The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-14
SOLDIERS WELL OUT AT SEA.
SANTIAGO EXPEDITION LEAVES
KEY WEST.


Latest-DIrect Cable COmmunicn-
4ion With Admiral Sampson Ex-
Dected to De Established by That
rVtme-Government officials Conf
dent spafn's Second Fleet Is Stin
at Cadiz.
Washington, June 13.-The first army of
Invasion to Cuba is now well on its way,
tbirty-two transport steamships bearing
Il 600 soldiers and conveyed by battle
ships gunboats, cruisers and auxiliary
craft 16 in number. having actually sailed
from Key West this morning at daybreak.
An authoritative statement to this effect
was made at the war department to-day,
setting at rest all reports that the expedi-
ton was on its way or had landed last
week.
The authorities made the announcement
for the reason that the time for secrecy
was now past, as the scout boats had made
sure that the path was clear before it, and
that no possible menace could come from
the Spanish ships or troops, even should
the enemy know that our forces were now
advancing against them.
With the expedition off, officials here feel
that there viii be a period of comparative
inacton for a few days.
BY Thursday at the latest transports
will be off Santiago, and a large American
army will make its landing on Cuban soil.
Admiral Sampson has cleared the way for
this undertaking, and little danger is APP
pretended in getting ashore. 1t will be af-
ter that, when the advance is made that
the actual dramatic developments may be
expected.
by that time ii is likely the American
\ commanders viii be in direct cable COM
municatlon with the authorities here. Ad-
mral Sampson has taken the shore end
of the cable landing at Guantanamo and a
force of cable experts are rapidly restor-
ing the line to working order. The pro
gross of this work has been so satisfactory
that one of the leading officials of the
state department said tonight that 1t was
hoped that this direct cable connection will
be established by Thursday. 1t will put an
end to the dearth of official information
concerning important movements, and will
enable the authorities here to keep in close
touch with those executing the strategic
\ movements
The troops making up the expedition
which started to-day are as follows:
Infantry Regiments-Sixth, Sixteenth.
Seventy-flrst New York Volunteers, Tenth.
Twenty-frst. Second, Thirteenth, Ninth.
i Iwcnty-fourth, Eighth, Twenty-second.
Second Massachusetts volunteers, First,
Iwenty-hfth, Twelfth, Seventh, Seven
tenth, Third, Twentieth-total infantry
66l officers, and 1O,7O9 enlisted men.
Cavalry-Two dismounted squadrons of
TOUR troops each from the Third, Sixth.
Ninth, First and Tenth Cavalry, and two
dismounted squadrons of four troops each
from the First United States Volunteer
cavalry. Total dismounted cavalry, 1853
officers, ISIS enlisted men; mounted cav
airy, one squadron of the Second, off,
GERS and 2S0 enlisted men.
Artlilery-Light batteries E and K. First
Artillery, A. and F, Second Artillery, IA
officers, 1923 enlisted men; batteries G and
H. Fourth Artillery, siege four officers
and 1872 enlisted men.
Engineers-Company and E, nine off,
GERS, 200 enlisted men.
signal Corps-One detachment two Of
HcerS ana 10 enlisted men.
n Hospital attachments are Included in
the foregoing figures.
The staff corps number fifteen officers.
Inc grand total of the expedition is 773
officers and 1854 enlisted men.
The United States regular troops made
up the greater part of the force. there be-
ing but three volunteer organizations
the Second Massachusetts Infantry Vol
unteers and two disnounted squadrons of
TOUR troops each from the First United
states Volunteer Cavalry, the regiment
winch Col. Wood commands, and of which
1heodore Roosevelt is lieutenant colonel
whether either of these officers is with
the two squadrons named is not vet
known at the war department.
Aside from the men and officers max
ing up the expedition the boats carried a.
vast quantity of supplies, ammunition and
81 war equipments, necessary to maintain an
organization of this size for at least sixty
DAYS. Every detail for the landing of this
party has been worked out by the engineer
corps of the army.
II VIII be laborious process at best and
VIII take full day or more. The point
OF landing has been so chosen that there
rs little danger of an interruption from
me Spanish forces, but should thew At
tempt to make trouble Admiral Samn-
son SHIPS viii insure ample protection,
untI the troops can care for themselves
The Spanish Cadiz fleet Is almost as
much of a mystery to the naval Officers
mere as was Admiral Cervera's dvine.
squadron during the two weeks immediate.
" preceding its inglorious bottlIne IN ~
santiago. To-day a report came tbat a.
fquadron was unfit for sea. That v,ould
nave been credited except that The IL
#partment has had Information as late ~.
#Saturday to the effect that the eouadro,,
n was ready for sea and was abouf 10 a.
Mart. ~ ue-
About a week before that II had hoo,,
told that the Cadiz fleet had sailed tett-
#ng in mind these conflicting reports ~
war board scarcely knows where To s,t,,e
credence, though it would seem 10 he ~,
Extraordinary circumstance that the Ieast
Nccubt could exist to the presence IN -.
bsence from the harbor Of a pon,,lo,ya
My such as Cadiz, of a whole squadron