Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-16

apparent yesterday afternoon that the
war department. through the energetic
offices of its censors, has succeeded
entirely in its purpose to keep the
| movements of the United States troops
secret, for. beyond question, at the
close Of the day it was impossible to
learn here where the United States
troops that had been for weeks gath
ering under command of Gen. Shafter
in Florida were. Stories of the ap-
pearance Of mysterious warshiDs in
Cuban waters hoated through the
navy department during the day. The
officers quickly condemned them, de
clarirg that if the boats were Spanish
they We're nothing more than small
armed launches, and not to be feared
by any number Of transports con-
yoyed by such fine gunboats as the
Helena and Bancroft. But when these
stories reached the war department
they We're received with a different
spirit. Nothing is more helpless in
warfare than an unarmed troop trans
port full Of soldiers. She would fall
an easy victim to the smallest gun
boat. and the soldiers, knowing their
weakness in this respect, are loath to
undertake to cross the Florida straits
until these
Dfsasreeable Visitors
have been removed from the pathway.
Without respect to the character of
the strange craft that are said to be
dodglDg the blockaders at Havana
they will be removed from the scene
of action in short notice. as it is un-
derstcod that Sampson has been made
acquainted with tue situation and will
be expected to redeem his promise to
provide safe conduct TO the army when
called upon. He has ample force to
conduct the operations at Santiago to
a successful issue and still spare YES
sells Of any power desirable for use in
the Florida straits. 1t was pointed
out by naval officer that the admiral
since the arrival Of the marine battal-
ion on the Panther, has at his disposal
what he may regard as sufficient
force Of men to capture Santiago even
before the troops arrive. The 800 ma
rines on the Panther, added to the
marines already with the feet would
make a total of about 1900 men.
Without impairing the efficiency Of his
ships Admiral Sampson could spare
1000 blueja ckets for a landing party,
and with this total force Of $500 men,
II the insurgents who
Have Been Armed
by the United States government, do
their share, it seems possible for
Sampson to capture Santiago at short
notice. There seemed to be very de-
cided air of expectation among the Of
ficials who are acquainted with the
governments plans in the campaign,
that almost warranted the conclusion
that an engagement of some kind was
expected. Steady progress is making
upon the ships under construction by
the government at the several navy
yards as revealed by the monthly re-
ports from the various yards to Chief
Constructor Hichborn. On the battle
ships the Newport News people are
ahead, having the Kearsarge and Ken
lucky 80 per cent advanced toward
completion, and the Illinois 46 per
cent. Cramp & Sons report the Ala
bama 50 per cent along and the Union
iron works have progressed 80 per
cent with the Wisconsin. Ten torpedo
boats are now actually under CON
struction and being pushed to compile
ton. The submarine boat Plunger,
building at the Columbian iron works.
Baltimore, similar in many respects to
the Holland, Is said to be ~ per cent
advanced.