The record-union., 1898-06-23
The reinforcement Of the Army Of
Invasion Actually Begun.
A Regiment and Battalion Of Troops Leave
Camp AIger for Newport News, Where
They Will Sail Direct for
Santiago de Cuba.


troops left Tortugas, they began to
disembark on Cuban soil, landing in
formation at two points so as to attack
Santiago in the rear and at the sides,
with a navy to help the work in front.
Thus, the military invasion Of Cuba
may be said to have fairly begun, for
though the United States marines We're
the first of the regular forces to land
upon Cuban soil, their purpose was not
after all invasion, but the establish
cable station, in both of which they
were eminently successful. To the reg
ular troops was left the beginning of
the formidable task of invading Cuba
in force by land.
Just at the close Of office hours
brief cablegram came to the War De-
partment from Lieutenant Colonel AL
len. 1t had been expected all day. To
the surprise of the officials, the cable
gram was dated not at sGuantanamo,
but at place called Playa del Este,
about twenty miles west of Guantana-
mo Bay, and about half the distance
between that and Santiago Bay. It's
exact wording was withheld, but the
the troops were landing, and that prep
arations had been made to attack San
tiago at the side and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable
communications after the first of ilast
evening is thus explained The lines
were being carried westward, probably
to be nearer the point selected as the
landing place in Cuba
In his dispatch Lieutenant Colonel
Allen said that he had heard nothing
| from General Shafter or Admiral
Sampson. This is accounted for readily
by his instructions-he was told spe-
officially by General Miles, in a cable
gram sent yesterday, not to embarrass
General Shafter by any unnecessary
suggestions. Thus, it will be seen. to
| the delight Of all true soldiers, that
General Shafter, like Admiral Sampson.
is not to be tied by exact orders from
Washington, but is to be allowed the
widest liberty of action, in the belief
! that he, being on the ground, is cap
able of judging best the propriety of
projected moves. The Lieutenant Col
onel, however, who is member of
General Miles staff. and directly in
charge Of the signal work in Santiago
province, communicated briefly with
General Miles, in cipher, the fact that
the debarkation of the troops had be-
gun and that a plan Of attack had been
arranged
The reinforcement Of General Shaf-
ter actually began to-day in the de-
parture of regiment and battalion
of the troops at Camp Alger for San
tiago. They go to Newport News. and
then by steamer direct to Santiago. If
| the expectations of the projectors of
this move are realized, these troops
are likely to occupy actually less time
in the passage than did the first con-
tingent which left Tampa directly not-
withstanding the distance is twice as
long.
oTIudi OruerS We're issued placing
General Guy V. Henry in charge of the
new division of troops composed of Duff
held's and Garretson's brigades, which
are to form part of the new division
Probably some of the troops now at
Tampa will be attached also, in which
case they will be dispatched in separate
transports. General Henry is one of
the most noted cavalry leaders in the
army, possibly in the world.
1t is evident from the nature of Gem
eral Miles advices that in addition to
the troops now landing, it is supposed
not far from Playa del Este. on the
east side of Santiago bay, the second
landing is going on at a point just
about the same distance west Of the
harbor entrance. The two divisions
probably will be pushed forward stead
lily to take the town of Santiago de
Cuba on either flank, while to Garcia
| and Rabi's bands of insurgents may be
left the task of bringing on the attack
i'm the rear. The distance on the west
side is slightly greater than on the
| east, but it probably is not greater by
either route than fifteen or eighteen
| miles. The country is mountainous, but
there is no reason to believe it may