The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-22


On Roard the Associated Press Dispatcr
Boat Dandy. off Santiago de Cuba MOI
nav. June 20, p. m. via the Mole 81
Nicolas. Hayti, Tuesday. June q, 3 a. m
The United States army for the invasion
of Cuba, about 5000 strong. commanded
bv General Shafter, arrived off Santiago
de- Cuba at noon today The time Of its
decentralization has not yet been deter
mined upon, but It probably VIII be with
in the next three days.
When the fleet of thirty-seven transports
with its freight of fighting men, swept up
the southern coast today and slowed up
within sight Of the doomed city of San
5tago. the anxiously awaited soldiers were
greeted with ringing cheers which family
echoed to the transports from the decks
of the blockading warships far in shore,
they we're answered by the troops most
enthusiastically and in kind. The week
of anxious waiting and Of impatient chat
ing on the other were over and the army
and the navy mad at last Joined forces
and all felt that final blow at Santiago
was at hand.
It was % o'clock this morning when the
Brooklyn reported seeing the smoke of
several steamers away to the southeast,
and a moment or so later he announced
that dozen were in sight. When signals
were exchanged from ship to ship, glad
dening the hearts of the weary blockad-
ers. Then the United States auxiliary
cruiser Gloucester, formerly J. P. Nor
gan's yacht Corsica, dashed away TO meet
and welcome the troops.
About half an hour later grim forest
of masts had sprung up apparently from
the sea, and a most impressive scene was
presented as the armada swept gracefully
up from the horizon, towards the shores
where the great struggle is to take place.
The transports were ranged in three
shifting lines, with the battleship Indiana
on the extreme right and the other men
of war on the outskirts of the fleet In
this order the transports and their escorts
stea med slowly in toward the hills where
the .Morros red walls cleaned in the sun
light
1t was intended to take the entire fleet
TO the lines of Rear Admiral SIMPSONS
feet of warships, but an order from the
admiral stopped the advance of the ships
about fl teen miles to the southeast. and.
escorted by the Gloucester, General Shat
ter went forward on the Seguranca to con-
fer with The admiral
The transports lay on the smooth sea. |
while the plans were discussed by the
leaders on board the flagship. Not the |
faintest inthmation of their intentions re- i
garding the landing has been allowed TO |
escape. Undoubtedly, however. some of |
the troops VIII be landed at Guantanamo |
Bay in order to relieve the marines there.
but il is generally believed the main body
of the troops Will be landed much nearer
Santiago.
The long aud trying journey from
Tampa has left the men in a much better
condition than anticipated There are
fourteen mild cases of typhoid on the hos
pital ship among them being Major Hor-
ton Of the Twenty-fif7h infantry, and sew
oral cases Of measles. There are. however
no serious cases ofsickness.
Owing 20 the smoothness of the passage
the soldiers were not generally affected
by seasickness. They are all wildly anx-
3ous to get ashore and begin fighting.
The dispatch boat of the Associated
Press, As she steamed among the trans
ports were eagerly besieged on all sides
for news Of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet. OFF,
GERS and men clamoring for a word from
the blockaders. Much satisfaction was
expressed among the troops when It be-
came known that the actual capture of
Santiago is to be left to the army.
The horses and mules on board the
transports have suffered severely, many ,
dying.
The American feet of Santiago has been
ma terially strengthened by the addition
Of the warships which escorted the trans
ports. consisting of the Indiana. Detroit. /
Montgomery. Bancroft. Helena, Ericsson.
Foofe. Hornet, Annapolis, Castine and
Eagle.
Wherever the landing may take place.
the operations and the information of the {
last ten days conclusively so to show /
that bitter work is ahead for Skaters
men before the Spanish flag comes down c
from Morros walls The Spanish infantry. 5
cavalry and guarilla forces. estimated by Il
Admiral Sampson today to number from T.
900 10 $1,000 men. are stretched from a
70 Cabanas. a distance of e
fifty miles. and ready TO concentrate Al
he point Of attack. But starving and g
larassed by the insurgents. the situation -
IF the Spaniards is desperate and naval =
officers familiar with the situation fully :,
zxpect terrific fighting about Santiago.
Interviews with army officers on the -
transports show that there is some anx-
ETY. as 70 how the men viii stand the
strain If the fighting begins immediately ;
after the long activity al Tampa and the C
wearing voyage. There is no fear. how C
ever. for the final result. as the guns OF u
he fleet viii be Of immense assistance TO 81
he-Amercan troops. s
Copyrighted. 1SsS, by Associated Pressl =
With the United States Transport Ships.
IF Santiago de Cuba, Monday, June q. :
noon. via the Mole St Nicolas. Hayti. G
Tuesday, June =. a. m.-The fleet Of il
United States transports. having on board a
5000 men, under the command Of General +
Shafter, arrived off Santiago de Cuba n 10
noon today, being exactly six days out II
rom Port Tampa. u
The army OF invasion left Fgmoat Key e.
1t noon on Tuesday. June i. convove5 Inv b
ne United States warships Indiana. Cas- u
Inc Helena, Annapolis. Bancroft. Morrill, a.
ma Hornet The passage was necessarily a
iow. as two big water barges and he pl
schooner Stevens. also used for water
lad 70 be towed III
At Roseeoa Shoals lighthouse the fee, / q
vas Joined by the United States warshfps pl
Detroit. Manning, Osceola, Wasp ana p,
Ericsson.
When the transport feet left Port Tam III
"a il was the intention OF those In an
h0-ity to take the wsseva- course, around Re