The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-22
est point, announcing the arrival of the

est point, announcing the arrival Of the
army.
According to the naval regulations estab-
lished at the outbreak of the war. not a
light was visible on any of the ships, ami
the Gordon of men-ofwar lying under the
Spanish guns near Moro castle kept their
vigil with more than usual care during the
dark hours of the night, to guard against
the approach of destroying torpedo boat
which might attempt to run out of the har-
Dor and with one well-directed shot sink a
troop ship in the depths of the sea and send
the souls of those aboard into the realms of
eternity.
Arrival of the Fleet
WASHINGTON. June 21.-There was I'm
portant news at the War Department when
Secretary Alger reached his office today.
The transports with 5000 troops, he was
informed, had arrived safely off Santiago
and that direct cable communication had
been established between the United States
and Guantanamo, where the United States
marines now hold possession of Cuban soil.
Thus, not only is Captain Blanco cut off
from communication with the outside
world save through the Key West cables
out of his control, but the authorities at
Washington have been placed in close
connection with our forces, army and
navy which are conducting the invasion
of Cuba.
To General Greeley and his signal corps.
belongs the honor of achieving this last
feat. He was entrusted some weeks ago
with the task of re-establishing cable and
telegraphic communication with Cuba. I'm
der his supervision Lieutenant-Colonel Jas.
Allen of General Miles staff with officers
and men of the signal corps, have been
busily engaged in the execution of that
work. The French cable company. whose
cable runs from Santiago to Guantanamo
Bay and thence to Cape Haytien, where q
direct connection Is obtained, will be &C.
corded the privilege of restoring COMMUNE
cation with Guantanamo and Santiago
with permission to send commercial and
domestic dispatches under a strict military
censorship necessitated by war conditions.
The cable steamer Mancel was employed
for the work, and operating on these lines
communication was restored between
Cape Haytien and Guantanamo about 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. 1t is expected
that today or Wednesday the cable will
be thrown open to the general public, sub
ject to censorship.
The first message over this restored ca
BILE was one from Lieutenant-Colonel AL
len to General Greeley announcing the re-
opening of communication.
Gen. Greeley Immediately directed the
office to obtain and forward the earliest
possible advices as to the arrival of the
Yp;t tot two io,,t ~
Allen applied to Capt. McCala, in command
of the United States naval forces at Guam
tanamo Bay.
The Captain in turn sent out boat to
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron, which re-
turned with the news that the transports
had arrived safely and were lying off San
tiago, and that at the moment of the report
Gen. Shafter, commanding the military ex-
petition, was on board the flagship New
York counseling with Admiral Sampson re-
specting the landing of the troops. The
news was particularly grateful to Secretary
Alger, who, besides the interest in the
safe arrival of the expedition, has the natur-
al concern for the welfare of his son, an in
spector on Gen. Skaters staff.
Another piece of good news came to
the department through the medium of the
State Department from reliable authority
in Marseilles, France, stating that positive
information had been received there stating
that the Cadlz feet had returned to Cadz
with one of the most formidable ships, the
Vittoria, disabled and in tow. The vittoria
is one Of the broadside ships of the Span
ish army. She has no turret, but, like
the old-sty,e iron ships, had the guns be-
hind a citadel of iron. She had been ne
elected for many years at Cadiz, and 1t is
presumed that the hasty repairs made upon
her to provide for active service were not
extensive enough to make good the dam
age sustained by neglect.