The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-02
The Americans
Once Occupied
Havana City.

IT Is not generally known that Ameri-
can troops were at one time in Havana
in conjunction with English soldiers.
and they suffered principally from that
terrible scourge. yellow fever 1t is tho
foe to be dreaded more than all the bull
lets or shells of the Spaniards about
Cuba.
James G. Blaine once remarked that
the United States could well afford to
purchase Cuba at "a good round price,
I'm order TO get rid OF the annual dan.
ger OF yellow fever. A commission from
the United States which visited the is-
land several years ago and Investigated
the character of this continuous men.
ace TO that country reported: Cuba has
become the greatest nursery and camp
ing ground of one of mans most r1Yth
less destroyers. Itself most seriouslv
ahticted. IL annually disseminates Ia
other lands, as from a central hell, dis.
ease and DEATH"
But Havana has never been difficult
to capture by an armed force. Santa
go de Cuba, on the southern coast. was
the first capital the seat of government
being transferred to Havana in 1880.
The next year pirates. under the notori-
Gus Jacob Sores. sacked the church and
the houses of the wealthy and forced
the commandant of the fort to sur
render. After committing numeroua
outrages and numbering many of the
influential citizens Sores departed. The
place was afterward repeatedly seized
by buccaneers. 1t was unsuccessfully
attacked, however. by Sir Francis
Drake i'm 1856.
In 1852 an English squadron COM
manded by Admiral Pocock, the entire
force under charge of Lord Albemarle.
landed soldiers and sailors at Cojirnar.
about four miles from Havana. bonn
barded the city and compelled 1t to ca
pituiate on Aug. IA after a defense OF
two months. They retained possession
OF the city until July of the followin.,
year. when IL was restored to Spain by
the provisions of the treaty of Paris.
Our army would probably follow the
plan of Lord Albemarfe, though. as CO.
jimer Is today within the reach OF the
guns OF Morro castle. an invading army
would probably be landed a little far
ther east, possibly on the beach of Ba-
curanao, and from there march direct
ly inland to destroy the Havana rail-
way and thus sever all communica-
tion with Matanzas and combat if ncc-
essary with the $4,000 Spanish soldiers.
Troops can also be landed near the VIII
lage of Cabanas or Mariel, a few miles
west OF Havana. to tear to pieces the
Western railroad. But an army of oc-
cupation should not be allowed to re-
main there any great length OF time.
The deadly climate would soon decimato
the hardy soldiers OF more northern
region. The insurgent forces would
serve as guides and vanguards ana
might at an early day be left to pre-
serve the military government Of the is-
land.
AS horses are few in Cuba it would
be necessary for the United States gov
ernment to transport them for the use
of the cavalry, and the Texas pony
has long been recognized as the best
breed for this purpose.
But our naval force is sufficient to
lay every city in Cuba in ruins after q
few hours bombardment. and an army
is only an auxiliary to complete the
subjugation OF that gem OF the An.
titles.