The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-10
Supposed to Have Left Tampa Wednesday
Aboard Twenty-Five Transports.
War Department Still Endeavoring to Keep Movements
of the Invaders Secret-2,5OO Marines
Probably Landed by Sampson.

straits until these disagreeable visitors have
been removed from the pathway. Without
respect to the character of the strange craft
that are said to be lodging the blockaders
at Havana, they will be removed from the
scene of action on short notice, and it is
understood that Sampson has been made
acquainted with the situation and will be
expected to redeem his promise to provide
safe conduct to the army when called on.
He has ample force to conduct the opera
tions at Santiago to a successful issue, and
will spare vessels of any power desirable
for use in the Florida straits.
1t was pointed out to-day by naval Off
Ger that the admiral, since the arrival of
the marine battalion on the Panther, had
at his disposal what he may regard as a
sufficient force Of men to capture Santiago
even before the troops arrive. The 800 ma
rines on the Panther, added to the marines
already with the feet, would make a total
of about 1880 men, Without impairing the
efficiency of his ships Admiral Sampson
could spare 1000 blue Jackets for a landing
party, and with this total force of $500 men,
If the insurgents who have been armed by
the United States government do their
share, it seems possible for Sampson to
capture Santiago at short notice. There
! ton this afternoon among the officials wl.o
are acquainted with the governments plans
in the campaign that almost warranted
conclusion that an engagement of some
kind was expected to-day.
The eight hundred marines under the COM
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Huntington,
who sailed three days ago from Key West,
in the steamer Panther, are believed to have
arrived at Santiago to-day. These marines
had been encamped on the beach at Key
West for several weeks undergoing the
most severe drill and military training They
are intended not for distribution among the
fleet, but as landing force, pure and SIM
pie. Naval officers are confident that with
this small but well disciplined landing force
Admiral Sampson will be able Immediately
to take possession of such points on the
coast In the neighborhood of Santiago as he
may deem necessary to serve a base for
the occupation of the regular United States
troops when they arrive. With the marines
in possession of the beach and the American
war ships with their shells clearing the coun-
try behind Of Spaniards, there will be lit
tie danger in effecting the landing of the
troops Though no official confirmation has
yet reached the Navy Department of the
newspaper reports that come from Samp-
sons fleet to the effect that he landed ma
rines at Caimanera and that they are still
in possession of a strategic stronghold on
the hills near by, the naval officers here are
inclined to accept the report as accurate.
They feel pride in the fact that the navy
through its marine adjunct. has earned the
distinction of being the first to occupy in
force territory in Cuba.
Many of the officials here express the be-
alr dx
sailed from Tampa, but no one in authority,
and advised of the facts, will make such
statement publicly. Though the destination
of the troops can only be surmised it is felt
that there still remains a necessity for con-
cealing the exact time of departure of the
troops, and 1t is noticeable fact that, in
spite of the understanding that obtained
that the censor at Key West would relax
his rules soon as the troops had actually
departed, there is no authentic news direct
from Key West or Tampa to-day. 1t does
not follow If the troops left Tampa yester-
day that they are now on their way to
Cuba, although such is generally believed
to, be the case, for the original orders to
the military commanders contemplated a
start in finality from Key West. At that
point the transports were to be rounded up
and taken under convoy of some of the more
formidable naval vessels. Assuming that the
transports left Tampa yesterday, moving at
squadron speed. they could scarcely do more
than reach Key West to-day. Some time
must be consumed in organizing the twenty
nine transports into squadron and in plac-
ing them under convoy, so that there is
probability that If Tampa was left yester-
day the final start from Key West was not
made before tonight
Unmistakable signs of apprehension and
nervousness were exhibited by the army
officers who saw the dispatches to-day from
Key West giving currency to the report
that four Spanish men of war had run the
blockade into Havana. The very first ques-
tion that arose was as to the identity of
these ships, If the report be true. and more
than one officer Immediately recalled the
fact that the department was still in some
doubt as to the exact whereabouts of all
of the Spanish war ships, not only of Ger
vera's fleet, but of others that had pre-
ceded II into West Indian waters The naval
officers made light Of these fears, taking
their stand on SIMPSONS report that six
Spanish war ships were in Santiago harbor
They admitted that 1t would be no dificult
task for a war ship TO run the Havana
blockade ar this moment, weakened as II
has been, by the withdrawal of the fast and
powerful ships for service at Santiago. 1t
is recalled. too. that there We're reports of
recent date from Jamaica of very heavy
gales off the Cuban coast and II is com.
paratively easy in binding tropical souaIIs
for vessel to escape detection while r,,r-