The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-07-01
CLOSING IN ON SANTIAGO.
The Military Invasion of the Island
of Cuba Now Progressing
at Several Points.
THE COMING ATTACK ON SANTIAGO.
Gen. shafter to lie Given the Widest Lib
erty Of Action unhampered by suG~
gestions from Washington Cuban and
American Armies and Fleet tn Act In
Conjunction.

American Armies and Fleet tn Act IN
Conjunction.
WASHINGTON. June 80 Yesterday,
Just week after the United States
troops left Tortugas, they began To
disembarl< on Cuban soil, landing il
formation at two points, so as to at
tack Santiago in the rear and on the
TANKS with the navy to help the work
in front.
Thus the military invasion OF Cuba
may be said to have fairly begun, foi
though the United States marines
were the first of the regular forces t.
land on Cuban soil, their purpose was
not after all invasion. but the estab.
lishment of "A naval base and base fof
a cable station, in both OF which they
were eminently successful. TO the
regular troops was left the beginning
of the formidable task Of invading
Cuba in force by land
Just at the close of Office hours a
brief cablegram came To the war de
partment from Lieut.. Col. Allen. 1t
had been expected all day. To the
surprise of the officials the cablegran.
was dated, not at Guantanamo, but at
place called Playa del Este, about 20
miles west of Guantanamo bay, and
about half the distance between that
and Santiago bay. Its exact word.
ing is withheld. but the state
ment was authorized that it said the
troops were landing, and that prepare.
tions had been made to attack San
tiago on the tanks and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable
communications after the first of Tues
day evening is thus explained: The
lines were being carried westward
probably to be nearer the point Sc
lected as the landing place of the
troops.
In his dispatch Lieut.. Col. Allen sai0
that he had heard nothing official y
from either Gen. Shafter or Admiral
Sampson. This is accounted for read
lily by his instructions. He was told
specifically by Gen. Miles in cable
gram, sent Tuesday, not to embarras:
Gen. shafter by any unnecessary
suggestions. Thus it will be seen
to the delight of all true soldiers, tn ut
Gen. Shafter like Admiral Sampson. il
not to be tied 10y exact orders from
Washington, but is to he allowed the
widest liberty of action in the belle
that he, being on the ground, is capa
BILE of judging best the proprcty o
projected movements. The Lieutenant
colonel who, is member of Gen
Miles staff and directly in charge o
the sigma. work in Santiago province
communicated bIiedy with Gen. Miles
in cipher. the fact that the deb arkatior
of the troops had begun and that q
plan of attack had been arrang ed at 1
council OF war.
1t is evident from the nature of Gen
Miles advices that in addition to the
troops now landing, as it is supposed
not far from Playa del Este. on The
east side of Santiago bay, the seconc
landing is going on at point just abou
the same distance west of the harbol
entrance. The two divisions probabl,
will be pushed forward steadily L
take the town of Santiago on eithe
flank, while to Garcias and Rabbi
bands of insurgents may be left thu
task of bringing on the attack in tn
rear. The distance on the west sid
Is slightly greater than on the east
but probably is not greater by either
route than Is or Is miles. The coun
try is mountainous, but there is no rea
son to believe il may not be traverse'
by the United States troops within 1
week. even if it should bc necessary I,
construct intrenchments and abatti'
every few miles in order to beat bacl
the Spaniards and drive then in To
wards Santiago.
With the beginning of the mlitar.
movement the navy will draw close II
shore to pound away at the fortsat tn
entrance and TO draw the Gordon o
war ships SO closely around the moutl
as To make it impossible for Ceryera
vessels to escape, even if they are dis
posed to take the most desperat
chances.
The reinforcement of Gen. Shafte
actually began yesterday in the d'
parture of a regiment and battalio
of the troops from Camp Algcr for Sar
tiago. They go to Newport News an
thence direct by steamer to Santiago.
the expectations of the projectors {
this movement are realized, thcs
troops are likely to occupy actuall
less time in the passage than did IL
first contingent, which left Tampa d
rectly, Notwithstanding the distance
twice as great.
Formal orders were issued placin
Gen. Guy V. Henry in charge of tt
new division of troops composed {
Dufiields and Garretson's brigade
which are to form part of the new div
sion. Probably some of the trool
al Tampa will be attached also,
which ease they will be dispatched
separate transports.
Gen. Henry is one of the most note
cavalry leaders in the army, possib
IN the world.
News has reached here that r.
Tons of coal is being loaded at Va
paraiso, Chilli. AS coal is worth abo,
SIS ton there the purchase excite
great curiosity here, and 1t has be,
suspected that it was being made I
Spanish account. III tins should pro-
10 be true, and the fact will soon
known IL wauld seem tn indica a.