The Columbus journal., 1898-06-15
ARMY ON THE SEA.
Invading Force Has Actually
.-o, Left Key West.
NfAFTER Is IN COMMAND.
Conveyed BY Battleships, Gun
boats and Cruisers.
ORDIR MANILA TROOPS TO SAIL.
Mater 0sDseal Or O0ssalIy NetiAsd That
Fsa,spssss Are Ready Fer the Rsosp-
ssso e SsldSezs-Rirss Nebraska
Rsginses - Go with Second
ExDoaiessa g Philippines.
Conveyed BY Battleships, Gun
boats and Cruisers.
ORDER MANILA TROOPS TO SAIL.

WAsa1HoTox. June 1.-THE first
army Of invasion to Cuba is now well
ON IT, way, Sc transport steamships
bearing ID, 900 officers and men, con.
voyed By battlsships, cruisers, gunboats
and auxiliary craft, 10 in number. hav.
ing actually sailed from Key West at
daybreak Monday morning. An auth.
oeitative statement to this effect was
made at the war department, setting at
rest Ill reports that the expedition was
on its way. or had landed last week.
The authorities made the announce
ment for the reason that the time for
secrecy was passed and tho scout boats
had made sure that the path was clear
before it. and that no possible menace
could como from the Spanish ships or
troops. even should the enemy know
that our forces were now advancing
against them. With the expedition of,
onacial here feel that there will be q
period Of comparative inaction for q
few days. By Thursday at the latest,
tho transports will be OF Santiago and
Q large American army will make its
landing ON Cuban soil. Admiral Samp-
son has cleared the way for this under
taking and little danger is apprehended
in getting ashore. It will be after that.
when the advance is made. that the
actual dramatic development may be
expected. BY that time it is likely the
American commanders will be in direct
cable Communication with the author
ites here. Admiral Sampson has taken
the shore end of the cable landing at
Guantanamo and force Of cable ex-
ports arc rapidly restoring the line to
working order.
Cable to Bs Connected.
The progress of this work has been 50
satisfactory that one of the leading
officials Of the state department said
last night that it was hoped the direct
cable Communication would be estab-
lished by Thursday. 1t will put an
end to the dearth of information con.
cerning important movements and will
enable tho authorities here to keep in
close touch with those executing the
strategic movements.
The United States regular troops
make up tho greater part of the force.
there being but three volunteer organ.
ixations ON tho ships. These are the
First New York infantry volunteers,
tho Second Massachusetts, infantry vol.
untoes and two dismounted squadrons
Of four troops each from the First
United States volunteer cavalry, the
regiment which Colonel Woods COM
mands and Of which Theodore Eoose.
velt il Lieutenant colonel. Whether
any Of these officers il with the two
squadrons named, il not yet known ut
the war department. It was difficult to
prevail upon the mounted ridemen to
leave their mounts behing, but this was
. matter OF necessity. it is said, owing
to the accommodations for the horses
on shipboard. The best that the de-
partment could do at this time in the
way Of supplying the cavalry con-
tingent for tho expedition, was to in
clude among the troops one squadron
OF the Second United States cavalry,
fully mounted, with nine officers and
80 enlisted men.
Aside from the men and officers max.
ing up the expedition, the boats carried
. vast quantity Of supplies. ammuni.
ti0n and war equipments necessary to
maintain IN organization Of this size
for at least 60 days. Every detail for
the landing Of this party is worked out
BY the engineer corps Of the army.
Il viii be laborious process at hest.
and viii take . full day or more. The
points Of landing has been % chosen
that there II little danger Of an inter-
ruption hom the Spanish forces. but
should they attempt to make trouble
Admiral Sampson's ships will insure
ample protection until the troops can
care tor themselves. The Spanish feet
from Cadiz 10 still almost - much Of q
mystery to tho naval officers here a.
wa Admiral Cervera's flying squadron
during the two weeks Immediately pre-
osdinG IL inglorious bottling up at San.
tiego. Yesterday . report came that
the squadron was unfit for sea. That
would have been credited except that
the department has had information -
late - Saturday to the effect that the
squadron was al ready for sea and was
sbout to depart. About . week before
that it had been told that the Cadiz
Sset had sailed. Having in mind these
ooa1icting reports. the war board
scarcely knows where to give credence
tho1gh it would seem 10 be IN extraor.
dinaxy ciToumstance that the least
doubt co1ld exist - to the presence in
o. absence ftom the haEbor Of popular
city such - Cadiz Of . whole SQUADRON
OF Wazships. However. the weight Of
opinion seems to incline to the presence
Of the dset as Oadiz, owing to the bad
condition OF the ships. It may be
noted. however. that although acting
upon this belief. - shown BY the be.
ginning of tho military invasion of
Cuba, the war board i taking no un.
ascsasazy chances OF . surprise and by
means Of scouts has peovided for secur-
ing timely warning o. the approach OF
any hostile approach to the seat Of war.
Dsos Net AfsaSA - Fight.
Tho 1ews Of tho attack by the Span
tazds upon The United States marines
at GuaneanaAo bay Saturday night
was not confirmed By odlcial advices