Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-06-25
FORCES JOINE
Skaters Expedition Meets Samp-
sons Squadron.
sixteen Thousand Soldiers VIII Soon Land
Near Santiago de Cuba-sampson and
Shatter Hold n Conference with
Garcia, the Insurgent Leader.

borad 10000 men under command of
Gen. Shafter, arrived off Santiago de
Cuba at noon Monday, being exactly
six days out from Port Tampa.
The army of invasion left Egmont
Key on June IA, conveyed by the war
ships Indiana, Castine, Helena, An
napolis, Bancroft, Morrill, and Hornet.
The passage was slow, as two big
water barges and the schooner Ste
vens, also used for water, had to be
towed. At Rebecca Shoals lighthouse
the fleet was joined by the warships
Detroit, Manning, Osceola, Wasp and
Ericsson.
Throughout the voyage not one
Spanish gunboat or sign of the enemy
was seen.
On Friday the fleet of warships was
reinforced by the Montgomery and
Porter, off Puerto Principe.
When the fleet of 81 transports,
with its freight of fighting men,
swept up the southern coast and
slowed up within sight of the city of
Santiago the soldiers were greeted
with ringing cheers from the decks of
the blockading warships far in shore.
They were answered by the troops
most heartily.
The long journey from Tampa left
the men in much better condition than
was anticipated. There are IA mild
cases of typhoid on the hospital ship
and several cases of measles. There
are, however, no serious cases of sick
ness. The horses and mules on board
the transports suffered severely, many
of them dying.
Bitter work is ahead for Shafter's
men before the Spanish flag comes
from Morro's walls. The Spanish in
fantry, cavalry and guerilla forces, es-
timated by Admiral Sampson to num-
ber from 10000 to $4,000 men, are
stretched from Guantanamo to Ca
banas, distance of so miles, ready
to concentrate at the point of attack.
But, starving and harrassed from the
land by the insurgents, the situation
of the Spaniards is desperate and naval
officers expect terrific fighting about
Santiago.
AS soon as the fleet of transports
had arrived at a point about 20 miles
off Santiago, the steamer Seguranca,
having on board Gen. Shafter and his
staff, left the other vessels and
steamed to the flagship of the Ameri-
can fleet, in order to visit Rear Ad-
miral Sampson. The general went on
board the flagship and the Seguranca
then went to Acerraderos, about II
miles west of Santiago, anu near
which place Gen. Garcia is encamped
with 300 Cuban soldiers. Gen. Shat
ter and his staff and Rear Admiral
Sampson went ashore and proceeded
to Gen. Garcia's headquarters,
Gen. Garcia and the other Cuban
officers gave Gen. Shafter and Admiral
Sampson a hearty welcome at Ascer-
redero when the American officers
went to his headquarters for a con-
sultation. The Cubans showered
upon their distinguished visitors all
the blessings of Cuba libre for the as
sistance of the United States in the
Cuban struggle for freedom.
The Cubans sent guard of honor to
the beach to receive the Seguranca.
AS soon as she came to anchor in the
cove Gen. Shafter and his staff, includ-
ing Gen. Ludlow, chief of engineers.
and Admiral Sampson, accompanied
by guard of soldiers, went ashore
in small boats. They were received by
the Cubans with all military honors,
and horses were placed at the disposal
of Gen. Shafter and Admiral Sampson
to ride up the steep trail to Gen. Gar
cia's headquarters.
The Cuban commanders tent is a
rude hut covered with leaves and con-
tanning only meagre camp outfit.
Here, after words of greeting had been
spoken, the consultation was held. 1t
lasted several hours. Gen. Garcia ex-
planned his plans fully; told how he
had the Spanish general Pando cooped
up in Manzanillo, without the possi-
bility of his being able to cooperate
with the Spanish troops in Santiago,
and laid before the American officers
maps showing all the mountain trails
leading to Santiago from the most
convenient landing places east and
west of the harbor entrance.
Gen. Garcia gave the Americans as
surance that they need have no fear
of contracting diseases on the south
eastern coast of Cuba, as the climate
there is not unhealthy, only extremely
hot at this season of the year. The
Cuban general declared that his own
troops, i'll fed and poorly clothed as
they were, were in good health and,
therefore, the Americans need not fear
fevers or other serious ailments.
Gen. Shafter examined the condition
of the Cuban soldiers during a visit
to the shore and was impressed with
their hardy and soldierly appearance,
though he recognized the fact that
they need clothes and provisions, both
of which were given them during the
day.
The interview closed with the un-
derstanding on the part of both gen
erals that small bodies of troops are
to be landed at once at several points
along the coast, where they will be
safe from any serious attack by the
Spaniards and will be able to keep the
enemy in doubt, for the present, as to
their ultimate intentions.
Rear Admiral Sampson says that the
general landing of troops of Gen.
Skaters expedition will necessarily
be delayed several days. Reports pub.
lished in the United States TO the con-
trary are pure guesswork.