The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-15
Combined Land and Naval Attack On
Havana. Co Operating With Gomez.

! New York. April IA special to the
| Times from Washington says:
| The plans for the joint land and naval
attack on Havana have been practically
decided on. They have been the subject
| of elaboration of 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 absolutely 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 left for discussion was the
best course to be pursued in carrying out
this plan.
One difficulty that has continually pre-
sented itself is the fact that the navy is
ready for an advance on Havana within
an hour after the declaration of war,
while the army could not possibly throw
any considerable force in Cuba in less
time than As hours.
SHOULD the fleet of Captain Sampson
wait until the army was ready?" has
been asked. or should it,. as soon as war
was determined on. proceed to carry out
LIS 4iiolI uOL1OHS dIlO tuNG5l havana lIOL1
the sea?
1t is now decided that the fleet will at
once move on 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
feet will be employed for this purpose, as
well as to keep open the gulf to the west
of Havana for a like purpose.
As soon as the army is ready, which
will be within 4S hours. eonsidera Bile
body OF troops will be thrown into the
province of Pinar del Rio, in the neigh
borhood, probably of Bahia Honda, and
an advance upon Havana win be begun
at once, The fleet will cooperate with
the land forces from the moment they
land in Cuba and both will attack Ha-
vana simultaneously.
Even ifthe 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 Spaniards. It Is probabi
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 vicinity OF the capital In any
event, an effort will be made to cooper
ate at once with the armies of the revo-
lutionary leaders in the work of driving
the Spaniards out Of the island With the
establishment of a stable and independ-
ent government in free Cuba the army
VIII have nothing to do, at least in the
preliminary part Of the campaign. It's
task is to sweep the Spaniards out Of
the island. To do this most effectively II
will at once seek the closest alliance with
the revolutionary troops.
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 10000 volunteers being
sufficient for the purpose. but il was soon
found that this number would not be SUI
hcient to keep up the garrisons along the
coast. together with a body of troops
sufficiently large to defend the country
from invasion. II would not be at aH
adequate to the task Of supplying rein-
forcements for the army of occupation,
or of forming nucleus Of stu! Larger
army for any operations on larger scale
than is now contemplated. Certainly not
less than 5000 troops viii be called for
at once and 10. 900 viii be assurediy or
sanized within a short time after the
opening OF hostilities. Orders for the or
ganiZation OF a great volunteer force are
row prepared and can be issued instantly
upon a declaration of war.