The Mena star., 1898-06-15
GENERA 5 FEET SEN.
rieut Blue Goes Ashore Near San- tiago and Counts the Spanish
 Warships in the Harbor.
THE SANTIAGO EXPEDITION DELAYED
omc,al Information Received at Washing ton that Something Postponed the Movement of Gen. shAfter's Army of In- vasion-Attention of Authorities Con- centrated on . Porto Rican Expedition.

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 WASHINGTON, June 14-The last lin cering doubt that may have existed as to the presence of Cervera's fleet in it's entirety in Santiago harbor was re- moved when Admiral Sampson's dis hatch reached the navy department last night. Up to that time informa- ton as to the number and character of the vessels lying in the harbor. shield cd from observation by the hills, had been obtained through Cuban sources supplemented by such glimpses as could be obtained by naval officers from the outside entrance. Now, how ever, according to Lieut.. Blue, the ships have been actually seen by an American officer, counted and inspected from such points of vantage as were afforded by the high hills surrounding the harbor. The officials here are full of praise for Lieut. Blue's achievement Victor Blue has been long known in the navy as an enterprising and dar- ing young officer, but it required a good deal of sustained courage for him
 
 alone make this reconnaissance. He was, in the eye of military law, noth- ing more nor less than spy, and had he been captured by the Spaniards he would have been tried by drumhead court-martial and executed.
 Considering the fact that the ma rines' fight at Guantanamo last Satur- day night was really the first engage ment of the war on shore, Admiral Sampson's reference to the affair in his dispatch posted this morning was remarkably brief. Hence, it is in- ferred that perhaps too much impor- tance has been attached to it by the public. The action of Lieut.. Col. Huntington in removing his men to a more secure point than the exposed position occupied by them on Crest heights is taken here as an indication that no offensive movement is to be attempted by the marine corps, but that it will limit its operations to the defense of a small point in Guantana- mo harbor to protect the coaling of our warships and perhaps to serve as cable station when the necessary operators and instruments are secured from Cape Haytien to enable Samp- son to reopen the cut cable.
 The The officials here were very reluct- ant to believe that the Spanish who fought the marines at Crest heights had been guilty of the horrible bar barism of mutilating the bodies of soldiers. The first press reports by some of the officers were supposed to be based upon the horrible wounds in- bicted under certain conditions of range by the steel clad bullet of the Mauser rifles. Admiral Sampson's re- port however, seems to remove all doubt on that point, for his surgeons undoubtedly would be able to distin- guish at once between the effects of a bullet and of a machete.
 The Santiago Expedition Delayed.
 WASHINGTON, June 14-Official in- formation has reached Washington to the effect that the fleet of transports with troops for Santiago, which was supposed to have left yesterday for Cuba, had not sailed up to an early nour this morning. No reason has been stated, so far as can be learned, Tor this very unexpected delay in the movement against Santiago. The off clals positively decline to discuss the matter, but clearly show by their manner that the news is most unwel- come
 Later advices received during the afternoon show that start was ac- 'ually made yesterday, but that the movement dragged and that many of the ships did not move until some time shls forenoon. It is supposed that all s,i sne vessels are now fairly under way. The public probably will be fully in- turned tomorrow concerning the movement, as the auth critics here have uetermined to withdraw the censor ship thus far enforced from Florida points some time tomorrow. Allow rug three days for the trip, Gen. Shaft ef . forces will be in the vicinity of san'lago by Friday noon, and it is ex- peeted that the debarkation will take 'ae rest of that day and night and part VI the following day.
 with the first expedition actually Iu' of the country. the authorities .ere nave quickly turned their atten- ;. t.on 10 another expedition even more important than this initial one. It IS tApected that the plans for this second nsaolng force will be matured at once, and that as a result another ex- peoiuon will leave from an Atlantic paso point within the next ten days, t a's time for Porto Rico. The details VI 'nis movement are approaching