The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-20
SIMPSONS Fleet TO Move OH Havana.

NEW York. April IA special to
the Times from Washington ays
The plans for the JOINT land and ma
val attack on Havana have been prac-
tically decided on, They have been
the subject of dcliberation of a mum
Der of meetings of the naval strategy !
board. of councils of the Joint wa.
and navy boards, and Of conferences
between the governmental and militia
ry circles. From the first it was con
sSdercd absolutely essential that there
shonid be joint movement oft, the land
and naval forces of the United States
against the Spaniards in Cuba, and the
only thing left for discussion was the
best course to be pursued in carrying
out this plan.
One difficulty that has continually
presented itself is the fact that the
navy is ready for an advance on Ila-
ana within an hour after the dcclara-
ton of war, while the army could not
possibly throw any considerable force
in Cuba in less than Is hours. Should
the fleet Of Capt. Sampson wait until
the army is ready? has been asked.
Or should it, as soon as war was de-
tcrmincd on, proceed to carry out it's
insI uctiOns and invest Havana from
the sea.
1t is now decided that the fleet will
at once nov on Havana, invest it and
at the same time hold open the Flori.
da straits for the free transportation
of the troops to 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 the
like purpose.
AS soon as the army is ready, which
will be within AS hours, n considcra-
bic body Of troops will be thrown into
the province Of Pinar Del lilo, in the
n~eighborhood probably Of Bahia Hon
da, aud an advance upon Havana will
be begun at once. The feet will CO.
operate with the land forces from the
moment they land in Cuba, and both
will attack Havana simultaneously.
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 aud
Garcia az allies against the Spaniards.
1t is probable that troops will be sent
TO join these revolutionary armies in
Puerto Principe or Santa Clara, or
that ships will be sent to transport
some of the Cuban troops to the vi
cinity Of the Capital. In any event
an effort will be made to cooperate at
once with the armies of the ~revolu-
tionary leaders in the work Of driving
the Spaniards out Of the island. With
the establishment of a stable and in
dependent government in free Cuba,
the army will have nothing to do, at
least in the preliminary part Of the
campaign.
The war department is certain that
Gomez and Garcia have respectable
armies In the eastern part Of .he is
land. This conclusion is based upon
the fact that they have been able to
hold back the Spanish arms and even
to win notable victories against some
of the best officers Of Spain. These
revolutionary troops, aided by some
American regulars and supplied with
arms and ammunition, will be able, it
is thought, to do very effective work
against the soldiers under Blanco and
Paudo.
AS soon as war is declared the war
department. will issue upon the call of
the president orders for the enlist
ment of at least $50, 600 troops. At
first there was some talk Of 5000
volunteers being sufficient for the pur-
pose, but it will soon be found that
this number would not be sufficient to
keep up the garrisons along the coast,
together with a body Of troops sufi-
GENTLY large to defend the country
from invasion. 1t would not be at all
adequate to the task of supplying rein
forcemcnts for the army of occupation,
or of forming a nucleus Of a still
larger army for any operations on o
larger scale than is now contemplated.
Certainly not less than so, 600 troops
Will be called for at once, and 150, 900
men will be assuredly organized with
in q short time after the opening Of
hostillities. Orders for the organiza-
tion of o great volunteer force are now
prepared and can DE issued instantly
upon a declaration Of war.
Until war is declared or recognized
as existing nothing further can be
done. AS Dol as it is declared, with
q clause in the resolution authorizing
the organization of a volunteer army,
these orders will be transmitted to tho
proper quarters and at least 175, 900
men will be ready to respond to the
call of the president to 60 wherever
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