The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-22

ISM 1orceS. secretary Alger and General
Miles disposed of these reports saying that
no such information was at hand, and Sec
retsGy Long made the same disclaimer for
the Navy Department. 1t may be true, how
! ever. that the landing is now in progress,
! and although it is not impossible. officials
/, consider it improbable that any landing is
going on under a Spanish fire. The landing
itself may take considerably longer than
was anticipated, and officials believe that
| at least three days more will be required be-
! fore the troops are on shore and in any sort
| of organized condition. Some of the army
| officers allow even more time, one of them
| holding that it will take quite a month to
| get all the stores we'll as the troops. off
| the transports. The purpose, however, is to
! get off the troops first, leaving the stores to
| be taken off later and the siege train last of
| ALL
! The news that direc: cable communica-
| tion had been established between the
| United States and Guantanamo where the
| United States marines now hold possession
of Cuban soil, was joyfully received by the
| officials here. Thus not only is Captain
| General Blanco cut off from any communi-
| cation with the outside world, save through
| the Key West cables within our control,
but the authorities at Washington have
been placed in close connection with our
forces, army and navy which are conduct
| ing the invasion of Cuba. To General Gree
| ly and his signal corps belongs the honor
| of achieving this last feat. He was in
trusted some weeks ago with the task of
re-establishing cable and telegraphic COM
munication with Cuba. Under his super
vision Lieut.. Col James Allen, of General
Miless staff. with officers and men of the
Signal Corps. have been busily engaged in
the execution of that work.
OPENING OF COMMUNICATION.
The French Cable Company, whose cable
runs from Santiago to Guantanamo bay,
and thence to Cape Haitien, where a direct
communication is obtained with New York,
was accorded the privilege of restoring this
communication with Guantanamo and San
tiago, with permission to send commercial
and domestic dispatches under a strict mill
tary censorship, necessitated by war condi-
tions. The cable steamer Mansel was en-
ployed for the work and operating on these
lines, communication was restored between
Cape Haitien and Guantanamo about
o'clock yesterday afternoon. 1t is expected
that the cable will soon be thrown open to
the general public, subject to censorship.
The first message over the restricted cable
was from Lieutenant Colonel Allen to
0cHcIdI 1ISelys ANNOUNCING tIle T6OptllIlS
of communication. General Greedy immedi-
ately directed the officer to obtain and for
ward the earliest possible advices of the ar
rival of the troop transports. Lieutenant
Colonel Allen applied to Captain McCalla,
in command of the United States naval
forces in Guantanamo bay. The captain, in
turn, sent out boat to Admiral Simpsons
squadron, which returned with the news
that the transports had arrived safely and
are lying off Santiago. and that at the mo-
ment of the report General Shafter, COM
manding the military expedition, was on
board the flagship New York consulting
with Admiral Sampson respecting the land
ing of the troops. The news was particular
ly grateful to Secretary Alger, who, besides
his official interest in the safe arrival of the
expedition, has a natural concern for the
welfare of his son, an inspector on General
Skaters staff.
The news was promptly communicated to
the Navy Department, where there was a
general expression of satisfaction at the
notification that they will be able hereaft-
er to communicate directly with Sampson
The vessels that have arrived off San
tiago, with the troops on board of each,
according to the data supplied to the War
Department by General Shafter, numbered,
WITH the COHNOyS, IOIly-ulIS. anu 1T Is the
largest military expedition that ever left
the waters of the United States for a for
eign country. 1t is expected here that the
transports will remain off Santiago, or per-
haps nearer the exact landing point of the
troops until Santiago has been captured,
when they will take aboard the greater part
of the invading army. if they can be spared
from that territory. and convey the troops
to Porto Rico to effect the capture of that
island.
The Cabinet meeting to-day developed
nothing of Importance in the war situation
Official advices have been received of the
safe arrival at Santiago of the transports
with General Skaters army and a confer
ence between the two commanders If any
decision was reached as to where or when
he Decentralization was to take place it was
not communicated in the cablegrams before
the Cabinet. The refusal OF the Spaniards
to exchange Lieutenant Hobson and his
comrades is regarded by members of the
Cabinet trick to prevent the lombard
ment of MORO Castle.
H
TRANSPORTS ARE SCARCE.
War Department May BE Forced to
Wu1n