Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-11
NAVY HAS DONE IT'S PART AT SAN
TIAGo DE CUBA.
1T is THE ARMY's TURN NOW
HAnBOR OF GUANTANAMO A FINE
~. BASE OF OPERATIONS.
Its Capture Last Tuesday Was an
Easy Matter-Destfuction of the
shore Batteries Makes Pos
~ ;. sible Their Occupation
y .i ~ 6m Troops. ~.

: Copyright 1898; BY the Associated Press.)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH. BOAT WANDA. OFF SAN
TIAGO DE CUBA, June 3. I p. m., VIA
KINGSTON. JAMAICA, June 10.-The
navy awaits the army. The fighting ships
of Rear Admiral Sampson and Commodore
Schley have battered down the coast de-
fenses Of Southern Cuba and have sealed
UP Admiral Cervera's fleet in the harbor Of
Santiago de Cuba by sinking the collier
Merrimac in the channel at its entrance.
which the guns Of the fleet cover unceas-
tngly. Scout boats, running under the
shadows Of El MORO have cut the Hay
tien cable and now hold thirty-five miles
Of the coast east Of Santiago de Cuba, in
cluding Guantanamo harbor. Under cover
OF the guns OF, the feet, Eastern Cuba may
be safely invested by land and sea, Ad-
miral Cervera's fleet annihilated, and the
entire province and its towns and harbors
seized and held after a short campaign.
The harbor Of Guantanamo Is fine basis
for land and sea operations. The harbor
Is capacious and has forty feet Of water.
The land approaches are not 80 precipi-
tous as at Santiago de Cuba. The low
lying hills can be easily surmounted by
trains Of siege guns, and there are level
roads to Santiago. thirty-five miles dis
tant where few mountain batteries be-
yond the reach of the feet, will be taken
to an eminence commanding the city and
the Spanish ships.
Guantanamo Is an important place. It
has six miles Of water harbor and will be
of great value to the United States as a
navy and army supply station, coaling de-
pot and cable terminus.
The Spaniards made but slight defense.
Their batteries were silenced on Tuesday
by the Marblehead In few minutes firing
at 1900 yards. A small Spanish gunboat
ran away.
The Oregon, Marblehead and Yankee hold
the harbor. waiting to land marines.
The navy's work has been done well.
Daily and nightly ships patrol the thirty
miles Of coast, within easy gun range of
the shore. The officers and men are ever
ready and impatiently say: What more
can be done? We have opened the way.
Where is the army of invasion?"
The answer seems near. at hand.
The Marblehead returned to Guantana-
mo on Wednesday, taking Captain Good
rell, of the marines, to survey the landing
places. This morning the New York. New
Orleans and Porter were close in shore OF
Daiqutri, east OF Santiago. where there are
extensive iron works. A. large iron pier
offers an, excellent. landing place. .Possi-
bly,, one detachment of the army will land
there, another force may land west Of
Ell Moro, and q third body Of troops may
land at Guantanamo. 1t is believed the
city can be captured within q few days
and that Admiral Cervera will be compelled
to fight.
The destruction of the shore batteries
now makes possible their occupation by
troops, giving the American fleet an op-
portunity to enter the harbor, remove the
mines at the entrance and effect a joint
blow of the army and navy, involving the
surrender of the Spanish troops in the
eastern provinces, now practically all CON
centrated at Santiago de Cuba; and the
surrender or destruction of Admiral Ger.
vera's fine. ships would necessarily have ar
important, II not controlling, bearing II
closing the war.
It is In this view that such close watcf
is maintained to prevent the escape o.
! the Spanish ships. and. necessarily, thu
presence OF the. soldiers IL required to pre-
vent the defeat Of the work thus far &C
compiished by tho navy.
! IN Santiago de Cuba there are now abou
~ 900 Spanish soldiers chiefly infantry, bu
with q fair contingent OF cavalry and helt
artillery drawn from the, surrounding coun
FRY. During the day time. tho. cavalr!
fskirrAish in the vicinity Of the city. re
! turning at night to barracks. During tn
last few days. the activity Of the spaniard
has been particularly noticeable. Oxel
batteries. detaehments havs. been werkin,