The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-04-15
BY LAND AND SEA
Pan of Campaign Said to Have
Been Practically Decided
Upon.
Fleet Will Immediately Proceed
to Havana, Land Forces
Following.
Latter Will Unite With Cuban
Forces as Allies Against
Spain.

New YORK, April ia special to
The Times from Washington says the
plans for the joint land and naval at.
tack on Havana have been practically
decided on. They have been the sub.
ject Of deliberation Of a number of
meetings of the naval strategic board;
OF councils of the joint war and navy
board, and of conferences between the
governmental and military officials.
From the first it was considered abso.
lutely essential that there should be a
joint movement of the land and naval
forces of the United States against the
Spaniards in Cuba, and the only thing
LETT for discussion was the best course
to be pursued in carrying out this plan.
One difficulty that has continuously
presented itself is the fact that the
navy is ready for an advance on Ha.
vana within an hour after the declara-
ton Of war, while the army could not
possibly throw any considerable force
in Cuba in less time than - hours.
Should the fleet of Captain Sampson
wait until the army was ready? has
been asked. Or should it, as soon as
WA was I AAAACO OAs OVOCO "
carry out its instructions and invade
Havana from the sea?
Fleet to Move at Once.
1t is now decided that the fleet will
at once move OH Havana, invest it, and
at the same time hold open the Florida
straits for the free transportation of
troops into the island. A part of the
fleet will be employed for this purpose,
as we'll as to keep open the gulf to the
west of Havana for Il like purpose.
AS soon as the army is ready, which
will be within AZ hours, a consider.
able body Of troops will be thrown into
the province of Pinar del Rio. in the
neighborkood, probably, of Bahia
Honda, and an advance upon Havana
will be begun at once The fleet will
cooperate with the land forces from
the ONE they land in Cuba. and
both will attack Havana simultane.
ously.
Even if the resolution finally passed
by congress does not recognize the
present republican government in the
island, the plan of the army is to
Unite With the Armies of Gomez
and Garcia, as allies against the Span.
iards. 1t is probable hat troops will
be sent to join these revolutionary arm.
les in Puerto Principe, or Santa Clara,
or that ships will be sent to transport
some Of the Cuban troops to the vicinity
Of the capital. In any event, an effort
will be made to cooperate at once with
the armies Of the revolutionary leaders
IN the work OF driving the Spaniards
out Of the island. With the establish
ment Of a stable aud independent gov.
eminent in Cuba, the army will have
nothing to do at least in the prelim.
mary part Of the campaign. Its task
is to sweep the Spaniards out of the
island. To do this most effectively, it
will at once seek the closest alliance
with the revolutionary troops.
Call for Volunteers.
AS soon as war is declared, the war
department will issue, upon the call of
the president, orders for the enlistment
Of at least 10000 troops. At first there
was some talk Of &C, 900 volunteers be-
ing sufficient for the purpose, but it
was soon found that this number would
not be sufficient to keep up the garri.
sons along the coast, together with a
body Of troops sufficiently large to de.
fend the country from invasion. It
would not be at all adequate to the
task Of supplying reinforcements for
the army of occupation, or of forming
a mucous of a still larger army for any
operations on a larger scale than is now
contemplated. Certainly not less than
$4,000 troops will be called for at once,
and $50, 900 will be assuredly organized
within a short time after the opening
of hostilities. Orders for the organiza.
ton of a great volunteer force are now
prepared and can be issued instantly
upon a declaration of war.