The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-06-17
INVADING ARMY OFF
Transports Carrying Gen. Skaters
Troops Sail at Last.
AMERICAN TROOPS WILL SOON LAND.
Before the End OF the Week 5000 United
States Soldiers VIII BE on Cuban Soil
and the Investment of santi-
ago by Land VIII Begin.

and the Investment of santi-
ago by Land viii Begin.
TAMPA, Fla, June Is. After weeks
OF waiting and preparations the first
army of invasion to start from the
eastern shores of the United States
departed under the command of Gen.
Shafter yesterday morning at nine
o'clock. The feet of transports con-
sisted of 35 vessels, four tenders and
II conveys. These are all now upon
the gulf of Mexico, headed southwark
until they pass Key West at least If
the destination be Cuba, they will con-
tinue their present course until Cape
Antonio, at the west of the islands is
doubled, when an easterly course will
be sailed until they reach the vicinity
of Santiago. The alleged cause of the
delay was the report that the Hornet,
while out scouting, had sighted sew
eral Spanish warships. Like a wet
blanket came the order to halt
The unloading of the Florida, which
had been run into by the Miami and
seriously damaged last Wednesday,
gave grounds for the rumor that all
the transports were being unloaded.
Newspaper men were confidently told
on Friday night that they would bet
ter go on board. The following day
IL was openly stated that the sailing
would occur on Sunday noon. The
rush of the previous Monday was
repeated; Gen. Miles and his staff went
to Port Tampa Sunday morning to de-
liver parting instructions During a
heavy rain squall on Saturday night
at eight o'clock, while the transports
were straining at their cables, the
little tug Capt. Sam steamed from ship
to ship, megaphoning the orders, "stand
ready to sail at daylight" Above the
roar of the storm, wild cheers were
heard and bright flash of lightning
revealed the soldiers standing in the
rain, waving their wet hats and hur-
raining. Then Sunday passed, the
transports at the docks and
those in midstream receiving their
quotas of men and the neces-
saries to sustain them. Gen. Miles
again went to the port on Mon
day on the early train. The stirring
scenes continued, the mad rush had
not abated. Gen. Miles, from the OBJ
servation end of his ear, watched the
crowd as it passed near him. The
transports swinging at their moorings
were plainly in view, as were also
many of those at the docks. BY day
light yesterday all the ships except
the Seguranca had moved down
the bay. At nine o'clock the
Seguranca, amid cheers and the blow.
ing of whistles, followed. Gen.
Shafter and his staff were the last to
leave. The last orders were handed
10 Lieut. Miley, an aide TO Gen.
Shafter, yesterday morning and i'm.
mediately the flagship started.
AMERICAN TROOPS WILL SOON LAND.
WASHINGTON, June 15.-Without ref
erence to the exact hour at which the
United States army left Florida for
Cuba, it may be safely said that be.
fore the end of the week Gen. Shaftel
will have landed his $4,000 United
States troops on Cuban soil, and thai
the investment of Santiago by land
will have begun. There was some
confusion in the official mind here yes
terday on the time of departure of the
transports, though assurance was
given that they had all gotter
away. The confusion on this poin'
is easily accounted for by per
sons who know anything of the
difficulties of moving simultaneously
a numerous fleet composed of vessels
of all sizes and classes No less thar
three times, beginning Sunday, was
definite hour selected for the start
and the war department so notified
Yet in each case some untold obstacl,
was encountered that required Motif
cation to the department that n post
ponemeut had been forced. Sailor
say such delays are inevitable, anc
that rarely does fleet get off by frs
intention. However, the department
officials stated yesterday Afternoon
that they believed the very last of tn
transports had at last started for Cuba
After all, the delay of a day or two il
the start is not calculated to make an,
material difference in the plans, an,
the only person who will suffer from
it will be SIMPSONS marines, campe
ON the tropical bay of Guantanam
and obliged to maintain the creates
vigilance in repelling the bushwhack
ing Spanish irregulars who swarm il
the thickets. This foe gives no troubl
during the daylight hours, owing I
the presence of the Marblehead with
in easy range, but at night. when tn
warship is unable to distinguish thei
own men from the enemy, the lot G
the marines is very exciting one.
---