The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-15
III INVADE
PORTO RICO
Preparations For Next
Movement Begun.
VOLUNTEERS ARE A
Belief that an Attack May Be Made
on Havana Very Soon.
WAR DEPARTMENT TROUBLED.

Washington. June 15.-Without ref
erence to the exact hour at which the
army left Florida for Cuba, 1t may be
safely said that before the end OF the
week General shafter will nave landed
with his IL. 900 troops on Cuban sou. and
that the investment Of Santiago by land
will have been begun. There was some
confusion in the Official mind here as
to the time of the departure OF the trans
ports, though assurance was given that
they had all gotten away. The confu-
sion on this point il easily accounted
for by persons who know anything of the
dificulty OF moving simultaneously a
numerous feet composed OF vessels Of all
sizes and classes. No less than three
times, beginning Sunday. was q definite
hour selected for the start and the wal
department 80 notified, yet In each case
an u~nexpScted obstacle was encountered
that f46uired q notification to the de-
pertinent thas 4 postpone4ient had been
forced Sailors say that such delays are
inevitable. Shd rarely does = fleet get on
by nryt intenAon.
After all. 'ths delay of q day DR. W In
the start - not calculated to make q
material dtgersnoe in the plans, and the
only persons who will suffer from 1t will
be Bampsoh's marines. camped near the
tropical bay Of Guantanamo and obliged
q maintain the strictsst vigilance In re-
pelling the bushwhaokmg Spanish ir-
regulars wh6 swarm In tho thickets.
T1ls TOO giyss no trouble during the day.
light hoifk owing to. ne presence of the
Narblehead within eAsy range. but at
night. when the warships are unable to
distinguish their own men from the
enemy. the let Of the marines 10 q very
exciting one.
Having started the Santiago expedi-
tion. the wax department has concen-
trated ali It's energies on the preparation
of tho forces to be sent to Porto Rico.
movement In that line have been
made on q scale 20 extensive AZ to lead
70 the superstition h some quarters that
the attack u to be directed upon Ha-
vana: but II this IL % there II no open
indication OF II. The volunteers coll
ct Chattanooga. 1000 In number,
are reaching q degree Of excellence under
the management of General Brooke tina
would warrant the government In order
them Immediately into active service, |
but, unfortunDsely, there il still a con- |
lack Of equipment that will not
permit OF this.
An unexpected complication las arisen |
~ to the right of Admiral Sampson at |
Santiago and Admiral Dewey at Manila
70 use the cables which sach has secured
with Q view to bringing them into direct |
oIA0voAhho Avovn.uf~oAl~- ~.gxI 49,. L
here. It II understood by off,
Ials here that Admiral Dewey secured
ne shore end OF the cable leading from
Aantla 70 HongKong sometime ago and
1uoyed II with a view to sending dis
The same condition il UNDER
at Santiago. where Admiral Samp-
has buoyed the shore end Of the cable
= view Of repairing and using IL;
'ut no messa8es have been sent, and the
luegton he's arisen ~ to whether Il II
allowable Under the rules Of neutrality
or the French and British companies
'wning these lines TO permit them TO
y used for strictly military purposes.
= companies control the points of exit
md are able to refuse to pass dispatches
long. 20 b . h holding Of the shore
'nds BY Admirals Dewey and Sampson
|oes not permit them to BARRY on COM
.nunbcation. except through assent OF
he companies. These are private con-
erns, but they are bound to observe the
eufralty OF their respective govern
nonts. Thero Ii some anxiety there
pre - to the course Of the operators
{ the French lines In Hayti when they
eceive messages from Admiral Samp-
Pr. Should they refuse to handle them
YER neutral lines touching neutral ter
Kory. an interesting international oues-
on might arise. The same condition
kIsts - TO the Manila cable, and the
AZURE TO receive dispatches from Ma
- - attributed to the failure Of the
r1tish operators at Hong Kong to take
mssseses. II n stated that nexotia-
ons are now progressing which Five
romise Of . satisfactory UNDERSTANDING
1th The companies.
The war department oficfaIs are vary
'ucn embarrassed at the requests COM
q from The newly appointed ~briRadier
'nerais TO nave resular officers assigned
outy on their STATS. The department !
not in~disposed to allow a fair represent
tion OF the regular army on the stars. {
q i ID felt to be improper and unjust 70 .
p regular army officers to make nm :
'ese stans entirely from among them. 9
- Immediate consequence OF accedInr :
these requests has been to force the !
1unteer of1cers OF lower grades than !
neral omcers upon the regular service. :
mere they are frequently called upon TO I.
mmand men much older In a and ,
per IN military experience than them !.
ives The result 10 dissatisfaction and :
scontent All along the lire, for as a rule :
. regular officers very much prefer ,
~ on the stan Of generals Of the req :
ar army. Q