The times., 1898-06-01
WEDNESDAY. JUNE l. 1898.
OF for Santiago.

Matters having progressed far
enough to render concealment Of inten-
ton unnecessary, the officials at the
War Department do not deny that the
expedition now about TO leave Florida
under command Of the general-in-chief.
or Gen Shafter. is destined for San
tiago de Cuba Whether all the troops
mobilizing for foreign service at Tampa
and Key West are TO go to that point,
or whether some Of them are to be used
elsewhere, does not matter for the pres
ent- The eyes Of the nation are turned
toward the interesting spot where Com
mod0re Schley has Admiral CerveTa
trapped.
From all that can be gathered OF the
situation there, the movement is justi-
fed by every consideration Of prudence
and strategy. The destruction Of the
Cape Verde squadron would leave
Spain without a naval force at ali
capable Of making us serious trouble,
would absolutely isolate Blanco in
Cuba, and would rob the Spanish gov
ernment of its last hope of sending
help of any kind to its governors or
forces in the West Indies. Consequently
the most important thing We have to
do is 10 capture or sink Cervera's YES
sells. and particularly TO do so before
the Cadiz squadron under Admiral
Camara can get across the Atlantic and
make a diversion which would require
the division of our fleet
An effective blockade of Santiago is
hardly practicable at this season of the
year. The shores for long reaches in
either direction from the port are rocky,
precipitous and fronted with dangerous
reefs and shoals. At any minute a
West Indian hurricane might sweep
across the Caribbean, and compel Com
nodore SchIey to make hasty run for
a harbCr Of refuge Before he could
get back Cervera with all or some Of
his ships might be able to sneak out
and away. II is true that chance possi-
bility is minimized by the probability
that the Spaniards did not find a supply
of coal at Santiago, but depended upon
the cargo Of the British steamer Res
t0rnel. captured by Capt. Sigsbee. .StIl
Il does not do to take chances, and the
country viii feel easier when it knows
that the Spanish cruisers and torpedo
boats have surrendered, or are down
among the sharks.
The plan Of campaign is understood
to be that a considerable body of
troops. consisting largely of regulars,
and provided with artillery and a siege
train, viii effect a landing east or
west Of Santiago, connect with the Gu
ban forces in the neighborhood who
VIII act as guides and scouts, and seize
& range Of hills commanding the har-
Dor. Then it is considered possible to
take the outer Notifications in rear
while Commodore Schley attacks them
f. front, and al the same time to get a
plunging fire on Cervera. who, it is ex-
pectsd, viii have TO clear out and make
a sea fight, strike his flag or abandon
and blow up his vessels.
All this may consume some time. At
ter the expedition starts it will take
three days for il to reach Santiago. and
several more for its debarkation and
the investment Of the position. Never
mind IL the American people are sat
lsfied that something is being done with
vigor and determination they know how
10 be patient From present Indications
II may be a week before anything
worth hearing about can be accom-
piished. Yet, as the unexpected al
ways happens, the next gale that
sweeps from the South may bring to
our ears the clash Of resounding arms!"