The Mena star., 1898-06-22
SHAFIER' s ARMY ARRIVES
The Transports with the I5,ooo Troops Reach Sampson's Fleet
 Off Santiago.
TIE GENERAL AND ADMIRAL CONFER
csb,e Communication Formed with Wash ington-News Received That the Ca- mara Fleet Has Returned to Cadiz-sur- gson General stsrnberg Exapines the Hospital ship Relief.


 WASHINGTON, June 21.-There was
 ;mportant news at the war department
 when Secretary Alger reached his office to-day. The transports with 15, . OOO troops, he was informed, had ar rived safely off Santiago and that di- rect communication had been estab- lshed between the United States and Guantanamo, where the United States marines now hold possession of Cuban soil. Thus not only is Capt. Gen. Blanco cut off from any communities tion with the outside world, save through the Key West cables within our control, but the authorities in Washington have been placed in close connection with our forces, army and navy, which are conducting the inva- sion of Cuba. To Gen. Greedy and his signal corps belongs the honor of achieving this last feat. He was en- trusted some weeks ago with re-estab- fishing cable and telegraph communi- cation with Cuba. Under his supervi- sion, Lieut. Col. James Allen, of Gen.
 
 the signal corps. have been busily en- gagged in the execution of that work. The first message over this restored
 cable was one from Lieut.. Col. Allen to Gen. Greedy announcing the reopen ing of communication. Gen. Greedy immediately directed the officer to obtain and forward the earliest possible advices as to the arr rival of the United States trans ports. Lieut. Col Allen applied to Capt McCalla, in command of the United States naval forces in Guantanamo bay. The captain in turn sent out boat to Admiral Sampson's squadron which returned with the news that the transports had arrived safely and were lying off Santiago and that at the moment of the report Gen. Shafter, commanding the military expedition, was on board the flagship New York counseling with Admiral Sampson respecting the landing of the troops. The news was particularly grateful to Secretary Alger, whom besides his of hcial interest in the safe arrival of the expedition has a natural concern for the welfare of his son, an inspector on Gen. Shafter's staff.
 The vessels that have arrived off Santiago with the troops on board of each, according to the data supplied to the war department by Gen. Shaf- ter. numbered, with the convoy, 49 vessels and is the most numerous fleet that ever left the waters of the United 6tates for foreign country. 1t is ex- pected here that the transports will remain off Santiago, or perhaps nearer the exact landing point of the troops, until Santiago has been captured, when they will take aboard the great CT part of the invading army, If they can be spared from that locality and convey the troops to Porto Rico to ef- feet the capture of that island.
 Preparations for the Sick and Wounded.
 WASHINGTON, June e21.-Surgeon Gen. oral Sternberg, of the army, has re- turned from New York. where he spent . day in thorough examination of the hospital ship Relief, being fitted out for the use of the army in the west Indies. The final touches are oelng put on the vessel and Gen. oternberg reports that she will be ready to leave for her destination, which, presumably. will be Santiago, the first of next week. The ship is admirably adapted for the pur- poses intended and the general IS more than satisfied with her. me capacity of the vessel ordinarily is Tor 300 beds, but under stress of cir eumstances, this may be doubled and 0Vo persons accommodated. The equip inent of the vessel consists of com pete outfit for all kinds of surgical ana other branches of work which must come under the supervision of .ue hospital branch. One of the most uesiraole features of her equipments is an making plant with capacity VI aoout two tons per day, which, in auuition ~ to supplying the needs VI VI the vessel, will be adequate aiso for furnishing the field Hospltals in the immediate vicinity VI '. the ship. Then there is water !, s,,s'llllng plant, also carbonating pant the latter installed with the noney given by one of the relief asso- .a''ons, S The navy ambulance ship ,oiace q, Is now in Cuban waters and '"is vessel with the Relief will be used ,,Ls.1erchangeably q. so far as the occasion saere1or 'l may arise. Unlike the navy l.p' the Relief is distinctly a hospital P and will be kept at this tempo eln1y destination until its beds are s, a,'eu with sick and wounded men, '"en It will take them to the most