The herald., 1898-06-13
THE ARMY OF INVASION
TROOPS START FOR CUBA AFTER
MANY DELAYS
THIRTY TRANSPORTS LOADED
The Battleship Indiana Will Lead the
Way-The Porto Rico Expedi-
tion About Ready
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, June 12.-Under COM
mand of Major-General Shafter, the first
division of the United States army will sail
tonight from Key West for Santiago de
Cuba to besiege and capture that town.
The army transports, thirty in number, left
Port Tampa yesterday and are now at Key
West. The conveying warships, believed
10 number sixteen or more, will be ready
for the voyage by nightfall, and with this
powerful force there is no longer reason for
apprehension that the transports can be
attacked successfully by any Spanish war
ships, even if such should have escaped the
vigiant search of the naval commanders
at Key West and off Havana. 1t is be-
lieved that the sally out of Havana of the
three Spanish gunboats was intended to
create the impression that they were pre-
pared to go out to attack the transports.
If so, the plan mscarried, for the craft were
detected Immediately by Commodore Wat
sons cruisers and driven back pellmell into
Havana harbor under the protection OF the
guns of the shore batteries. Even if these
boats had escaped they could have done no
damage, for the size of the convoy fur
nished for the troop ships is sufficient to
warrant the belief that they would have
been speedily destroyed had they had the
courage to make an attack upon the fleet
of American ships. The Spanish boats are
not of formidable character, none of them
being the equal in power Of the smallest
American cruisers, or even of such gun
boats as the little Bancroft, which may be
used as General Shafter's flagship. Every
precaution has been taken by the govern
ment to insure the safety of the troops en-
route to Cuba. The naval war board was
in session today maki-c the final prepara-
tions for the disposition of the guardships
The transports will be kept as closely to-
gether as safe navigation will permit, and
the warships will be dispatched ahead,
astern and on either flank. The fleet of
scouting vessels will be thrown far out In
advance Of the transports, and to insure
against an attack in the rear, two vessels
such as the ST. Louis, will linger far astern
ready to signal the heavily armed cruisers
at the first sign of an approaching foe. The
stately battleship Indiana, 1t Is expected
will lead the procession of warships which
will be the most numerous gathering in
American waters since the civil war. The
troops should arrive off Santiago by
Wednesday night, If the fleet proceeds at
eight knots speed, and landing operations
should begin by Thursday. for General
Shafter will not keep his men cooped up
on shipboard a moment longer than is nee
essary. 1t is not believed that they will
be landed at Caimenara, the point in Guam
tanamo bay where the American flag now
flies over the heads of SIMPSONS marines,
as that place, while well adapted to serve
as a naval base and as harbor of refuge
;e {;o,,
larly we'll suited for the beginning of mill
tary operations.
In ten days, unless unforeseen obstacles
are encountered, the movement upon Porto
Rico will begin. The war department. has
been in close communication by telegraph
with General Miles at Tampa, and all the
necessary instructions have been given to
the commanding general for the prepara-
ton Of military forces to be used in this
part of the campaign. General Miles, in
turn, has been consulting Generals Coppin-
ger and Lee at Jacksonville, giving the nee
essary detailed instructions, and all is so
near ready that were some special supplies
on hand the expedition could start within
twenty-four hours. The navy department
has been advised of the purpose of the
army, and the war board today was max
ng arrangements for the supply of the
fleet. This will be of more
character than that which goes
with the Santiago expedition, for the plans
a joint attack upon the San
Juan Notifications by the army and navy,
and these fortifications are so powerful
that heavily armored ships only can be
sent against them at the beginning. There
fore It is believed that SIMPSONS battle.
ships will convoy this fleet.
Now that Sampson has taken up posi-
ton ashore in Guantanamo bay, It is ex-
pected at the navy department that he will
soon be in direct communication with the
department, which will greatly facilitate
the combined operations of the navy and
army. The cable which cut just before
landing the marines was buoyed, and as
soon as cable operators and instruments
can be gotten over from Hayti, the cable
will be opened again.
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