The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-06-15
THE EWAYISCLEAR
Fifteen Thousand Boys in Blue
Go to Cuba.
The War Department Announces That the
First Army of Invasion is on its Way
to Santiago-Sixteen Men-of-W
Convoy 32 Troop Ships.

Washington, June 14.-The first
army of invasion OF Cuba is now well
on its way, SO transport steamships
bearing over $4,000 officers and men,
conveyed by battle ships, cruisers,
gunboats and auxiliary craft, 16 in
number, having sailed from Key West
at daybreak Monday morning. An au-
thoritative statement to this effect
was made at the war department yes
terday, setting at rest all reports that
the expedition was on its way, or had
landed last week. The authorities
made the announcement for the rea-
son that the time for secrecy was now
past, 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.
Officials here feel that there will be
a period of comparative inaction for
a few days. BY Thursday the trans
ports will be off Santiago and large
American army will land on Cuban
soil. Admiral Sampson has cleared
the way for this undertaking and lit
tie danger is apprehended in getting
ashore. 1t will be after that, when
the advance is made, that the dra-
matte developments may be expected.
BY that time it is likely the Ameri-
can commanders will be in direct ca
- Nth thn onf hnfi-
ties here Admiral Sampson has taken
the shore end of the cable landing
at Guatanamo and a force of cable
experts 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 department said last night that
it was hoped this direct cable COM
munication would be established by
Thursday.
Mai. Gen. Shafter, who commands
this expedition, has with him 773 Off
GERS and 14,5G4 enlisted men. The
United States regular troops make up
the greater part of the force, there
being but three volunteer organiZa-
tions on the ships. These are the
Seventy-frst New York infantry vol
unteers, the Second Massachusetts, in
fantry and two dismounted squadrons
of four troops each from the First
volunteer cavalry, the regiment which
Col. Wood commands and of which
Theodore Roosevelt is lieutenant
colonel.
BY far the larger part of the eX-
petition is made up of infantry, al
though an unusually large number OF
artillery is included, and the cavalry
is almost altogether lacking. 1t is eX'
pected, however, that the dismounted
cavalry with the expedition will be
mounted later on in Cuba, either from
the stock of native horses or from
mounts that will follow them from
this country. Owing to the noun
famous and jungle-like character Of
the country back of Santiago, where
the troops must operate, there viii
be little opportunity for the use Of
cavalry.
Aside from the men and officers
making up the expedition the boat'
carried q vast quantity of supplies
ammunition and war equipments nee
essary to maintain an organization o
this size for at least 60 days. Every
detail for the landing of this party
has been worked out by the engineer
corps of the army.
1t will be a laborious process a
best, and will take a full day or more
The point of landing has been 81
chosen that there is little danger o
on interruption from the Spanish
forces, but should they attempt Il
make trouble, Admiral Sampson
ships will insure ample protection un
! til the troops car care for themselves