Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-31
WAR NOTES. ~.

General Miles and staff left Wash
ington last night for Tampa. The
train left about Ills p. NJ, with the
right of way, and should reach Tampa
early tomorrow night. Gen. Miles
will not go to Cuba at this time.
United States troops were enbarking
at Tampa, Fla, last night for the first
land campaign against the Spanish
army in the present war. The force in-
cludes about $4,000 men, nearly all
regulars, and is commanded by Major
General VIM r. SKATER. 1t is stated
that the troops will be used in COM
biDed land and sea attack on Santiago
de Cuba, but there are also rumors that
the first move will be against Porto
Rico. There is said to be no doubt that
some of the troops, at least, will go to
Santiago. Admiral Sampson has been
instructed to furnish a sufficient force
to convey the transports safely. TIE
transports will carry large quantities
of ammunition and of every kind of
supp les that will be needed by an army
in the field.
There seems to be little doubt that
the main invasion of Cuba and the at
tack upon Havana are to be delayed
until after the Santiago and Porto Rico
campaigns. While the Santiago and
Porto Rico campaigns are in progress,
the volunteers can be perfectly equip
ped and thoroughly organized, so that
when the time comes for the main iu-
vasion of Cuba at least $4,000 efficient
troops can be thrown into the island.
A special dispatch from Washington
says that the naval war board believes
that the Spanish reserve squadron left
Cadiz last Friday for this side of the
Atlantic. The st. Louis left New York
Yesterday to scout for the fleet and the
Yale aud Paris will also be ordered on
similar duty.
The Navy Department has taken
note of the reported arrival of the tor
pedo boat destroyer Terror at San Juan.
They say she has made her last cruise
under the Spanish flag, whence it is in
ferred that one of the American cruisers
is already on her way to blockade her
up in San Juan harbor.
The negotiations at the State Depart
ment in Washington between repre-
sentatives of the United States, Great
Britain and Canada for settlement of
the differences between the United
States and Canada have resulted in ap
agreement for the appointment OF q
commission, to which all questions in
dispute will be referred.
1t is said that General Merritt is to
have eight additional regiments for his
Philippine army. The entire army
will be 10000 strong.
A Washington dispatch says: Com
modore Schley will not attempt to force
, the harbor of Santiago until the army
can cooperate with him. There is ex.
cellent authority for the statement that
the Commodore has been advised by
the naval war board to simply blockade
the harbor and to take such effective
steps to prevent the egress of the Span
ish ships as to make them a negative
quantity in the present war. There
is reason to believe that a suggestion to
this effect was made in q dispatch pre-
pared and sent by the board Sunday
night after it had carefully considered
Commodore Schley's message. From
Commodore Schley's dispatch it is pre-
sumed in official circles that Admiral
Cervera's ships have completed coaling
and repairs, and are waiting the earliest
favorable opportunity TO make dash
ont of the harbor.