The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-18
Blockade of Havana Doesn't
Stop BlancO's Communications.
He Wires Constantly With the
Spanish Capital and Fleet.
WILL NOW BE CUT OFF
War Department Preparing to
Destroy All Cables.
This Essential Move to Be Made
at Once.

Washington, May I.-The complete
isolation of Gen. Blanco from the out
side world is looked upon by leading
military and naval authorities as a
essential move to be executed at the
earliest possible moment. The pressing
need of this has become more evident
within the last few days since General
Blanco is known to have been in con-
slant cable communication with the ad-
miral of the Spanish squadron and also
with Madrid.
He has thus been an intermediary
between the government and the admi-
raj, informing them of his own needs
and advising them on matters of policy.
The authorities here feel the need of
bringing this communication to an end
and official inquiry has developed that
there will be little difficulty in isolating
Gen. Blanco if the necessary steps are
quickly taken and energetically.
Havana's communication with the
outside world is carried on by means of
five distinct cable lines. Two of these
run to the United States and are of
course closed against Gen. Blanco. The
remaining three cables existing from
Havana are by way of Santiago on the
south coast of Cuba. Havana is con-
nected by two land lines with Santiago
and also by one shore cable with San
tiago. The actual departure of the
cables from Cuba occurs at Santiago,
two of the lines running thence to ia
maica and one to Hayti. When a mes
sage has once left Cuba by one of the
three lines still open, it has no less than
six different routes it can adopt after
leaving Jamaica or Hayti From ia
maica, one route goes to Colon, Cape
Verde islands, and thence to Spain A
second route goes to Bermuda, Halifax
and thence to Spain; a third route goes
to Venezuela, Pernambuco, Cape Verde
and thence to Spain; a fourth route
goes to the Windward islands, Dutch
Pernambuco. Cape Verde and Spain
From Hayti there are two routes. one
to Venezuela, Pernambuco and Spain;
and a second, by way of Windward is
lands to British Guinea.
The British authority here has
with much trouble, figured out all these
AIlee1IIS DS WnlCh zen. BIancO can keep
up his communications. He is satisfied
that three cables running to Santiago
are the routes from which all these
various branches spring and if this
triple route is cut, the entire system of
communication between Cuba and the
outside world will be at an end
Santiago is not a strongly fortified
town, and it is said there would be lit
tie danger attending the cutting of
three cables at that point. Right to cut
these cables is not doubted by the au-
thorities here, although most of them
are British cables.
The chief signal officer, Gen. Greely. |
first advanced principal that in time
of war the right existed to DESTROY
property found in an enemy's territory. |
and in the case of cables that the right |
existed to destroy them within the |
three marine leagues constituting
Spain's jurisdiction. The principal has /!
now been accepted and is the policy on |
which the government is acting. When |
the cables at Santiago will be cut is not
disclosed, but there is strong pressure
towards having the work done imme- |
diately for nutil it is DONE Gen Blanco |
maintains his communications and is
thus enabled to embarrass the opera |
tions of the military and naval forces.