The record-union., 1898-06-24

at Baiquiri will be to distract the at
tention of the Spanish from the harbor
of Guantanamo. The mines having
been probably all removed, and the
forts that commanded the lower harbnr
having been silenced, with the disap-
pearance of the Spaniards from the
country surrounding the bay, the navy
will be in full possession Of what it has
long wished for, an absolutely safe and
| land-locked harbor in which all Of
SIMPSONS fleet and the transports as
well can find refuge from any West In
dian cyclones
| General Greedy received a dispatch
to-day from Lieutenant Colonel Alien
| of the Signal Service, in charge of the
cable station established at Playa del
| Este, Cuba. 1t did not relate to mil-
| tary operations, but from the fact that
| no reference was made to develop
ments, it was inferred that the situation
| has not changed materially since last
night, when the landing of troops was
III progress. Colonel Allen will make
Playa del Este the cable base, but, in
addition to this, military cable line
will be stretched from that point west
ward along the coast to the headquar-
| ters Of General Shafter BY this shore
into direct cable communication with
| the War Department Colonel Allen is
hurrying forward preparations in this
direction. He has all the material nee
essary for the shore loop, with instru-
ments and operators ready to work the
line as soon as the army Headquarters
are fixed
1t is not quite clear thus far at what
point General Shafter and his main
body of troops have established their
base. The official dispatches to the Sec
retary of War and Secretary Of the
Navy spoke Of the landing at Baiuui-i
and demonstration at Cabanas Other
official messages stated that the land
ing was going on simultaneously at
two points, with view of making as
saults on Santiago. front and rear. The
press dispatches also speak of Juraeua
as probable point of landing. AT what
ever point General Shafter takes up his
headquarters. the military telegra nh
will connect them with Playa del Este
and thence to WASHINGTON. Being
strictly military line the cable from
Playa del Este will not be open for
commercial business, although the au-
/ thorities will be disposed to give the
press such facilities that are possible
under the circumstances. Most of the
official messages. however. viii have 10
be handled from Playa del Este, in or
der TO avoid glutting the military loop.
Army officers We're intently scanning
the map Of the country around Santi-
| ago to-day with view Of locating the
troops and fixing their formation on the
eve Of the advance. Baiquiri is about
| fifteen miles east from the mouth of
q 10 ~ .xtzn
| inland at that point, affording addi-
/ tional facilities for landing The map
/ shows a road direct from Baiquiri to
the entrance of Santiago harbor and
thence along the harbor to the city of
Santiago. Besides this road a rail-
road starts a few miles west Of Bal
quiri. circling along the coast up the
mouth of Santiago harbor
! Juragua. the other point mentioned
| in these dispatches. is midway between
Baiquiri and Santiago harbor 1t also
has small stream. giving additional
facilities for landing and the railroad
appears 10 take it's start along the
coast from this point Back of this
railroad and highway the map shows
mountainous formations. which would
make the progress Of an army diff
cult.
/ 1t seems evident from an examination
of the army map that General Skaters
/ troops at Baiquiri or Juragua will
move westward along the highway
perhaps utilizing the railroad and thus
approaching Santiago from the south
east.
Distinct from this landing which is
east of Santiago harbor, it seems evil
| dent that at least a part of General
| Skaters force Will land west of the
| harbor thus allowing an attack on
Santiago from the northwest. The dis
patches state that demonstration was
made against Cabanas, which is shown
| on the military map to be a small place
/ just west of Santiago harbor and not
more than two or three miles from the
| mouth Further to the west is Aserra-
i dero where Generals Rabi and Garcia
| have a large force of Cuban troops
| 1t is clearly inexpedient for this
Cuban force to make the inland circuit
clear around Santiago, and form a
| junctufe with General Shafter to the
| east of Santiago harbor. Their nat
| ural base, therefore, will be to the
west, at Aserradero. cooperating with
such of General Skaters troops as
| land to the west of the harbor road
runs from Aserradero to Cabanas No
road is shown along the west line of
Santiago harbor, and the march of the
! American and Cuban troops making
| the assault on the west side of the
| city may be slow and laborious.
| through the tangled tropical under
brush, swamp and rock.
/ Besides the military map, the War
/ Department has a large amount of con-
| fidential material showing the land
| ings, roads, etc, all along the present
| field of operations. These include
| large photographs of Baiquiri One of
| the photographs shows Baiquiri as a
| scattered group of huts on the edge
| of rugged declivity running down to
the ocean. Huge powders cover the
rising ground, apparently making
| travel back of the town impossible.
Another picture shows extensive tram
ways, elevated freight tracks and the
elaborate plant Of a large mining con-
cern. This plant seems to assure fa-
cilities for handling the heavy artillery
when it is brought ashore.