The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-04
NORTHUMBERLAND
PLAN SUGGESTED BY A PASSENGER
ON THE SARATOGA.

SAYS Our Forces Must Cooperate with the
Insurgents For . Successful Campaign
Bases Of Supplies Should He Established
ON . Northern and Southern Fort.
The steamer Saratoga. which arrived
at New York recently from Havana,
was the last American vessel to leave
Cuban ports She sailed from Havana
at 8 O'Clock on the evening of April 90,
just as the blockading feet had been
sighted by the Spanish lookouts, and as
she passed out of the harbor three guns
were fired from MORO Castle to inform
the people that the United States fleet
had been sighted. The Saratoga belongs
to the New York and Cuba Mail Steam
ship company. which has sent number
| of vessels to Cuban ports with supplies
| supposed to be for the Spanish army.
| She left Havana with I'll refugees on
board, principally Cubans. She also
carried 81, 900, 900 in specie, as well as
large cargo of sugar and tobacco.
| According to the story as told, the red
flag of war was run up on MORO Castle
and three guns were fired as the vessel
steamed past. Some of the passengers /
on the Saratoga thought these shots
were intended for her, and there was
great excitement. This was increased
when the steamer passed Casa Blanca
and the soldiers and officers there yell
ed at the passengers and condemned
them all to climate warmer than Gu
ba's, at the same time even the officers
shaking their fists
1t was not until the steamer got out
side the harbor that the passengers ON
the Saratoga knew what had caused the
excitement, and then they sighted eight
United States naval vessels. Two or
these vessels came alongside Of the Sara
/ toga and made an investigation to see
whether the steamer was Spanish YES
sci or not They were the Ericsson and
, the Cushing They allowed the Sarato-
, GA to proceed on finding that she was
an American vessel bound for New York.
Nearly all Of the passengers were sym
= pathizers with the Cuban cause and
were anxious to see Cuba free. Every
passenger reported great excitement In
= Havana and the constant drilling OF
a troops and preparation for the war one
!. of these passengers has travelled through
!, out Cuba and has large business inter
h ests there. He refused to allow his
- name to be used, as it might inJure his
!. business in Havana, but he said:
- 81 have covered the island many
times during the rebellion and must say
, that the insurgents are putting up
magnificent fight. II the United States
desires to make its campaign In CUBA
successful, it will have to cooperate
with the insurgents. 1t would not be
D necessary for the United States to send
a large force into Cuba, as such thing
would be dangerous at this season OF
,o the year. The Spaniards are now rely
~ ing on the climate to kill of the Amer
- lean troops that are landed on the islant
y. more than they are on their own force
az of arms. What the Spaniards woult
most dread would be the cooperation
IL ~. of the American forces with the insur
- gents. If the United States would seiz'
." one of the small ports, say, in the prov
Us, n ince of Santiago de Cuba, on the nortl
'io coast. and there establish base OF sup
." niles. they would be making q goo
-" move. These small ports are PRACTICAL
as UNPROTECTED and could be taken easily
w After port was captured 1t would D
40 necessary to land artillery to defend th
o. place. Calixto Garcia OF the Cuban al
90 INV is in this vicinity, and soon CON
po munication could be opened with hin
~" If he was supplied with sufficient arm
Nv and ammunition, he could push
Ia through the other provinces, carryin
ner ali before him. He could do this wit
OF his own troops and the Cubans who al
~ ~, not now fighting by reason OF lack
w. arms and ammunition.
III, "They could then push forward In
ave the proyince of Puerto Principe, al
al. from there meet General Gomez al
'"o join forces with him in Santa Oia
E" province. While this was being dol
los. another small port on the south Goa
h"' should be taken as another base OF su
na. niles. If a port like Trinidad was take
ie' railroad communication could be OPEN
un- mn with the interior. This plan won
10 not take three weeks to carry out al
20 then the united Cuban army could mo
'uiS ON Havana. am confident that at les
100. 600 Cubans would be in the arr
II thew had the arms and ammunition
"This plan that have outAn
vould not necessitate the sending OF
large number of United States troc
into the island, as all that would
Ver' needed would be a sufficient number
o a artillerymen to protect the base OF ST
anu niles, and they could work in oonjul
' tion with the naval vessels, VIII
' .us would protect them from an attack
Nno sea. Havana could then be captu'
'ean with the assistance of the balance
the American feet. With Havana tai
and tue We. mS;hnus