The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-08
START
FOR
CUBA.
An Army of 10000 Men Load
ed at Tampa
On Transports Bound For SAM
tiago de Cuba.
WAR VESSELS READY
With Steam Up to, Convoy the
Expedition.
Ordered to Move as Soon as
Possible.
MAY GET OFF TODAY.
Everything Needful is Being
Taken Along
MAY GET OFF TODAY.
Every thing Needful is Being
Taken Along
General Miles is Personally Di-
recting the Movement.

Key West, Fla, June S.-The troops
are marching on board the transports
at Tampa.
How long it will take to get the reg
iments on board transportation officers
do not venture to predict.
There are 10000 men, to say nothing
of horses and equipage, to be loaded.
AS much of the work as was possible
had been done in advance of the move
ment of the troops. The artillery and
the pack trains had been put on board.
Ammunition and supplies have been
loaded also. Little remained but to
move the men. -e--------
General Miles and his staff are di-
recting the movement, General Shafter
commands the expedition.
The destination is Santiago de Cuba.
This necessitates the carrying of great
er quantities of ammunition and more
provisions than would have been taken
if the landing was to be made on the
north coast of Cuba. There must be
far more elaborate preparation for an
army going 800 miles away from home
than for one going only 80 miles.
Transports containing 5000 men have
arrived off Tampa from Mobile and 9TH
er ports. In the fleet will be 46 trans
ports.
Several war vessels detailed to con-
voy the transports have been lying at
Tampa with steam up waiting for the
word. The navy department regards
the detail ample for any protection
which may be required. AS the arrange
ments for the departure have progress
ed it has developed at each step that
more time must be allowed than was
provided. Beginning to realize fully
from experience what it means to han
die $4,000 men on an ocean trip the
transportation officials hesitate to es-
innate the time which will be required
to take the fleet to Santiago de Cuba
Having had the loading from pier
directly upon the transports to give
them an object lesson in the magnitude
of the work, the officials look forward
to the risembarkfng with anything but
agreeable anticipations. At Dacquir.
ten miles east of Santiago harbor, there
is, or was recently, an iron pier ex-
tending out far enough for vessels of
ocean draft to approach and load 1t
was built and used by the Bethlehem
Iron company to take the iron ore from
the mine at Juragua, few miles in the
interior.
If the Spaniards have permitted that
pier to remain intact, and IL it is in the
right place for land operations, the un-
loading will be simplifed, but if an
other place must be chosen the work
will have to be done With pontoons and
with lighters. 1t will be slow and tire
some. Should the water be rough it viii
be attended by some danger
New York. June S.-A special to the
Times from Washington says:
There is no longer any pretense at the
war department that the Santiago ex-
pedition is not afoot, or that it is not
to reach~its destination speedily. The
information has been circulated quite
freely that forces have been shipped to
Tampa and more are to follow, and that
they are bound to Santiago de Cuba and
intend to cooperate with Admiral
Sampson to effect the capture Of the
city with it's garrison and shipping
including the fleet of Admiral Cervera-
The land forces are to be directed by
General Shafter, who win have not less
than 10000 men, mostly regulars, with
which to strike the blow contemplated
1t is plainly stated by a cabinet officer
that the postponement of the expedition
which had not been great, was altogeth-
er attributable to the siege guns that
are to be taken along and to unexpeet-
ed delay in the cars at Tampa
While the expedition at Santiago is
on its way, another for Puerto Rico is
to be made ready and shipped Just
how soon after the Santiago movement
this expedition is to leave is not stated.
but in carrying out the administra-
TONS plan of summer activity, it is