The Portland daily press., 1898-06-22
THE TRANSPORTS ARRIVE.
shafter and His Men Now Off
"- Santiago.

On board the Associated Press despatch
boat Dandy off Santiago de Cuba, Mon
day, June 20, / p. H., via the Mole st.
Nicholas, Tuesday, June 2l-3 H.
The United States army, tor the invasion
of Cuba, commanded by Gen. Smarter,
$4,000 strong, arrived off Santiago de
Cuba at noon today.
The time of its debarkation has not yet
been determined upon, but it will prooa-
bly, be within the next three days.
When the fleet OF 81 transports with its
freight of fighting men swept up the
southern coast today and slowed up with
in sight of the doomed city of Santiago
de Cuba, the anxiously awaited soldiers
were greeted with ringing cheers which
family echoed TO the transports from the
decks of the blockading warship far in
shore.
They were answered by the troops most
heartily and all felt that the final blow
at Santiago de Cuba was at hand.
1t was ten O'Clock this morning when
the lookout on board the Brooklyn re-
ported seeing the smoke of several steam
ers away to the southeast. and moment
or so later he announced that dozen
transports were in sight.
The signals were exchanged from ship
to ship, gfaddening the hearts Of the
weary blockaders. Then the auxiliary
cruiser Gloucester, formerly Mr.. j. Pier
Mt Morgan's steam yacht Corsair,
dashed away to meet and welcoms the
troops.
About half an no IL later grim forest
OF masUs had sprung up apparently from
the sea and most impressive scene was
presen ed as the army swept gracefully
up from the horizon towards the shore
where the great struggle is to take place.
The transports were ranged in three
shifting lines with the battleship Indi-
ana OPP the extreme right and the other
men of war on the outskirts of the feet
In this order the transports and their
escorts steamed slowly in towards the
hills where Morro's walls cleaned in
the sunlight,
1t was intended to take the entire fleet
to the lines of Rear Admiral Sampson s
fleet of warships, but an order from the
admiral stopped the advance of the ships
about II miles to the southeast, and
escorted by the Gloucester, Gen. Shafter
went forward on the Segurancia to confer
with the Admiral
The transports lay to on the smooth sea,
while the plans were discussed by the
leaders on board the fiagships Not the
faintest intimation of their intentions re-
garding the landing has been allowed to
| escape. Undoubtedly, however, some of
the troops will be landed at Guantanamo
bay in order to receive the marines there,
but it is generally believed the main BODY
of the troops will be landed much nearer
to Santiago.
The long and trying journey from
Tampa has left the men iii IA much better
condition than anticipated. There are
IA mild cases of typhoid on the hospital
ships, among them being Major Horton
| of the Goth infanry, and several cases of
| measles, but there are no serious cases
of sickness. Owing to smoothness of the
passage the soldie were not generally
affected by sickness and they are all
wildly anxious to get ashore and begin
lighting.
The horses and mules on board the
transports have suffered severely, many
of them having died.
The American fleet off Santiago has
been materially strengthened by the addi.
ton of the warships which conveyed the
transports here, consisting of the Indiana.
Detroit, Montgomery, Bancroft, Helena,
Ericsson, Foote, Hornet, Annapolis, Cas-
tine and Eagle.
Wherever the landing may take place,
the operations and the information of
the last ten days show conclusively that
some bitter work is ahead for Gen.
Skaters men before the Spanish flag
comes down from Morro's walls. The
Spanish infantry, cavalry and guerilla
forces, estimated by Admiral Sampson
today to number from $4,000 to 45, 600
men, are stretched from Guantanamo to
Cubanas, distance of SO miles, ready to
concentrate at the point of attack, but
starving and harrassed from the inland
by the insurgents, the situation of the
Spaniards is desperate, and naval officers
familiar with the situation, fully expect
the fercest fighting about Santiago.