The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-06-21
IT NAY BE EASY.

ASSOCIATED Press Dspatch.l
New York. June "a special 10 the
Times from Washington says:
The capture Of Santiago de Cuba may
turn out 10 be easter than was expected,
but The preparations have been made on
the assumption that the Spaniards vii!
make resistance equal 10 that which
would be made by the same number Of
American troops holding a like position.
but the Spanish will be weaker than Cen
yral Shafter and the feet combined, while
late reports about the activity and et-
fciency % the insurgents lead army men
20 hope that their assistance wall be OF
some value.
While there Is not much anxiety here
concerning General Shaf,er and his army.
there Is a universal desire to hear OF his
arrival and OF his landing Army and
navy men agree in the opinion that IL
the army reaches Santiago or the point
az which IL is intended to land il. before
Monday or even Tuesday, il will have
done very well. The transports would not
sail al high speed, some Of them may
have been detained. and as the fleet
would keep together in order to AFFORD
the slowest ships and benefit Of convoy.
II is observable that the expedition might
not reach Santiago until tomorrow or
next day
General Shafier was rather expected to
run ahead OF the feet and troops and 10
arrive AT Santiago or Guantanamo some
what before the other vessels, taking
the risk which is regarded as great OF
meeting with Spanish cruisers. The as
sumption by naval officers is that any
danger Of that kind would be greatly re-
dueed by sending one OF the convoy YES
sells along with the Seguncia as guard
for the commanding general.
one officer Of the army who has seen
a great deal OF service and who has a
high opinion Of the ability Of the United
States army, expresses tae opinion that
the campaign against Santiago will be
a short one and that 1t will not be a
show of fighting abuity that give vic
tory 70 the men under General Shafter
Although the United States troops are
not all properly clad, most of them have
good shoes and all have plenty of food
and have good medical attention. The
case Is quite different with the Spanish
soldiers. Their commiSsarie is bad, owing
to the indifference OF the officers TO the
welfare of the men, for whom they make
no sacrifices. Excepting garrisons usu-
ally taken care Of, the hospital service is
inadequate, and to that indifference is
attributed the great mortality Of the
Spanish troops. This officer said the
same conditions are found in districts
where Spanish military habits are found.
The United States forces viii be superior
as much for the reason that they are fed
and paid as for their greater energy as
q race. The war department sttl keeps
secret the exact point OF the landing of
the military expedition to Santiago. 1t
may be at the first harbor. and it may
be AT the east. Some suggest that there |
is reason to believe that both the east
and west approaches may be made. The |
early reports from General Shafter fol- |
lowing his landing and observation of I
The situation are expected to give the |
department an idea of the probable dur /
alton of the campaign The commander
will also instruct the department as to
whether plans already adopted are suf-
fcient number of men to do the work.
II not, sufficient number whatever it
may be, will be hurried forward to assure
success at the earliest possible