The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-19
WHERE THE FLEETS ARE
And What They Are Doing or Likely
to Do, Captain Zalinski, Nav
al Expert, Discusses.
TO SINK SPAIN'S SHIPS
And Take Cuba Later, He Says, Is What Turenne
Napoleon Would Do-Movements of the
Fleets, as Known Guessed.

New York. May 1s-On the position and
likely movements of the opposing fleets
near Cuba. the Journal prints the follow
ing from the pen of Captain Z. L. Zalin-
| ski, L. S, A, retired:
The discovery of the location OF the
| Spanish Cape Verde fleet has narrowed
down the range of surmises as 70 It's prob
able course OF action. Having recoaIed
at Martinique. recoaling at Porto Rico Is
no longer as essential to it as in the past.
From this point of view Porto Rico ceases
to be an important factor in the problem
presented for immediate solution.
II may be taken as an atom IN land oper-
atoms that the objective point OF a COM
mander should be the enemey's armies
rather than his cities. The armies being
defeated. the cities must fall. Cities may
be captured with great loss OF life and
time, but such captures are not conclu-
sive and decisive unless the enemy's ar
mics are also captured.
Turenne fully recognized this and Napo-
leon did in the earlier years OF his career.
In his closing campaign ne lost sight OF
this principle His forces were absorbed
in defending cities instead Of being con-
centrated to defeat the invading armies
His armies in the field. thus weakened.
were overwhelmed despite his brilliant
tactics He was defeated while he stin
had in widely scattered garrisons sufi-
cient forces to- have turned the scale Of
battle.
The principle applies TO fleets as II does
TO armies. In the present case the objec-
tive of all our fleets should be the Cape
Verde fleet. This feet destroyed. the only
serious menace against our coast is re-
moved. Our armies can be landed in Cuba.
The investment of Havana can be COM
pleted and Blanco forced TO surrender by
hunger.
1t Is obvious from the experience at Ma
Mia as elsewhere that while the works de-
Tending a harbor may be siIenced the
town cannot usually be captured and held
unless an army is at hand 10 make land
ing. San Juan. having lost it's immediate
significance and Importance. can be left
for the present entirely or be bloCkaded
by the monitors. with the battleships
Indiana and Iowa and other vessels Of his
fleet he could sail to intercept the Spanish
feet on its course 70 Havana. While Ad-
miral Sampson is directing his feet on the
pathway 10 Havana. by the southern side
Of Cuba, the flying squadron could pro-
coed on A direct course to Havana % meet
the Spanish feet near the western end
OF Cuba. and. if possible. fight Il before IL
gets to Havana. The distance to be trav-
eled by the Spanish fleet and the flying
squadron are likely 20 be about the same.
If the start which the former IS supposed
to have gained IN point Of time is con-
sidered. The speed o fthe Spanish feet
IS likely TO he greater than that OF the
fving squadron unless the latter proceed
without the Massachusetts and Texas.
AS Admiral Sampson's feet has the
shortest course 70 throw itself on the path
way Of the Spanish feet. he could de,ach
the New York and have II proceed by the
north coast SO as 70 reinforce the flying
before it nears the enemy.
Both the flying squadron and the New
York could proceed az fun speed toward
their objective points and be in 'front.' &c
Havana before the Spanish feet gets
II would be bottled upbnd would have 10
material effect on the final result. The
blockade ~ Havana would be reinforced
by Admiral Simpsons feet A suitable
use of the swift auxiliary cruisers would
secure a proper cooperation q the tuo
fleets and insure their forcing tie enemy
20 action under conditions favorable tc .
the United States forces. 4 DIVISION -
forces IS not advisable under ordinary con .
ditions IN face OF an enemy. IN che pre-
sut instance the course Indicated Is enc of .
As for the Spanish salps. hey arc Prob (
ably forced BY the exgcnc;ss - Spanish I.
olitjcs 20 seek an ac-io1 win our feet .
rather than % avoid %. - TREY enter Hz- !
Kama harbor, their possibilities % suefHl- /
ness viii be ended. II they proceed f1r /
5ur coast the combined fleets VII follow
hem NJ and bring them 20 ACTOR before
hey can DO any dame e. ei.her on She
sulf Or Atlantic coast.
Care should be taken temporarily 70 4
= thdraw our biockaaiag ships on fhs
.0uthern coast % Cuba. while those or
he northern coast. except the sulfez,.
h9gld be Withdrawn
The gR q auxiliary cruisers Should -
-sed 20 watch the Spanish FEET cIose.y.
30, losing sight ~ g. baf avoiding chances
Z beng brought 70 action
A balloon OUTFIT win these cruisers
1iEnt have been of material assistance
a observing and fol.oz.az taa s24nlsh