The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-01
Before Uncle Sam Can Occupy Porto
Rico; Hence He Will
Land There.
AS WELL AS IN CUBA
jacksonville to Be the Base of Operations Agains
Porto Redistribution in Eastern Cuba
as to the Insurgents.

and were prepared to withdraw their
troops from Cuba In such case the
United States would be placed in the dis
agreeable position before the world OF
continuing to make war upon the coun-
try which holds out the flag Of truce. The
dilemma that would sonfront US in such
case would be how to seizure Porto Rico
without offending international law, for
it was accepted as the truth that the ad-
ninistration was determined that Span
ism rule in the Western Hemisphere must
cease.
Now that General Miles had gone, It
was stated that for the last five days he
has held frequent conferences with a
prominent Porto acan, thoroughly con-
versant with the situation in that island,
and able to give exact information as to
the Spanish strength and defenses there
AS to Santiago province, the situation
was explained today by an official well
acquainted with the conditions there. He
pointed out that It was the easternmost
section Of Cuba, and the one completely
isolated from General Blanco so far as
railroad connections were concerned. For
that reason it would be impossible for
Blanco TO hurry endorsements TO San
tiago. and the Spanish forces already
there constituted ell that t was possible
TO assemble for its defense.
These forces are under General Pando,
with headquarters at Holgllin, about 100
miles northwest of Santiago de Cuba
Pando has a force of about 5000 troops
with him and is strongly in;renChed. A
short railway connects him with the
small seaport Of Gibara on the north
coast, where there are about /, 900 Span
ish troops. But while Pando is at Hol-
gum, he is 1arrassed by the presence Of
small Cuban bands at 'Tuaba and other
points surrounding Holguin Besides
Holguin and Gibara, General Pando has
small garrisons, of from 1000 TO 5000 men,
at Magyar, Tanamo and Baracoa, ON the
! north coast, and at Guantanamo, santi-
ago and Manzanillo. on the south coast.
These points are said to be the only ones
held by the Spanish, for Santiago is thu
! one province overrun throughout the in
terror by the insurgents
The Cuban commander, General Garcia
! has his headquarters at Bavamo, seven.
! ty-five miles west of Santiago. The re-
! ports brought by General Collazo and
| Lieutenant Rowan indicate that Garcia
! has about 5000 men under his immediate
| command, and about 5000 scattered in
| bands around Holguin. Aside from their
! offensive strength, the Cuban forces are
| looked upon as valuable In that they
hold the interior roads and passes. and
keep the Spanish garrisons penned I'D in
the sox or seven seapart towns. For this
reasons 1T is said to be impossible TO,
! General Pando to move his forces from
| Holguin down to Santiago de Cuba. as
Garcia's bands. as well as his main body
Of troops, are in the way. These forces
are said to be in considerable numbe,
! within few miles Of Santiago de Cuba.
General Garcia's two staff officers WIN
have been in Washington recently ar.
ranging plan of operation with Genera
Miles, left with him last night, and there
> Is thorough understanding as to tbs