The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-13
TENIEDARNY OF TAMPA
Troops Number Over 10, 600
and Animals 5000.
MAKING READY TO MOVE.
More Men and Munitions Arriving
by Every Train.
FULL REGIMENT OF CUBANS.
VIII 60 Into the War Under Their
Own Flag.

Tampa. Fla, May 12-Tampa Is now the
soldier city of the South
There are, counting the officers. hospital
corps, and members of the regimental
bands, over 10000 soldiers encamped here
and at Port Tampa city,5,OOo head Of horses
and mules. wagons. all kinds of yehi-
cles, and army paraphernala.
Tampa presents a scene of activity sell
dom seen, and hundreds of visitors from all
sections OF the state are focking here
through curiosity.
1t requires an enormous amount OF pro-
visions and feed stuff to take care OF all
these people and animals. and freight
trains on both roads are arriving almost
hourly loaded to the tops of the cars with
provisions.
The transports at Port Tampa are steam-
ed ready to move at any moment. Rush Or
ders were given this evening. and the
Comal was loaded with everything except
horses and mules, and these win be put
aboard tomorrow.
II is said semi-oficially that the comal
Will start tomorrow, but no one knows
whore she intends going. However. she Is
going. as she Is all ready to depart and
the officers are exertlng every nerve to be
In readiness by daylight.
The steamer Florida of the Plant line
is loaded with 5000 rifles and ammunition.
and has been selected TO transport the
Cuban soldiers to Cuba. It is steamed
up and ready to go at a minutes notice.
4 - - Ia. ft4Has
city ordered all of the Cuban soldiers
In camp this evening, and they are camp
ed in West Tampa
Not counting the officers, they number
1100 and new enlistments are being made
every day. II they do not depart for sew
eral days the Cuban army will reach the
1000 notch. They are adequately equlpp-
ed with horses. arms and ammunition
and guns, ana are anxious to move on
to Cuba.
Gen. Wade established headquarters at
the camp this afternoon.
The Tampa Bay Hotel will be occupied
by Gen. Miles, who is expected Saturday.
All of the soldiers were ordered into
camp this EVENING" and everything rs
packed for leaving. They are in readi-
ness 10 comply with any order that might
be hastily made.
Ever since the Cuban soldiers have mob-
ilized here, most potent question with
them has been, which flag will wave over
them when powder begins to burn in
Cuba.
Gen. Jose Lacret marriott, who Is the
leader of the forces centered here, has
been at a loss for an answer. but within
the past twenty-four hours, the question:
seems 70 have been settled in favor OF
the Cuban flag.
Mass meetings were held yesterday Sf-
ternoon on the public square and at the
larger cigar factories in West Tampa, and
the conclusion as above stated was reacn-
ed.
Great concern has been felt about this
question. One thing TO be taken into con-
sideration was that the United States WAS
holding the Cuban army together by means
of supplies OF money and stores and this
was a return argument IN favor Of the
United States flag This, taken together
with the fact that there was no fecog-
nized Cuban flag. and hence those hight
ing under it would be liable to fare badly
II captured by an enemy, seemed inVin-
chile.
For the first time restrictions were to-
day placed on visitors to the various
camps. Guards were thrown out and no
one was allowed 10 pass the lines unless ON
urgent business.
The utmost activity prevailed around tho
docks where the big fleet Of transports is
being prepared. Carload after carload OF
stores, ammunition, rifles and army sup
plies OF all kind switched on to the tracks
along the edge OF the wharf and hastily
unloaded by small army of stevedores.
BY nightfan six Of the transports had
been loaded and were ready for the troops
and horses. Besides the supplies for the
United States troops about 1900 Spring.
field rifles and an immense quantity Of am
munition for the equipment OF the Cuban
insurgents have been taken on board the
various ships. They are all plenufully sup
Piled with coal and water.
The Orizaba one OF the largest Of the
transports here completed her coaling dur
ing the afternoon, and the few alterations
necessary before the troops embark, viii
be finished before noon tomorrow.
seven train loads Of troops from Chicka-
mauga are expected to arrive over the
Plant System before morning, and others
will follow rapidly tomorrow. One train
load with part Of the Sixth Cavalry came
Ia before midnight.
An OF the cavalry regiments to come
from Chickamauga, the Second Third ana
Sixth will encamp in West Tampa
The place selected Is fully three miles
nearer Port Tampa than the present
camping grounds Of the infantry. No
Continued on Seventh Page.