The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-10

WASHINGTON, June 9.--1t became
apparent this afternoon that the war
department. through the energetic Of
fees Of Its censors, has succeeded en-
tirely In Its purpose to keep the move
ments OF United States troops a secret,
for. beyond question, at the close OF the
day II was impossible to learn where,
are the United States troops which had
been for weeks gathering under com.
mand OF Gen. shafter In Florida.
Stories of the appearance OF q mys-
terious warship In Cuban waters foated
through the navy department, during
the day. The officers quickly condemn
ingthem. declaring that II the boats were
Spanish they were nothing more than
small armed launches and not to be
feared by amy number OF transports
conveyed by such fine gunboats as the
Helena and Bancroft. But when these
stories reached the war department
they were received with a. different
spirit. 3 h.
Nothing Is more helpless In warfare
than an unarmed troop transport full
OF soldiers. She would fall an easy VIC
tim to the smallest gunboat and the
soldiers. knowing their weakness in this
respect. are loath to undertake to cross
the Florida straits until these. Disagree
able visitors have been removed from
the pathway. Without respect to the
character Of the strange craft that are
said to be lodging the b!ockaders at
Havana, they will be removed from the
scene OF action in short notice and It Is
understood that Sampson has been
made acquainted with the situation and
Will be expected to>redeenl his promise
to provide safe conduct to the army
when called upon. He has ample force
to conduct the operations at Santiago
to successful issue and stiM spare YES
sells Of any power desirable for use IL
the Florida straits.
1t was pointed out to-day by naval
officer that the admiral, since the arrival
OF the marine battalion on the Panther,
has at his disposal what he may regard
as a sufficient force Of men to capttre
Santiago even before the troops arrive.
The 500 marines on the Panther, added
to the marines already with tho fleet,
would: make o total OF about 1.5e0 men.
without impairing the efficiency OF his,
ships Admiral Sampsoncou!d spare 1000
blue Jackets for q landing party and
with this total force OF 1000 men, IL the
Insurgents who have been armed by the
United States government do their
share, 1t seems possible for Sampson to
capture Santiago at short notice. There
seemed to be q very decided air OF ex-
Yfs n nm h te. aFt ~, ofst
cials who are acquainted with the gov
ernments plans in the campaign that
almost warranted a conclusion an en-
to-day.
Steady progress is making upon the
ships under construction by the govern
ment at the several navy yards, as re-
.vealed by the monthly report from the
various yards to Chief Constructor
Hichborn. On the battleships the New
port News people are ahead. having tho
Kearsarge and Kentucky flfty-nlne per
cent advanced toward completion, and
the Illinois forty-six per cent. Cramp
& Sons report the Alabama fifty-three
per cent along, and the Union Iron works
have progressed thirty-eight per cent
with the Wisconsin.
Ten torpedo boats are now actually
under construction and have been COM
pleted to the following extent:
The Rowan. tweBty-slx knotter,
building OF Moran Bros, Seattle, sS5
per cent. 5+i
The Dahlgen, thirty knottcr, build
Ing at the Bath iron works, Bath, Me-,
seventy-three per cent. ss: .
The T. A. NJ. Craven, thirty fnotter,
Bath Iron works, Bath. Me-. fifty per
cent. - h u
The Farragut, thirty knotter, Union
Iron works, San Francisco, eighty per
cent. y II
The Davis and Fox. 22.5 knotters,
Wolf & Zwicker. Portland. Ore, eighty
eight and eighty-two per cent respect
lively.
The Mackenzie. twenty l,notter,
Charles Hillman, Philadelphia, ninety
nine per cent. p
The strIngham, thirty knotter, Har-
Ian g. Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Del,
twenty-eight per cent.
The Goldsboro. thirty krotter, Woln
& Zwlcker, seven per cent.
The Bailey. thirty krotter. Gas En-
ginc & Power Company. New Jersey,
two and one-half per cent.
The submarine boat P!unger, build
Ing at the Columbian iron works, Bal
timore, similar in many respects to tho
Holland, is said to be seventy-two per
cent advanced.
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