The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-06-08
TROOPS MOVING ON TOWARD CUBA.
INSURGENTS ExPECTANT.
Santiago Believed to DO the Destination Of the SOL
disrt-Thsre Healthy Camps Can bs Es-
tsblished-A Talk with scouts.

The torpedo boat destroyer May
flower arrived at Mole st. Nicholas
Sunday conveying the troop ship Re-
solute, formerly the Yorktown.
AS soon as commander Mackenzie
had forwarded dispatches to Washing
ton the Mayfiower left with her con-
sort. AS the Mayflower Is the most
heavily armed. az well as the speedlest
of the large yachts bought by the gov
ernmcnt. 1t Is supposed that the expe-
dition In her charge Is bound for San
tiago, and that It's Importance made II
necessary to furnish n protector able
to cope with any Spanish gunboat that
might be tempted to try to capture the
rich prize.
In sddlton to the troops the York
town Is known to have on board vast
quantities of ammunition for the fleet.
The departure of the troops from
Mobile, Ala. for Tampa. on the way
TO Santiago de Cuba. last Saturday,
was made the occasion of lively de-
nonstration of patriotism. There had
been so much coming and going of
troops during the last 40 days that the
troops themselves were no novelty,
and II required an actual departure for
the front to arouse enthusiasm. Many
hours were consumed In loading the
transports, especially in the loading of
the cavalry horses.
The Mattewan carried the Twentieth
infantry. under Colonel Wheaton, and
a part of the Second cavalry, all the
cavalry being under command of Ma
jor Rafferty,.
AS the Mattewan moved down the
river past the wharves the other
transports were lying. past the
thousands of citizens gathered on the
pierheads, past the British merchant
vessels lying in the river. the noise
broke loose, whistles began screech-
ing and never ceased for an hour dur
Ing the whole time of the passage out
of the notilla.
A talk with Insurgent Garcia's
scouts shows that they confidently ex-
pect American troops soon. They say
Santiago de Cuba is the best part of
the island for the landing and the ac-
climatization of our soldiers. Well
drained and healthy camps can be es-
tablished on the high table lands that
lie on the sea front or on slopes of the
mountains at any desired altitude.
Pure water is found in the springs and
mountain streams, while the fertile
surrounding country yields abundant
fruits and vegetables. and everything
Is favorable to the good sanitary con-
dition of well disciplined army.
The rainy season, the insurgents say
is not serious drawback where
camps can be quickly formed on drain
ed elevations.
The island already shows the effect
of the beginning of this season. Show
ers occur daily and soft, white rain
mists are seen on the slopes every
morning. The smokes and fires of the
burning plantations are being ex-
tinguished, and luxuriant nature Is
rapidly healing many of the ravages
of the war
These tropical storms at night are
wonderful exhibitions of electrical py-
rotechnics AT times the lightning
flashes on the horizon line look like
the regular firing of guns from dist
ant fort. Again, the entire heavens
seem aflame in vivid glare, and forked
tongues of fire appear to run down
the mountain slopes. A drenching rain
falls for an hour or two and then the
skies clear.