Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-06-18
PORTO RICO INVASION
War Department Preparing the
Force For That Expedition,
THE sOLDlERs LACK EQUIPMENT.

This VIII Doubtless Cause Delay In
the Movement or the second Expo
dftion Southwark - Reinforcements
May Reach Dewey Within q Week.
Washington. June I5.-It may be
safely said that before the end OF the
week General Shafter viii have landed
with his 1900 United States troops on
Cuban SOIL and that the investment OF
Santiago By land viii have begun
There was some confusion IN the OF
fetal mind here yesterday On the time
OF departure OF the trsnsportA though
assurance was given that they had all
gotten away. The confusion on this
point Is easily accounted for By per-
sons who know anything OF the Diff
flculties OF moving simultaneously a
numerous feet composed Of vessels of
all sizes and classes. No less than three
times, beginning Sunday. was a def
mite hour selected for the start and
the war department notified Yet In
each case some untold obstacle was
encountered that required notification
to the department that = postpone
inert had been forced
The delay OF day or two IN the start
Il not calculated to make any material
difference In the plans, and tho only
persons whe will suffer from II win be
Simpsons marines, camped on the
tropical Bay OF Guantanamo, and
obliged to maintain the strictest vigil
lance In repeiling the bushwhRclxinE
Spanish irregulars who swarm IN the
Tickets This foe gives no trouble
during the daylight hours. owing TO the
presence Of the Marblehead within easy
range. but at night. when the warship
IL unable to distinguish their own men
from the enemy. the lot OF tho marines
is very exciting one.
Having started the Santiago expedi-
tion, the war department has now con-
centrated all its energies on the prep
aration OF the force to be sent to Porto
Rico. Active movements IN that line
have been made on q scale SO extern
sive as TO lead TO the supposition IN
some quarters that the attack is to be
directed upon Havana, but II this Is so
there IS no open indication OF It The
volunteers collected at Chattanooga,
$4,000 in number. are reaching a degree
of excellence that would warrant the
government In ordering them immedi-
ately into active service, but unfortu-
nately there Is still = considerable lack
OF equipment that will not permit OF
this.
General Merritt has brought the eco
ond instalment OF his force into readi-
ness, and sails for Manila today. II il
believed the advance guard. the three
transports which followed the Charles
ton to Honolulu. met the cruiser there
and sailed IN her company for the Phil.
ippines about the 18th Of this month
In this case II is reasonable TO expect
them to arrive at Manila within a week
The only bullstin posted at the navy
department yesterday from Admiral
Sampson contained tho satisfactory
news that an American naval officer
! Lieutenant Victor Blua. of South Car
| DINA. at the risk OF his life, had sue
ceeded In encirclinH the Bay OF San.
tiago and counting the Spanish YES.
sells therein. with the result OF estab
fishing the fact that all of Ccrvera's
feet were bottled up
An unexpected complication ma.
arisen as to the right OF Admiral Eamp
son, at Santiago. and Admiral Dewey
at Manila to use the cables which each
has secured with a view TO bringing
them into direct teieEraphic communi.
cation with the authorities herN 1t 1.
understood by the officials here thai
Admiral Dewey secured the shore enc
of the cable leading from Manila Il
~@OAa ANOAo coAAAC tAAAlC t1eO tkliQ OuOYef
It with view Of sending dispatches
The same condition Is understood e
exist at Santiago. where Admiral Samp
son has buoyed the shore end or the ca.
bic with view TO repairing and usinl
1T But no messages have been sent
ana the question has arisen as &
whether II IL allowable, under the rule,
OF neutrality, for the French and Brit
ish companies owning these lines q
/ permit them TO be used for strictly mil
itary purposeA The companies con
troll the points OF exit. and are able Il
refuse 20 pass dispatches along. so tina
the holding OF the shore ends by AID
nirals Dewey and Sampson does no
permit them TO carry on communica
ton except through the assent OF tn,
csmpanies- II was stated today tina
negotiations were now progressing
which gave promise OF q satisfactor,
understanding with the companies an,
the forwarding Of such messages as tn,
American admirals SEND