The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-06-17
THEY WERE DELAYED
Skaters Invading Army Did Not
Leave Key West Till Tuesday.
Before the EndJf the Week Il 900 United
states Soldiers VIII Be on Cuban Soil
and the Investment OF sauti-
ago BY Land VIII Begin.

TAMPA, Fla, June I5.-After weeks
Of waiting and preparations the first
army OF invasion to start from the
eastern shores of the United States
departed under the command of Gen.
Shafter yesterday morning at nine
O'Clock The fleet Of transports con-
sisted OF % vessels, four tenders and
Il conveys These are all now upOn
the gulf of Mexico, headed southwark
until they pass Key West at least If
the destination be Cuba, they will con
tlnue their present course until Cane
Antonio, at the west Of the islands IS
doubled, when an easterly course will
De sailed until they reach the vicinity
OF Santiago The alleged cause of the
delay was the report that the Hornet.
while out scouting, had sighted sew
eral Spanish warships- Like a wet
blanket came the order to halt.
The unloading of the Florida, which
had been run into by the Miami and
seriously damaged last Wednesday,
gave grounds for the rumor that all
the transports were being uulOaded.
Newspaper men were confidently told
on Friday night that they would bet
ter go on board. The following dav
1t was openly stated that the sailing
would occur on Sunday noon. The
rush of the previous Monday was
repeated; Gen Miles and his staff went
to Port Tampa Sunday morning to de
liver parting instructions. During q
heavy rain squall on Saturday night
at eight o'clock, while the transports
We're strainiug at their cables. the
little tug Capt Sam steamed from ship
10 ship, megaPhOning the orders, stand
ready to sail at daylight" Above the
roar Of the storm, wild cheers were
heard and Il bright flash OF lightning
revealed the soldiers standing in the
rain, waving their wet hats and hur-
raining Then Sunday passed, the
transports at the docks and
those in midstream receiving their
quotas of men and the neces-
saries to sustain them Gen. Miles
again went to the port on Mon
day on the early train. The stirring
scenes continued. the mad rush had
not abatcd. Cen Miles, from the OBJ
servatiOn end of his ear, watched the
crowd as 1t passed near him. The
transports swinging at their mornings
were plainly IN view, as were also
many of those at the docks BY day
light yesterday. all the ships except
the Seguranca had moved down
the bay. st nine o'clock the
Seguranca. amid cheers and the blow
ing of whistles, followed. Gen.
Shafter and his staff were the last 10
leave. The last orders were handed
to Lieut. NliIey, an aide 20 Gen
Shafter, yesterday morning and i'm
mediately the flagship started.
WASHINGTON, June I5.-Without ref
erenee to the exact hour at which the
United States army left Florida for
Cuba, 1t may be safely said that be-
fore the end Of the week Gen SKATER
viii have landed his $1,000 United
States troops on Cuban soil, and that
the investment Of Santiago by land
viii have begun There was some
confusion in the official mind here yes
terday on the time Of departure Of the
transports, though assurance was
given that they had all gotten
sway. The confusion on this point
is easily accounted for BY per
sons who Eaow anything Of the
difficulties Of moving simultaneously
a numerous fleet composed of vessels
Of all sizes and classes. No less than
three times, beginning Sunday, was a
definite hour selected for the start.
and the war department 50 notified.
Yet in each case some untold obstacle
was encountered that required Motif
cation to the department that a post
pOnement had been forced. Sailors
say such delays are inevitable, and
that rarely does a fleet get off by first
intention. However, the department.
officials stated yesterday afternoon
that they believed the very last Of the
transports had at last started for Cuba.
After all, the delay of a day or two in
the start Is not calculated to make any
material difference in the plans, and
the only person who viii suffer from
1t viii be SIMPSONS marines, camDed
on the tropical bay OF Guantanamo
and obliged to maintain the greatest
vigilance in repelling the bushwhack-
ing Spanish irregulars who swarm in
the thickets. This foe gives no trouble
during the daylight hours, owing to
the presence Of the Marblehead with
in easy range, but at night, when the
warship Is unable to distinguish their
own men from the enemy, the lot Of
the marines IS q very exciting one.
Keller VIII Serve vrftb Lee