The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-09
'eing the first to occupy insforce territory

pShis tile AiSt u occupy li5AoISc tSiiitoiy
In Cuba
The marines who effected this notable
feat we're drawn, it is believed. from the
entire fleet and We're thoroughly capable
and perfectly disciplined troops. The Off
Gals express the belief that the regular
troops have already sailed from Tampa.
but no one in authority and advised of the
facts will make such statement publicly.
Though the destination of the troops
can only be surmised, il is felt that there
still remains a necessity for concealliS
the exact time of departure of the troops,
and it Is a noticeable fact that in spite Of
the understanding that obtained yesterday
to the effect that the censor at Tampa
would relax his rules as soon as the
troops had actually departed there is no
authentic news direct from Key West or
Tampa today.
It does not follow If the troops left
Tampa yesterday that they are now OIL.
their way to Cuba although such is gener-
ally believed to be the case, for The orig
inal orders TO the military commanders
contemplated start in finality from Key
West. AT that point the transports were
10 be rounded and taken under convoy Of
some of the more formidable naval ves-
sells.
Assuming that the transports left Tam
pa yesterday, moving at squadron speed
they could scarcely. do more than reach
Key West today. Some time must be
consumed in organizing the twenty-nine
transports into a squqadron, and in plan
ming them under convoy SO that there Is
proba bility that if Tampa was left yes
terday the final start from Key West will
NOT be made before tonight.
Unmistakable signs of apprehension
and nervousness were exhibited by the
army officers who saw The Associated
Press bulletins today from Key West Civ
ing currency to the report that three
Spanish men-ofwar had run the blockade
into Havana The very first question
that arose was as to the identity of these
ships if the report be true, and more
than one officer Immediately recalled the
fact that the department was still IN
some doubt as to the exact whereabouts
Of all of the Spanish warships, not only
of Cervera's fleet, but of others that had
preceded it into West Indian waters.
The naval officers made light of these
fears, taking their stand on Simpsons s
report that six Spanish warships We're In
Santiago harbor. They admitted that 1t
would be no difficult task for warship
to run the Havana blockade at this mo-
ment, weakened as it has been by the
withdrawal of the fast and powerful ships
for service at Santiago.
1t is recalled too that there were reports
of recent date from Jamaica of very
heavy gales off the Cuban coast, and 1t
is comparatively easy in binding tropical
squalls for vessel to escape detection
while running a blockade Still, the inn
preston is general that if any Spanish
warships really passed the blockade line,
they We're little more than small gum
boats-mere armed yachts-that are
numerous along the bayous of the north
Cuban coast.
The department received word this
morning from the collector of customs at
Charleston, s. c., of fhe loss of the first
of the vessels of the American naval list
since the declarationSof war not coun ting
the Marrimac, which was purposeiy sunk.
This was, however, only big barge
known as water tender No. / and for
merly the property of the Standard Oil
Co.. under the designation of mo. q.
This barge with crew of five men,
was taken in tow last Sunday ait Nor
folk by the collier Leonidas. bound for
Key West, where she was to be used to
distribute fresh water among the naval
vessels. Off Hatteras, Tuesday, In the
midt of a strong gale the Leonidas lost
her tow. Diligent search failed to dis
cover it but ONE of the merchant and Min
er line steamers bound northward saw the
barge in sinking condition just in time
TO rescue the five men.
The barge went to the bottom of the
sea and the men were landed at Balti-
more yesterday. The navigation bureau
today sent orders by telegraph to Balti-
more to have the men report at once at
Norfolk.