The herald., 1898-05-14
MOVEMENT ON CUBA
HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR
AWHILE
NEWS OF THE SPANISH FLEET
Points Plainly to Duty That Must
Be Attended to without
Procrastination
Associated Press Special wire

| 6xOcGUS LA00 JAOA
Associated Press Special Wire
TAMPA BAY HOTEL. TAMPA, Fla
May 13.-The sighting Of the Spanish fieet
of Martinique, 1t 10 thought, will cause
another postponement Of the sailing of the
feet Of transports to Cuba from Port
Tampa. Some believe that Saturday or
Sunday at the latest had been fixed as the
date of embarkation Of the 1000 troops as
sembled here, and that with this end In
view the work Of preparing and loading
the transports has been rushed night and
day. Everything in the camp has been
packed except the tents and permission to
leave camp has been refused to everybody.
All this hurry and preparation, it is be-
lieved, was on the theory that the Spanish
fleet was at Cadiz and with the rainy sea-
son in Cuba practically at hand, the work
of driving the Spaniards from the islands
must be done quickly. Now that there is
chance for a decisive conflict between
American and Spanish fleets. army move
ments will wait until that conflict, which,
it is hoped. will result IN the destruction of
the enemy, actually takes place. Should
Admiral Sampson prove victorious, no
doubt is entertained here that orders will
be given for instant embarkatiou and the
opportunity the army has been longing for
will be at hand.
Trains bearing four companies of the
Sixth Cavalry with their horses, wagons
and camp outfits. which arrived here from
Chickamauga during the night, were
switched out to the new camping grounds
in West Tampa during the day. Several
more trains are on the way, including the
Third Cavalry. and the remainder of the
Sixth is expected In before nightfall. The
Second Cavalry and the four regiments Of
infantry from Chickamauga are not ex-
pected before tomorrow. 1t is understood
that General Wade and his staff will pitch
their tents near the cavalry site and es-
tablish headquarters Of the army corps at
that point.
The troops destined for the Philippines
will not be delayed moment longer than
Is necessary to put them into condition for
the service, and speaking generally, the
Government, which has been waiting for
some time for definite information of the
whereabouts of the Spanish fleet, in short
time will direct an aggressive movement
all along the line.
Just what may be the mission of the
Spanish fleet at Martinique is not known,
nor is 1t regarded as important. Martinique
Is a French colony, and it Is assumed that
in accordance with the law of nations the
Spanish fleet will not be allowed to take
on a supply of coal at that port. Under
ordinary circumstances they would be per-
mitted to purchase sufficient supply to
take them to the nearest home port, but
this does not apply to a fleet engaged in a
hostile expedition, and should the French
Government permit the fleet to coal, 1t
will be regarded as an unfriendly act, II not
hostile one, against this Government fol
which it would be held accountable.
WASHINGTON, May 13.-Direct orders
were given General Miles this morning
suspending for the present the movement
of the invading army upon Cuba. General
Miles has therefore postponed his depar-
ture for the South, and 1t is announced au-
thoritatively by the War Department Off
Gals that 1t cannot be stated with definite
ness when he will leave.
The suspension of the movement of the
invading army upon Cuba was induced by
the proximity of the Spanish Cape Verde
squadron to Cuban waters. 1t Is deemed
by the department to be the part of wis
dom not to risk the landing of troops on
Cuban soil until the landing can be effected
under the protection of a stronger fleet
than is now available for the purpose. 1t
is not doubted that the squadron under
the command of Admiral Sampson will
seek an engagement with the Spanish fleet
at once, and 1t is with the idea of awaiting
the result Of that conflict that the move
- ~ ~, g. a. T. H.
temporarily.
Assistant Secretary Of War Meikel5ohn
announced today that the department
acquired yesterday two additional vessels
for transport purposes. They are the
saltwater and Breakwater. both Of New
Orleans.
The 20 transports now at the disposal Of
the War Department on the Atlantic are
capable in the aggregate of carrying 5000
troops and 10000 animals. AS soon as the
department is prepared to start the army
expedition to Cuba, the vessels will be
concentrated at points on the Southern
coast and the entire fleet will move to Cuba
as a body, under suitable escort of war;
ships.
1t was announced yesterday that the
transports at New York would proceed
South with regiments of New York and
Massachusetts, volunteers. Today, how
ever, the vessels were ordered not to move
until further advices had been given them.
These orders were issued in view of the
reports from several sources that two or
more Spanish warships had been sighted
on the upper Atlantic coast. In view of
the suspension Of the land movement upon
Cuba it is not deemed advisable to send
transports loaded with troops south at
this time.
In the Cabinet
WASHINGTON, May 13-The Cabinet
meeting today lasted only IS minutes. the
shortest of the year. The news, which is
regarded as authentic, that the Spanish
fleet has been sighted on Martinique Is
land, about $50 miles southeast Of Porto
Rico, clears the atmosphere and from this
time forward the governments line of
action will not be clouded by any uncer-
tainty as to the location of this formidable