Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-22
TRANSPORTS ARRIVE
SAFE At SANTIAGO.


will be no attempt to make a gem
eral landing for two or three days,
bat small bodies of troops will be
put ashore, probably tomorrow at
several points both east and west
of Santiago. including AcerradOres.
This will give Gen Shafter an Cp-
portunity to become more familiar
with the work before him and to
ascertain the best place for a gen.
eral landing.
The transports and the warships
which conveyed the troops here
came close in shore this Afternoon,
in full view of the lookouts on
MORO Castle, and they will lay to
tonight fifteen miles out from Ad
miral Simpsons feet, which is
guarding the entrance Of the lar
Dor of Santiago.
The result of Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS investigation of the va
rious proposed landing places was
also laid before the army officers,
but Gen. Shafter is not prepared to
announce a definite selection with
out investigating the matter further
! himself.
Gen. Garcia gave the Americans
assurances that they need have no
fear of contracting diseases on the
southwestern coast of Cuba, as the
climate is not unhealthy, only ex-
tremely hot at this season Of the
year. The Cuban general declared
that his own troops, i'll fed, and
poorly clothed as they were, were
in good health, and therefore, the
Americans need not fear fevers or
other serious ailments.
Gen. Shafter examined the con-
dftion Of the Cuban soldiers during
his VISIT and was impressed with
their hardy and soldierly appear
ance, though he recognized the fact
that they need clothes AMI provis-
ions, both of which were given
them during the day.
The interview closed with the
understanding on the part of both
generals that small bodies Of troops
are to be landed at once at several
points along the coast, where they
will be safe from any serious at
tack by the Spaniards, and will be
able to keep the enemy in doubt,
for the present, as to their ultimate
intentions.
Among the troops that will be
landed first are a number of men
from the engineer corps, who VIII
begin work at once, preparing for
the movement of the main body.
Gems. Shafter and Garcia will
consult further tomorrow.
1t was nearly dark before the
officers returned to the Seguranca,
and then she steamed back to the
flagship and took up position
for the night.
Before nightfall all the other
transports and the conveying
warships had drifted nearer to
the shore, and the Spanish soldiers
watching from the bluffs on both
sides of the entrance Of Santiago
harbor must have been impressed
by the great array of vessels.
There were nearly sixty Of them,
including the troop ships and the
men Of war comprising Rear Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet and the
squadron of Commodore Schley.
The 5000 Spanish soldiers and
perhaps 1000 Spanish sailors
guarding the city and harbor of
Santiago de Cuba doubtless con-
cluded that there was but small
chance of overcoming the force of
American warships and some TO-
600 American soldiers and sailors
which will be hurled against them
before the present week is over.
The dispatch boat of the Asso-
ciated Press left the feet for the
cable station just at nightfall,
when the warships had taken their
positions in a semi-circle in front
of the harbor entrance, with the
troop ships further out. The sea
was comparatively smooth for the
first time in several weeks. and
the great fleet was almost motion
less
The soldiers, most of whom be-
held the shores of Cuba for the
first time in their lives, watched
the steep mountain sides through
the gathering darkness with many
thoughts Of home passing through
their minds, realizing the fact that
in few days they will be fighting
for their country's honor among
the dark hills which were then
family visible in the gloom of the
passing day, and wondering how
many of them would return to the
homes they had left to do service
in the nations cause and how many
would find graves in that strange
and distant land they had come to
conquer.
The newspaper dispatch boats,
which had been steaming back and
forth among the transports since