The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-31
ARMY ON THE ADVANCE.
Movement to Invade Cuba
Under Way.
TWENTY-FIVE SHIPS TAKEN.
viii Accommodate About &C., 600
Men.
MAY NOT LAND At one POINT
Troop Ships to Meet at Key West
to Be Conveyed.
washington, May ao.-rhe military In

Washington, May 3O.-The military in
vasion of Cuba has begun.
Unless the orders Of the war department
mscarried at an early hour this morning
the troops that have been gathered at the
Gulf ports began to break camp and march
aboard ships waiting to carry them to the
enemys territory.
About twenty-five of these ships, the
biggest and fastest that could be obtained
suitable for the purpose, had been gather
ed, ready 10 receive the troops.
They Will accommodate about 10000 men,
for in a short voyage, like that from one
OF the Gulf ports to Cuba, it is possible
with safety and comfort to carry a much
larger number of men aboard ship than
would be admissible in the case of a cruise
to the Philippines, for instance
How many troops started this morning,
where they took ships. and where they are
bound are questions which the directing
spirits of the campaign refuse positively to
answer.
They have no desire that the Spanish
should have opportunity afforded them to
gather forces to attack our soldiers as
they land Therefore, nothing of the de-
tails OF this first movement can be learned.
There is a suspicion that the start will
be made from Tampa and Mobile and
it is probable that in such case the fleets
OF transports will converge at Key West
to pass under convoy of the warshiDs
which Admiral Sampson has provided to
ensure them against attack at the hands
Of some stray Spanish cruiser or gun
boat
1t is probable that there viii be no less
than four separate military expeditions
and that these will be landed at four diff
1erent points. Whether Porto Rico is one
of these points or not cannot be learned.
Before the entire force which it is pro-
posed to use in Cuba can be landed. the
transports must make separate voyages
across the straits.
Arrangements have been made to utilize
the services of the Insurgents to the
greatest possible extent.
The government already has sent ex-
petitions to large number of points on
the island and landed arms for the in
eurgents. Most of the parties succeeded
perfectly in their object and it was said
at the war department to-day that a suf-
fcient number of the insurgents have been
armed to constitute a very effective sup
port for the troops as they land.
war conference was held at the White
House at O'Clock this afternoon, between
the President and his two war secretaries,
Messrs. Alger and Long, and Maj. Gen.
Miles, in command of the army Vice
President Hobart, who accompanied the
President to Arlington and returned with
him to lunch, was present part of the time,
and Secretary Day, who has just return
ed TO Washington, also dropped in during
the conference.
After the entire situation, naval and
military, had been gone over, Secretary
Long retired and Secretary Alger and GEN
Niles remained to discuss more in detail
the military operations now about to be
put into execution as a result of the def
mite official information that the Spanish
squadron is securely held within Santiago
harbor Naturally those who participated
in the conference observed strict reticence
regarding it,
1t was stated, however,in an authoritati tive |
quarter that the discussion had covered
the entire range of naval and military op-
eratlons, with particular view to the ac- |
tive movements about to begin Gen. Miles
brought with him memorandum showing
the exact disposition of the military forces
now concentrated at various points |
throughout the country with the number
Of men at Tampa and other Southern
points ready for embarkaton. He also
made known that at ! o'clock this morn !
Ing, Immediately following the recent of |
definite information as TO the presence of |
the Spanish fleet at Santiago, he has gone |
10 the war department and had issued tel |
egraphic orders putting the troops in mo- |
ton, thus starting the forward movement /
OF the military arm of the service. Fur |
ther than this those attending the confer |
ence would not discuss their plans
1t was SAID the war department that |
CHIEF reliance would be placed at the out |
set on the United States regulars most of |
whom are centered in Florida and in such
volunteer regiments as were thoroughly
equipped and reasonably well seasoned for
service. Although the officials will not
state how many troops are available for
immedlate active service, it is roughly es-
timated that there are about 10000 regu-
lhrs and 1900 volunteers at Tampa The
iuIdutTy force regular and volunteers ia |