufficient
strength to bring the invasion to a sue
~cessful conclusion. Time spent in perfect
ing your army before 1t leaves the shores
of America will not be lost and an attempt
should not be made until the army is ready
to undertake the operation, no matter what
pressure may be brought to bear upon the
government to hasten invasion. l imagine
the capture of either Havana, Santiago, or
both, will be the objective, but II the Span
ish feet is bottled up in Santiago the ex-
petition should first be sent to cooperate
with the navy for its capture or destruc-
ton. The fleet cannot, / should think, force
the narrow entrance of Santiago harbor
without very great risk and must therefore
be supported by the cooperation OF land
forces.
This would be an operation on a small
scale similar to the attack on Sebastopol
by the French English forces when the ma
vies OF those powers had bottled up the
Russians in the harbor of Sebastopol and
then landed military forces to cooperate
in the attack on the harbor. Having once
disposed of the enemy's ships the invasion
Of Cuba becomes a simple operation and
merely a work of time, as the command
of the sea will enable you to invade Cuba
from as many points as you choose. Diff
~iculties to be overcome in the operation
of invading forces will be such as are com
mon to all expeditions of this nature, but
will be greatly minimized by the perfect
organization of forces before the expedition
is undertaken. Every provision will, Of
course, be made to protect the troops from
the effect of the climate and to overcome
the difficulties Of communication and fol
this purpose material for light railways
should be provided"