The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-04
MAY ENTEflSANTIAGo HARBcR.
GUNS OF THE FORTS NOT LOOKED
UPON AS DANGEROUS.

Suspicion Also Growing That the
HarbOr Has Not Been as Thorough
" Mined as Expected-Chan of
Defeating the Spaniards in the
HarbOr May he Even Better Than
if They Were Outside.
New York June "A special TO the Tri-
bune from Washington, saysr "The con-
tingency. clearly foreseen and provided for
In the orders sent to Maj. Gen Shafter
last Sunday. which might render super
Auous the beginning of extended army OPP
erations in the vicinity of Santiago, has
now acquired important proportions. in
view of the extremely formidable naval
concentration which is reported off the
southern coast of Cuba, and there has been
a consequent improvement in the pros
poets Of an immediate invasion of Porto
Rico. with the likelihood of the occupation
of San Juan itself, before the middle of
June.
Army officers in Washington believe
that the reported arrival of Admiral
Sampson off Santiago, and the presence
there of the peerless Oregon, signalize the
confidence of the naval commanders that
Admiral Cervera's squadron may be de-
stroyed without depending on assistance
ashore and that, quickly following the re-
connoitering skirmish of the Iowa, the
Massachusetts and the New Orleans, de-
cisive engagement would be undertaken.
Should this conviction prove well founded
the troops now on the way to Mole St
Nicholas will not go south through the
Njndward Passage, but will continue their
easteriy course past Cape Haytien, and
promptly begin the vigorous campaign
which has been mapped out for the seizure
of Porto Rico.
"Snce the departure of Gen. Miles from
Washington the probability that army CO.
operation would be imperative at Santiago
has materially diminished, particularly
since the effectiveness of Commodore
6chley's communications with the insur-
gents ashore became fully known and
clearly appreciated by the officials here
now, charged solely with supporting act
ual operations of fleets and armies.
The commodore's certainty that he has
Admiral Cervera securely in the harbor
and his request for naval rather than mil
ltary reinforcement, have given rise to I'M
questioning assurances on the part of the
highest authorities that he can safely be
trusted to carry out the responsibilities
which have been imposed on him His
demonstration that the Santiago batteries
were insignificant to a degree that re-
moved them from serious consideration as
essential elements in the defense of that
harbOr although theoretical strategists
had laboriously figured out that naval
gums could not be sufficiently elevated to
reach them, has cast grave doubts on the
efficiency of the alleged mine fields with
which the channel has been presumed to
he protected, and it is the impression of
naval officers here, who probably reflect
The opinions of the naval commanders on
llhe scene that an attack on the Spanish
squadron inside the harbor would be at
7iended with scarcely greater hazards than
an engagement with it in the open sea.
and with infinitely improved chances of
accomplishing its complete defeat.
In view of the extreme latitude now al
lowed to fleet commanders, whose discre-
tiOn is practically unlimited by war boards
'2r other officials distant from the front
it is evident that no one in Washington,
of whatever authority, can predict he
character of the next report from the
combined armored squadrons.
"Unquestionably to them the crucial bat
tle of the war is imminent, unless all
signs fail, and it may be a matter of hours
rather than days before the receipt of news
OF an occurrence which may terminate the
'Ear or, in any event, draw The line sharp
ly for the conduct of all succeeding opera
lhons.'