Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-22
frau

| tho hospital-shp OIivette. In the rough
waters OF the Bahama channel this work
for the little boats was quite difficult
and the hoisting of the limp forms to the
rolling deck OF the OIivette seemed can
gerous. But 1t was accomplished in
| safety.
LITTLE SEASICKNESS.
The weather throughout the voyage
| was excellent. and consequently there
| vas little suffering from seasickness.
Bu, fourteen cases Of typhoid-fever and
some measles developed, the former be-
| ing especially on the boats which car
RED horses and mules. The surgeoLs,
| however. say the health of the men rs
| Unexpectedly good.
| The first sight of land was obtained in
| the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba, and
| when The tOpmasts OF the blOckading
| ships were seen they sent a thrill OF en-
| thusiasm through the soldiers, and they
are now eagerly awaiting the landing in
| Cuba.
The men seem confident of swift and
easy victory. hut they seem rather to
| hope for hard fighting.
The heat and long confinement In the
holds Of the transports have told very
severely upon the horses and mules, ana
many of them died during the last days
Of the voyage.
LOOKING FOR LANDING-PLACE
Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press)
on BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DIsPATCH-BOAT DANDY, OFF SAN
TIAGO DE CUBA, Monday Night, June
%. via KINGSTON, JAMAICA, Tuesday,
June p. IL A. Mas soon as the fleet of
transports had arrived al a point about
twenty miles or Santiago de Cuba, this
afternoon, the steamer Seguranca, .hav-
ing on board General Shafter anG his
staff. left the other vessels lying to ard
steamed 10 the flagship of the American
fleet I'm order to visit Rear-Admiral Samp-
son. The General went on board the flag
ship. and later General Shafter, Admiral
Sampson, and a party OF officers boarded
the Seguranca, which went TO AceradeTos,
about seventeen miles west OF Santiago,
near which place General Garcia is en-
camped with 5000 Cuban soldiers. General
Shafter and his staff and Rear-Admiral
Sampson went ashore and proceeded to
General Garcia's headquarters, about
mile inlapd, where they spent several
hours in consultation with the Cuban gem
eTal.
At the conclusion Of the conference,
General Shafter and the other officers had
little or nothing to say regarding the
plans for landing the American troops,
or for the cooperation Of the Cubans
The best information obtainable Is that
there will be no attempt TO make gem
eral landing for two or three days.
The result of Rear-Admiral Sampson's
investigate Of the various proposed land
ing-places was also laid before the army
officers, but General Shafter is not pre-
pared TO announce a definite selection
without investigating the matter further
himself
NO DANGER OF DISEASE.
General Garcia gave the Americans as
surances that they need have no fear
Of contracting diseases on the southeast
ern coast Of Cuba, as the climate there is
not unhealthy-only extremely hot at this
season Of the year. The Cuban General
declared that his own troops, ill-fed and
clothed as they are, are in good health,
and therefore, the Americans need not
fear fevers or other serious ailments.
General Shafter examined the condition
OF the Cuban soldiers during his visit,
and was impressed with their hardy and
soldierly appearance, though ne recog-
nized the fact that they need clothes
and provisions. both OF which were given
them during the day.
SEVERAL LANDINGS.
The interview closed, with the under
standing on the part of both generals
that small bodies of troops are to be
landed at once at several points along
the coast. wi,era they viii De safe from
any serious attack by the Spaniards, and
will be able 10 keep the enemy IN doubt
for the present as TO their ultimate in
tentiOns.
Among the troops to be landed first
are a number OF men of the Engineer
Corps, who will begin work at once, pre-
pairing for the movement Of the main
body.
Generals Shafter and Garcia will consult |
further tomorrow.
1t was nearly dark before the officers |
TO the Seguranca, and then the |
vessel steamed back TO the flagship and |
took up a position for the night
SPANISH PROBABLY IMPRESSED.
Before nightfall, all the other trans |
ports and the conveying warships had |
drifted nearer to the shore and the Span
ish soldiers, watching from the bluffs on |
both sides OF the entrance OF Santiago |
harbor. must have been impressed by |
the great array OF vessels standing on
shore. There were nearly sixty OF them,
the troop-ships, and the men
of-war, comprising Rear-Admiral Samp-
sons fleet and the squadron OF Com
modore Schley The $500 Spanish s0l-
diers. and perhaps 2OO19 Spanish sailors,
the city and harbor or Santiago |
ie Cuba doubtless concluded that there
VAS but a small chance Of overcoming
The force Of American warships, and
some 5000 American soldiers and sailors
which would be hurled against them be-
fore the present week il over.
LETTERS FOR HOME.
The dispatch-boat OF the Associated
Press left the fleet for the cable station
Just at nightfall. when the warships had
taken their positions IN semi-clrcle IN
front Of the harbor entrance, with the
.roop-ships farther out. The sea was
smooth. for the first time
n several weeks. and the great fleet was
almost motioniess. The newspaper dis
)atch-boats. which had been steaming
)ack and forth among the transports
,ince the arrival of tine latter, were held
I'D at every stage OF their passage with
he request to take letters TO the nearest
mailing point, giving accounts Of the
'oyaee and announcing the safe arrival
II the army off the enemy's coast For
ome II might be the last word for mo-
her, wife. or sweetheart at home from
i'm who had answered the call OF his
ountry
According To the naval regulations, es-
ablished at the outbreak Of the war, not
light was visible on any of the ships,
md the cOfdOn or fnen-OI-Wdf lying uhueT |
he Spanish guns near MORO Castle kept
heir vigil with more than usual care
uring the dark hours OF the night 10
uard against the approach of Destroy
ng torpedo boat, which might attempt to
un out of the harbOr, and with one
shot sink a troop-ship in
he depths Of the sea and send the souls
( those aboard into the realms Of eter-
ity.
BITTER WORK AHEAD.