The evening times., 1898-06-11
CONVOY FOR TRO0PsHIPs
BattIeships, Cruisers and Gun
boats Protect Transports.
WILL LAND On THURSDAY
War Craft From Admiral sampson's
Fleet May Recch Key West sun-
day, and the Invading Army VIII
Move at Once-Will Take Nc
Chances. 80 q

| In accordance with the instructions sen,
him Rear Admiral Sampson Informed the
Navy Department today that he had sent
two of his best armorclads TO re-enforct
the convoy for the tro6pships.
| One of these vessels, 1t is understood
is the Oregon. The identity Of the Sec
ond is shrouded in mystery, the officials
| saying that they do not desire to make
known the character OF The vessels which
will form the convoy. 1t is generally be-
lieved. however. that the arinored cruiser
Brooklyn or the second-class battieship
Texas has beeen selected. II the Brook
lyn is chosen Commodore Schley will
have command Of the. convoy squadron.
and II the Texas, Capt, John w. Philip.
being the senior officer present, will be
commander Of the fleet.
The addition of two armorclads to the
conveying squadron will make 1t a most
formidable one. Besides the ships sent
by Rear Admiral Sampson 1t will include
the battleship Indiana. cruisers Mont
gomery and Detroit, and gunboats Ban
croft. Helena, Nashville, Machias. Mariet-
ia. Castine. Annapolis, Newport. and
Vicksburg. With such a convoy naval
officers say that the War Department
need apprehend no assault from Spanish
men-of-war nor delay to the invading
army because Of lack Of protection.
The detachment of the vessels from the
northern waters Of Cuba will not weaken
the blockade TO any material extent. In
the first place. the four monitors are left
OF Havana and to the westward Of that
point to destroy any Of the larger cruis-
ers which Spain has inside that harbor
should they dare to venture outside the
range Of fire of their batteries. and, sec
ond. when II Is recalled that the Govern
ment has total of seventy-seven vessels
on the Cuban blockade. any of which can
take care of Spanish men-of-war lying in
harbors within the biockaded region. II
will be seen that the detachment of four
teen or fifteen ships will not make any
great difference.
All the officials are convinced today
that the four Spanish vessels supposed 10
have entered Havana harbor cannot be
OF very formidable character. and 1t Is
even doubted II they have succeeded in
making the haven which they sought.
The first information concerning the
movements of the Spaniards came from
an American consul who intercepted dis
patch from Barcelona. Spain. to Captain
General Blanco. announcing that three
men-of-war and one transport would pro-
coed to Havana via Bermuda.
The matter was referred to the Naval
War Board. which gave j, little consider
alton until the receipt of Information
from the blockading squadron showing
that four Spanish vessels had been sight
ed in that region. These vessels could
not possibly be any of the reserve squad
ron. for the reason that advices received
by the department show conclusively that
all of the ships attached TO this squadron
are still at Cadiz.
la 80
squadron. for Information received from
Rear Admiral Sampson announces that
without question four Spanish armored
cruisers and two Spanish torpedo boat
destroyers are locked uD, in the harbor OF
Santiago de Cuba. II Is the conclusion
of the Naval War Board that the vessels
must be small Spanish giinboats which
have been in Porto Rican waters and
which were ordered 70. reach Havana If
1t were possible to do, so. 1t IS deemed
wise, however. not to take and chances.
and II Is for this reason that such 4 for
midable squadron has, been collected 10
convoy the troopships-
Gen. Skaters army. although on board
the transports. is stilt at Tampa 1t is
waiting for the assembling of the con-
voying warships. Up to last night 1905
welI-armed American TROOPS had been
embarked. This force, consisted almost
entirely of regular troops. the volunteers
being the Seventy-first New York Regi-
ment and Col Woods troops of volunteer
cavalry. A division consisting of about
5.0t1 men was TO have been embarked at
Tampa today. The artillery in the expe-
dition consists of batteries E and X of
the first light artillery, batteries A and
F of the Second light artillery and bat
teries G and II of the Fourth heavy ar
tillery. The two batteries of heavy artil-
lery constitute what is known as the siege
train.
It is not expected that the Santiago
army will be detained for any length of
time.
The United States Army will arrive at
its destination by Thursday of next week.
Gen. Garcia, commanding the insurgent
forces in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba,
is making preparations to protect the
landing of the army. The city of San
tiago and the harbor in which is Admiral
Cervera's fleet are being completely sur
rounded by the Americans and Cubans.
Major Gen. Shafter win receive his final
orders from Washington before his arri-
val in Cuba from a dispatch boat that
will meet the fleet of transports in the
Windward Passage, near Mole st. Nicho-
las. 1t is not expected that any deyel-
opments will arise before the army reach
es Santiago that will in any manner
change the conditions as they are at pres
ent.