The record-union., 1898-06-14
Is Expected to Be Oft Santiago by
Thursday at the Latest.
Consists Of Thlrt-TWo Transports Bearing
Fifteen thousand Officers and Men,
and Is Convoyed by Six
teen warshlps.


army of invasion to Cuba is now we'll
on it's way, thirty-two transport steam
ships bearing over 1900 officers and
men, conveyed by battleships, cruisers,
gunboats and auxiliary craft, sixteen in
number, having actually sailed from
Key West at daybreak this morning.
An authoritative statement to this ef-
feet was made at the War Department
to-day, setting at rest all reports that
the expedition was on its way, or had
landed last week. The authorities made
the announcement for the reason that
the time for secrecy was passed as the
scout boats had made sure that the
path was clear before it, and that no
possible menace could come from the
Spanish ships or troops, even should
the enemy know that our forces were
now advancing against them.
With the expedition off. officials here
feel that there will be period of COM
parative inaction for a few days. BY
Thursday at the latest the transports
will be off Santiago. and a large Amer
lean army will make it's landing on
Cuban soil. Admiral Sampson has
cleared the Fay for this undertaking.
and little danger is apprehended in get
ting ashore. 1t will be after that, when
the advance is made, that the actual
developments may be expected.
BY that time it is likely the Amer
lean commanders will be in direct cable
communication with the authorities
here. Admiral Sampson has taken the
shore end of the cable landing at
Guantanamo, and a force of cable ex-
perts are rapidly restoring the line to
working order The progress of this
work has been so satisfactory that one
of the leading officials of the State De-
partment said to-day that it was hoped
that direct cable communication would
be established by Thursday. 1t Will
put an end to the dearth of official in
formation concerning important move
ments, and will enable the authorities
here to keep in close touch with those
executing the strategic movements.
Aside from the men and officers max
ing up the expedition, the boats car
ried a vast quantity of supplies, am
munition and war equipment, neces-
sary TO maintain an organization of
this size for at least sixty days.
Every detail for the landing of this
party has been worked out by the En-
gineer Corps 1t will be a laborious
process at best, and will take a full
been so chosen that there is little dan
ger of an interruption from any Span
ish forces. but should they attempt to
make trouble Admiral Simpsons ships
will insure ample protection until the
troops can care for themselves.
The Spanish Cadiz fleet is almost as
much of a mystery to the naval Off
GERS here as was Admiral Cerveras
flying squadron during the two weeks
Immediately preceding its inglorious
bottling up at Santiago. To-day a re-
port came that the squadron was unfit
for sea- That would have been cred
ited except that the department has
information as late as Saturday to the
effect that the squadron was already
at sea, and was about to depart about
a week before it had been told that the
Cadiz fleet had sailed. Having in mind
these conflicting rumors, the War
Board scarcely knew where to give
credence. though it would seem to be
an extraordinary circumstance that the
least doubt could exist as ID the pres
ence in or absence from the harbor of
a popular city such as Cadiz of
whole squadron of warships. However,
the weight of opinion seems to incline
to the presence of the fleet at Cadiz,
owing to the bad condition of the ships.
1t may be noted. however. that al
though acting upon this belief, as
shown by the beginning of the mill
tary invasion of Cuba. the War BoarG
is taking no unnecessary chances of
surprise, and, by means of scouts. has
provided for securing timely warning
of the approach of any hostile force to
the seat of war
The news of the attack by the Span
iards upon the United States marines
at Guantanamo Bay Saturday night
was not confirmed by official advices
up to the close of the day here. How
ever, there is no disposition to question