The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-22

ago to-day the war broke out between
the United States and Spain. accord
ing to the proclamation Of the presi-
dent and the declaration OF congress.
The end Of that period finds nearly
$1,000 United States troops living on
Santiago preparing to land: II finds ca
BILE communication established between
the government at Washington and the
advance guard of the expedition in
Cuba, and IL finds Cuban territory in
the possession of the United States
marines. backed by q squadron. and
nearly all the commercial ports OF
Cuba blockaded. This IL all apart from
Dewey's great victory at Manila and
the splendid results achieved in organ
ixing the splendid armies now In camps.
The ofYicers of the administration feel
that they have q right to look back
with pride over what has been accom-
plished In the short space of two
months. working In q large part with
raw materials In both the army and the
navy.
The government has now determined
| to send heavy reinforcements to Gen.
eral Shafter at Santiago. To this end
| the first expedition will leave Newport
News Thursday morning. carrying
Brigadier General Dufiields separate
| brigade Of the Second army corps,
made up of the 9th Massachusetts,. the
SD and 34th Michigan and the Sd Vir-
ginia regiments. in all about 1000 men.
The expeditions will follow rapidly
by way OF Tampa. for while the Fer
nandina and Miami are considered to
have many good points for concentrat-
ing troops. yet army officials are now
satisfied that Tampa can be retained
with advantage as the main point OF
embarkation. The next forces to go
will include those of Brigadier General
Garretson of the Second brigade, First
division of the Second army corps, en-
bracing the 9Th Illinois. the 9Th Massa-
chusetts and the sth and 9th Ohio regi-
ments.
Brigadier General Guy v. Henry.
distinguished cavalry officer of the regu-
lar army, arrived here to-day from
Tampa, and the present plans are for
General Henry to command q division
made up of the brigades OF General Duf-
field and General Garretson. this divis-
ion comprising 5000 men. TO be for the
speedy reinforcement Of General Shaf-
| ter 1t will at once sweff the American
forces at Santiago de Cuba to about
| "a, 900 men. But the expeditions will
not stop at that number, a. there 10 .
determined purpose to send forward
sufficient force to crush any Spanish
command which can be concentrated at
that point.
The reports from Santiago that n.O00
Spanish troops are In and about the
city do not agree with the reliable esti-
mates In the possession OF the war de-
partment. According to the latter there
are not to exceed $4,000 Spanish troops
at Santiago. while 100 miles away to the
northwest at Holguin, the spanish
corps commander. General Pando. has
10, 900 men. The war department Is sat
isfied that the Cuban forces under Gar
cia can keep Pando from reinforcing
Santiago. Should this not be accom-
plished. the Spanish forces at Santiago
would be augmented to about 25,0oo
men. They are all well armed. well dis
ciplined, used to the climate. know the
fighting grounds Of that locality and
are probably as good an all-around
fighting force as the Spaniards can
bring to bear. There e no purpose on
the part Of the authorities here to leave
General Shafter with Inadequate forces
to meet the seasoned Spanish soldiers.
It Is for this reason. In part. that di-
vision, probably under General Henry.
will reinforce Shafter. followed by such
additional troops as the needs OF the
situation seem to demand.
Up to the close Of office hours to-day
neither the war nor navy departments
had received any detailed confirmation
as to the arrival OF the troops at San
tiago. The entire information to-day
was confined to one brief dispatch from
Captain Allen OF the signal service to
General Greeley, stating that the troop
transports had arrived. This was
enough, however. to start baseless ru-
mors that the actual landing of troops
was In progress. and one report went TO
the extent of stating that the troops
were landing under q heavy fre from
the Spanish forces. Secretary Alger and
General Miles disposed Of these reports.
saying that no such Information was al
hand. and Secretary Long made the
same disclaimer for the navy depart
ment. 1t may be true. however, that
the landing In now In progress. and al
though II is not impossible, of1cials con-
slider IL improbable that any landing Ia
going on under Spanish fire. The land
ing itself may take q considerable time
longer than 1t was anticipated and ON
cials believe that at least three days
more will be required before the troops
are on shore and In any sort OF organ
ised condition. Some OF the army ON
cia,s allow even more time. one Of them
holding that II will take quite q month
to get all the troops OF the transports
The purpose. however. is to get on the
troops FIRST. leaving the stores to be
taken on later and the siege train last
OF all.
The onicials OF the navy department
were not deeply concerned over the re-
port from Hong Kong that the Chinese
authorities had ordered the United
States dispatch boat Zafiro out Of Chi
nese waters without allowing her to
take supplies. The reason for this un-
concern was a conviction that the
cruiser Charleston and three big tran
sports have already reached Manila.
carrying q large quantity OF just such
supplies as the American feet there
would most require. Then. too. IL was
felt that the Zafiro hai already been
treated with consideration and had
probably obtained all the privileges to
which she was entitled in Chinese
waters.
II was said at the navy department
that nothing had been heard from the
admiral himself since . dispatch received
from Hong Kong day before yesterday.
brought to that port by the Zafiro- Az
Ah<, fch hoo hn1