The Portland daily press., 1898-06-14
WELL UNDER way.
American Troops Are Approaching
Santiago.

Washington, June 13.-The first army
Of invasion is now wellZon its way to
Cuba. 80 transports hearing 49, 900 officers
and men, conveyed by battleships, cruis-
ers. gun boats and auxiliary craft, 16 in
number, having actually sailed from
Key West this morning. An authorita-
tive statement to this effect was made at
the war departmentstoday The authori'
| ties made the announcement for the rea-
son that the time for.seorecy Ewas now
past. as the scout boats had made sure
that the path was clear and that no pos
sible menace could come to the expedit-
ion from Spanish ships or. troops. With
the expedition off, the officials here feel
that there will be comparative inaotion
for a fewtdays. By Thursday at least the
ships will be off Santiago and an Ame-
rican army will land on Cuban soil. Adj
miral Sampson has cleared the way for
this undertaking andslittle danger is ap-
pretended in getting ashore. 1t will be
after that when the advance. is made, that
the actual dramatic developments may
be expected. By that time 1t is likely
the American commanders will be in d.
rect cable communication with the author
titles here. Admiral Sampson has taken the
shore end of the cable landingsat Guam
storing the line to working order lead
ing official of the State department. said
tonight that it was hope1 this direct
cable communication would be established
by Thursday. 1t will end the dearth of
Official information concerning ilnpor-
tant movements and will enable the au-
| thoritieS to keep in close touch with those
from the men and officers making up the
expedition the boats carried a vast guam
THY of supplies, ammunition and war
equipments. necessary to maintain an
organization of this size for at least 90
days. Every detail tor the landing of
gineer corps of the army. 1t will be
1aborious process at best, and 1t will take
full day or more. The point of landing
has been so chosen that there is little
danger Of an interruption from the Span
| ish forces, but should they attempt to
make trouble, Admiral SIMPSONS ships
will insure ample protection until the
troops can care for themselves.
The Spanish Cadiz fleet Is almost as
| much of mystery to the naval officers
here as was Admiral Cervera' 8 flying
squadron during the two weeks preceding
its bottling up at Santiago. Today 8 re.
port came that the squadron was unfit
for sea. That would have been credited
except that the department has had infor-
| nation as late as Saturday to the effect
| that the squadron was already at sea and
was about to depart. About week L.
fore that it had been told that the Cadiz
feet had sailed. Having in mind these
conflicting reports the war board scarcely
knows where to give credence. though
it would seem to be an extraordinary
circumstance that the least doubt could
exist as to the presence or absence from
the harbor of a populous city SUCH as
Cadiz of q squadron of warships. How
ever, the weight Of opinion seems to in
cline to the presence of the fleet at Cadiz,
owing to the bad condition of the ships,
although acting upon this belief the war
board Is taking no unnecessary chances
of surprise and by means of scouts, has
provided for securing timely warning of
the approach of any hostile ship to the
seat Of war.
The news of the attack by tho Span
iards upon the United States marines at
Guantanamo bay, Saturday night, was
not confirmed by official advioes up to
the.closesof the daylhere. However, there
of the press report and the news has had
rather SOLDERING effect upon the element
that has insisted upon rushing troops
forward regardless of their unprepared-
ness. Saturday nights action shows that
the Spanish are not afraid to charge bold.
~ upon Ouluou SbhuoS troops anu Gn6
prospect of a bush-whacking warfare
disclosed by the. Spanish movements, are
anything but agreeable to the persons
who have been hoping for short cam.
paign. A good p deal of surprise is ex-
pressed at the failure of the report to
mention any substantial aid received by
the marines on Crest Hill from the in
surgents, the men best calculated from
their experience in jungle fighting to be
of service in an encounter with Spanish
guerillas. Without any disparagement to
the fighting ability of the marines. the
question has been raised in the minds of
military experts whether, failing in any
substantial assistance from the Cubans
In the vicinity, western soldiers trained
in Indian fighting would not be OF more
service in q Cuban jungle campaign.
Nothing go severely tasks the courage and
endurance of troops as to be shot at by
an unseen foe and only troops trained in
our latest skirmish drill can render ef9ec-
tive service in such attacks.
The navy department has concluded
that it has purchased rs many small YES
sells for the auxiliary fleet as it requires,
and an intimation to that effect was
conveyed to Admiral Erben, in charge of
the service TODAY.