3-086-477 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Spanish-American War: the "Sandoval" encampment in the vicinity of Guantanamo, 1898. 'From a photograph supplied by Antonio G. Novelles. Hitherto, since this war began, all the startling achievements of the United States forces in the Eastern and in the Western hemisphere seem to have been gained by their naval superiority, especially by their powerful naval artillery, in the crippling of the Spanish fleet and the bombardment of coast forts or harbour defences. A wholly different series of warlike operations is about to be commenced by the landing of troops in Cuba at the worst season of the year, for the military campaign necessary to besiege, in the eastern part of that island, the fortified and strongly garrisoned town of Santiago, and subsequently, if the war be prolonged till autumn, the city of Havana, without which captures the American conquest of the island cannot be secured. The first portion of the army destined for the invasion of Cuba...has reached the south coast, where Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley have vigorously maintained the naval attack on the port of Santiago, and have reinforced the small party of marines landed at Guantanamo, some distance eastward of that city'. From "Illustrated London News", 1898.