The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-24

will, il is reported, be sent by sea d.
rectly from Newport News on b two
big liners, Yale and Harvard, late the
New York and the Paris. Secretary
Alger said late this afternoon that
none of these orders had been issued,
so that the rumors are more or less
speculative.
1t was announced at the war depart
ment today hat no additional trans
ports for troops other than the New
port, which has been impressed on the
Pacific coast, has been secured. The
officials, however, hav been busily en-
gagged during the day in comforting
with the agents of steamship compan-
les, as well as individual owners, with
a view to securing additional vessels.
The department is decidedly averse to
resorting to impressment, for various
reasons, and only does it when all
other efforts to obtain the ships fail.
REINFORCEMENTS FOR GEN
ERAL SKATER.
Of the eleven transports available
by the department in the east, ar
engagements are being made to have
half a dozen or more rendezvous at
Tampa for the purpose, presumably,
Of carrying additional reinfOrcements
to General Shafter. The four ships
which were at F~ernandina last week
nave Dcon given oTueIS 70 90 " IdIlpd
and one from Mobile is already there.
Just what portion Of General Skaters
reinfOrcements are to be taken from
Tampa has not yet been announced,
but with a half dozen ships at it's COM
mand, the department ought to be
able to transport approximately 1000
men with their equipments, and sub
sistence stores. Most of the remain
der, it is expected, will be taken from
Co A1oar Nirotpin n pon,1ofip If
is said, to a brigade, but this has not
| yet been definitely settled.
Secretary Alger was asked this af-
ternOOn just how many reinfOrcements
| would be sent to General Shafter, but
he declined to state definitely the
number, saying, however, in a genera
way there would be between 5000 and
10000 men.
The lack of suitable vessels for car
rying SUPPLIES of fresh refrigerated beet
for the army in Cuba as we'll as for
the starving people there is proving
very embarrassing to the officials of
the commissary generals office. Nearly
a week ago General Eagan opened bids
for supplying this necessary article of
the soldiers diet and would have
awarded the contracts before this, but
for the eason that there are 40 ships
| available to carry the supplies. The
Oh pS NiiSi NlI1 ~ ~
fitted with refrigerating apparatus in
order to preserve the meat fresh, and
this will take some little time. The
general is anxious that the work shall
be gotten under way, not because
there is a lack of rations, but for the
fact that American soldiers like their
fresh beef wherever they go, and the
aim of the officials is to keep them
supplied as fgar as practical.
The improvements at Fernandina
Fla, with a view to making that place
suitable for the comforts Of any large
body of men which nay be ordered
there, are being completed by the wal
department. Up to this time, how.
ever, it is stated that no troops have
been ordered to rendezvous there.
A CABLE SECURED.
The war department today received
information indicating that its official!
had been able to secure an end of on
of the cables running out from Cubs
and which, when properly connected
will give Admiral Sampson direc
communication with the department
at Washington. Secretary Alger de
clined to say just which cable hat
been secured, but he expressed tn
hope hat word over it from the ad
miral would be received in Washington
tonight. 1t is believed here that tn
French cable which works via Hayti i
the one the officials have been able t,
grapple and secure.