The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-31

New York, May 31.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says: The
president told some callers tonight
(Monday) that ne expected Commodore
Schley to attack Cervera within "a
| hours.
| General Miles made no secret before
leaving Washington, of the immediate
departure of the army from Tampa,
| though he declined to encourage any
speculation as to it's destination, for OBJ
vious military reasons 1t is known,
however, that ever since the first re-
ports announcing the arrival of the
Spanish squadron at Santiago last Sat
urday night. he has been thoroughly
alive to the practically prohibitive dan
gers which would have to be encoun-
tered by an American fleet in fighting
its way past the elevated batteries and
up the narrow and tortuous channel
Ol that naroOr to Iorcs a battle with
the SpaniardS and has steadily urged
upon the authorities the necessity OF
land attack on the place as the quick
est and most effective method OF deal
ing Spain a crushing blow.
His plans have been fully matured
with that end in view, and the only
question on which the departure of the
army from Tampa rested was that of
Cervera's indisputable presence at San
tiago, with an American fleet outside OF
sufficient power to prevent his egress
and to destroy him if he attempted TO
reach the open sea
In the transports at Tampa, in addi-
ton to the large quantities of supplies
needed by the army, whatever its deStl-
nation, have been stored number OF
powerful siege guns, which will be eff
fective for Smelling the entire basin in
which the harbOr and city of Santiago
lie, when mounted on high positions
among the surrounding hills
SCHLEY MAY NOT WAIT.
There is believed TO be only a slight
contingency which could operate to
modify General Miles, plans for the
land attack on Santiago, and that may
not develop until the fleet of transports
under the convoy of Admiral SIMPSONS
squadron arrives off Cape Maisi, in the
Windward passage, 600 miles from Key
West, and scarcely a half DAYS run
from the proposed landing place. on
the coast near Santiago. There is the
possibility that Commodore Schley, i'm
patient over the delay in getting at the
Spaniards, and in the absence of accu-
rate knowledge that military reinforce
mentS are at hand, may, on drawing
the fire of the batteries, ascertain that
their formidability has been greatly
exaggerated and determine to force
his way into the harbor and complete
the work without assistance. Should
this occur, the fleet of transports and
warships arriving in the Windward
passage will quickly secure the news
from scout ships, and the alternative
destination of Porto Rico would at
once become known.
CELEBRITY OF THE MOVEMENT.
The promptness with which the de-
parture of the army from Tampa has
been effected after the last doubt of
Cervera's presence at Santiago was re-
moved, will perhaps not be known for
several days, although confidence is ex-
pressed that the celebrity of the move
ment will prove remarkable. In fact,
it is intimated in high official quarters
that several of the transports have al
ready reached the rendezvous at Key
West, if indeed, the entire fleet is not
already on the way. At Key West an
effective addition to the landing forces
has been provided in the marine corps