The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-22
AT SANTIAGO.

1t is good news that General Shafter
has arrived at Santiago. The problem
that now confronts General Shafter is
to successfully and without unneces-
sary delay debark the troops 1t is de-
sired that the debarkation shall be ac
complished with as little loss of life as
possible, for while soldiers are debark-
ing they are utterly unable to defend
themselves, much less to act on the
offensive. If the Spaniards are present
in force they will make a landing both
a hazardous and arduous undertaking.
A landing on any part of the Cuban
coast would be difficult undertaking
at present, but in the present case the
Cuban patriots will undoubtedly render
valuable assistance. They are per-
fectly familiar with the Spanish
method of warfare, and they know
the country perfectly.
The business of debarking the troops
is the important thing just now. What
the plans for it are will scarcely be di-
vulged until they have been carried
out. 1t cannot be assumed for single
moment General Shafter and Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley are
not cognizant of all the difficulties to
be met and overcome, or that they will
not use their best judgment and great
est energies in meeting and overcom-
ing them. When the troops are landed
will come the tug of war. 1t is to be
expected that the Spaniards will do all
in their power to prevent the landing,
an easier task than to defeat the troops
after they are landed. That they are
fully alive to all this is certain.
Many are asking why the troops were
sent to the southeast end of Cuba. The
answer to this is a secret of the adj
ministration and will only be divulged
in time. The statement of an army
officer, whose name is withheld, that
Santiago is not to be used as a base of
operations, is no more than an I'M
authorized, unsupported statement, and
isn't worth any more than such state
ments generally are; it is about as val
liable as the statements made by dis
tingUished but unnamed diplomats. In
the present instance may or may not
prove to be correct.
After the troops are on Cuban soil
the first question will be, How are they
affected by the climate? The marines
who have landed have not been injur-
iously affected by it. Quite likely the
troops will not be. The next question
will be, What is the plan of campaign?
Probably the capture of Santiago and
the capture or destruction of Cervera's
feet. That fleet disposed of, Samp-
sons and Schley's ships will be at lib
erty to go wherever ordered, but so
long as Santiago is in the hands of the |
Spanish and Cervera's fleet is not fin |
ally disposed of, our own ships are not |
entirely free.
The operations around Santiago will |
be keenly watched by the people of the !
United States. and Of Europe. and |
upon their success will be predicated |
the prospects of the success of other
operations. One thing the people do
expect, and they will be very impa-
tient if their expectations are disap-
pointed, and that is that General Shat
ter's army will be actively and aggres-
sively employed. And they will demand
that his army be reinforced, so that it
may carry all before it, and that the
be promptly sent, and
that there be no more Tampa delays.