The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-09

Special to The st. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, June Son to
Cuba" Is now the watchword in the
war department and among troops
stationed at the various points in the
South. The official admission that
troops have been landed on Cuban soil
has been practically made, and the war
department officials are bending their
energies to the work of hurrying for
ward reinforcements, which, it is ad
mitted on all sides, is a very necessary
piece of work. Army officers have
grown bit impatient at the delay, and
are already expressing doubts Of their
ability to reach Santiago City in time
to participate in the victory that is
certainly coming to the American arms
there. In fact here in the capital it
is freely stated that the troops now at
Tampa may hardly get well on the
way by the time the fall of Santiago
is reported. The officials of the war
department are just as determined as
ever to keep their own counsel as to
the movement of troops, and all efforts
to learn the exact status of affairs at
Tampa, and at other points, are pro-
ductive of little information Great
are bound to leak out, however, and
1t is an admitted fact here today that
the government is considerably wor-
ried because of delays in the starting
of expeditions for the enemy's coun-
try. There was rumor started today
that the Tampa troops were on the
way to Cuba. While officials would
neither affirm nor deny, it was gener-
ally thought that the report was pre-
mature.
RAILROADS TO BLAME.
Quite a sensation was created during
the day by the announcement that the
war department and Gen. Miles were
exchanging teleg grams with reference to
the inability of the railroads to carry
out their contracts fer the handling of
freight intended for the transports.
The fact that there was such a contro-
versy on was in itself sufficient evil
dence of the anxiety of the department.
to get the transports in motion. What
the department fears most is that the
enemy will gain possession of the plans
of the department for the landing of
troops and thus be enabled to concen-
trate their forces so as to render the
task all the more difficult. There was
unusual activity at both the war and
navy departments during the day, and
the visit Of the navy officials to secre-
tary Alger's department led to rumors
of some important joint action by land
and naval forces. 1t is given out fiat
that Secretary Alger has personally is
sued orders that troop movements and
orders relating thereto must be kept
Int w TIT ;c InI
that when the troops are disembarked
on the enemy's soil this rigid rule will
be relaxed.
HARD FIGHTING EXPECTED.
The war department does not expect
that Santiago will be captured with
out severe struggle and many cas-
ualties to troops. The Spaniards have
a strong force at their command, and,
as a rule, are armed withMauser rifles,
which are far superior to the Spring
fields and Remingtons, with which
a majority of the American volunteers
are provided. There are unofficial re-
ports to the effect that the insurgents
are proving valuable allies. 1t is said
that they have captured and still hold
many important positions in Santiago
province, that will prove Of immense
advantage to the Americans forces,
once they are reinforced with the heavy
siege guns Gen. Shafter takes with
him. When the action begins it will
be pushed so vigorously that Admiral
Cervera will have to blow up or scut-
tie his own ships if he wants to pre-
vent their falling into the hands of
the Americans. The capture of Santi-
ago City is regarded here as certain
~ of the near future.
CABLE ACTS QUEERLY.
There is considerable anxiety in off,
cial circles over a recent peculiar in
cident In connection with the cutting