The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-23
ARMY GOING ASHORE.
Decentralization Of the Troops
In Full Swing.
LANDING At TWO POINTS.
Santiago to Be Attacked on Every
Side.

One Section of the Invaders Landing
at Playa del Este II Miles East of
santiago-The Other Section Land
ing About 10 Miles West of the
City-City Expected to Be Sur
rounded in a Week-Ships Draw
ing Closer to Knock Down the
Forts and Prevent Cervera From
Escaping-Camara May Go Around
Cane Horn to Attack the Pacific
slope.
Washington, June 22.-To-day, just a
week after the United States troops left
Tortugas, they began to disembark on Gu
ban soil. landing in formation at two
points. so as to attack Santiago in the
rear and at the sides, with the navy to
help the work in front.
Thus the military invasion of Cuba may
be said to have fairly begun. Though the
United States marines were the first regu-
lar United States forces to land upon Gu
ban soil, their purpose after all was not
investment but for the establishment of
a naval base and a base for a cable sta
tion, in both of which they were eminently
successful
To the regular troops was left the begin
ming of the formidable task of invading
Cuba in force by land.
Just at the close of office hours, brief
cablegram came to the war department
from Lieut.. Col. Allen. 1t had been ex-
pected all day. To the surprise of officials.
the cablegram was dated, not at Guantan-
emo, but at place called Playa del Este,
about 20 miles west of Guantanamo bay,
and about half the distance between that
and Santiago bay. Its exact wording is
withheld, but the statement was authoriz-
ed that it said the troops were landing and
that preparations had been made to attack
Santiago at the sides and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable
communications after the first of last
evening is thus explained. The lines were
being carried westward, probably to be
nearer the point selected as the landing
place in Cuba. In his dispatch, Lieut..
Col. Allen said that he had heard nothing
officially from either Gen, Shafter or Ad-
miral Sampson. This is accounted for
readily by his instructions. He was told
Il
i sent yesterday not to embarrass Gen.
Shafter by any unnecessary suggestions.
Thus 1t will be seen, to the delight of all
true soldiers, Gen. Shafter, like Admiral
Sampson, is not to be tied by exact orders
from Washington, but, is to be allowed the
widest liberty of action in the belief that
he, being on the ground, is capable of
judging best the propriety of his objective
movements.
Lieut. Col. Allen, however. who is a
member of Gen. Miles staff, and directly
in charge of the signal service work in
Santiago province, communicated briefly
with Gen. Miles in cipher the fact that
the debarkation of the troops had begun
and that a plan OF attack had been ar
ranged.
The reinforcement of Cen Shafter act
ually began to-day in the departure of the
entire Thirty-third Michigan and one bat
talon of the Thirty-fourth Michigan from
Camp Alger for Santiago. They go to
Newport News and thence by steamer di-
& rect to. Santiago If the expecta-
8 tons of the projectors of this movement
are realized the troops are likely 10 oc-
cupy actually less time in the passage
II Tampa direct but Notwithstanding the dis
Il lance is twice as long.
Formal orders were issued placing Gen.
#Guy V. Henry in charge of the new divls-
ion of troops composed of Dunelds and
NJ Garretson's brigades, which are to form
"A part of the new division.
Probably some of the troops now at
n Tampa win be attached also in which
case they will be dispatched in separate
a transports
Gen. Henry is one Of the most noted
cavalry leaders in the army, possibly in
the world,
1t Is evident from the nature of Gen.
Miles advtces that In addition to the
troops now landing, as is supposed, not far
#1rom Playa del Este, on the east side of
Santiago bay, the second landing Is going
+ on at point just about the same distance
n west of the harbor entrance. THE two
N #divisions, probably, will be pushed forward
steadily TO take the town OF Santiago on
Neither flank while TO Gen. Garcia and Gen.
"A Rabfs bands of insurgents NAV be left
y the task Of bringing on the attack in The
q rear.
The distance on the west side Is slightly
greoter than on the east. but It bIv
N IS not greater by either route than * oy
Is miles. The country is mountainous. and
mere IS no reason to believe it may not be
b traversed by the United States troops with.
In week. even IL II should he necaesary
81 TO construct entrenchments ana ADAMS
#svery few miles in order to beat back the
Spaniards. ''
n With the beginning Of the military move
Lnent, the navy VIII draw close in shore to
" at 4 ha
hnd to draw the Gordon of warsbjns so
closely around the mouth as to make II
impossible for CerYera's vessels to escape.