The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-04

Sonze impotence has been manifested
n to the tariiness OF our feet In she'll
lng Havana. This seems. however. TO
BE- the result OF an understanding based
UPON . sound knowledge Of the situa-
ton. 1t II exceedingly unwise 20 at
tempt to enter Havana harbor, where
Il II presumed there In large number
Of mines. From the outside IL In almost
Impossible to lombard the dsfenses
without inf.icting great damage upon
the city.
The military authorities have COM
plete plan OF the defenses OF Havana.
The formidable shore batteries lie west
ward from the entrance to the harbor.
They dot the gulf In from, Of the city
from Punta, at the entrance TO the har-
bor. 10 the mouth OF the Almendares
river. All about the batteries are the
closely-buiit suburbs OF the city. The
sanas residence precincts. includes one
o. more OF these batteries. The new
gums OF Havana cannot be silenced
without the destruction Of residences
and business houses and probably the
killing or women and children. To re-
turn ths fire of these batteries would
be an act OF barharlsy. II IL shall be-
come necessary 10 destroy the property.
owing TO the impossibility OF such sc
eurate aim as would merely silence the
forts. formal notice and plenty Of time
will be given TO the people of that part
OF the city TO vacate their homes.
The same difficulty confronts the
fleet on the opposite side OF the harbor.
where the castle OF Moro stands at
the entrance. Very fine craftsmanship
wouid be required 20 keep from sending
shot and shelf Into the crowded parts
OF the city fin any attempt To HIT the
castle from the distance at which the
war vessels must attack It.
The sole purpose az the operations
just now Is 10 isolate Cuba from all
communicates between Cuba and the
mother country. The Key West end
of the cable 20 Cuhss IL in the control
OF the signal corps Of the army. The
Spanish officers In Cuba have. until a
short time ago. used tha, cable and the
telegraph lines OF the United States ana
thence by cable from New Yerk 10
Europe. There Is another cable be-
TWEEN Cuba and Jamaica, and enc OF the
first acts Of our SHIPS will DC 20 cut
that cable SO "a la entirely prevent
any communication.
The ports OF Cuba are hiockaded ex-
cept where II is intended TO land sup
plies FOR the insurgents This will pre-
vent any supplies reaching the enemy.
Rianeo VIII be left entirely without in
struciions and without any means Of
either receiving % dispatehlng any
Information.
The whole plan of campaign il ~ In
sure yictory at the least sacrifice OF
human life. Great PRESSURE is being
brought upon the president - make
quick moves. but he has ar hIs side
Lient-Gen. Schoseld. whose fame rests
uron discretion and determination.
rather than upon recklesxnesx and bril-.
lianey.
Now that the Pacific feet ~ Spain
has been annihiiatea. n change in pol.
Icy may b.'eame desirable: and IL is not
smrrohats:s that events will move Very
rapidly In order that cur victory u1sy
he made most complete before the Ia.
repean powers. animated by fear az the
entire destruction ot spain. shall seek
20 persuade the In!ted states govern
naeos to agree 10 a termination Of the
war with conditions. This We could
net coasens so: peace cannot be de-
ciared untt Spain uncanassianaliy sur
renders