The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-13
Washington Bureau st. Paul Globe.
CoTcoran Building.

Special to The St. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, June 12.-Though
the war and navy departments were
practically closed today, there was con-
siderable gossip going as to war move
ments, and the bulk of it was with
reference to the army that is about
to invade Cuba There have been SO
many conflicting stories as to the de-
parture of the troops from Tampa that
there is much misgiving as to the lat
est announcement to the effect that the
transports which will bear Gen. Shat
ter's forces to Santiago province are
"about ready to start" Briefly, there
are all sorts of rumors afioat to the
effect that the expedition about to sail
IS rot the frs one to clrry American
troops to Cuba In the hotel corridors
and in other public places, tonight it
Is often remarked that the government
has been decide dly successful in con-
cealing its plans, and the belief is ex-
pressed that there are already in Cuba
several thousand United States soldiers.
THE MARINE CONTINGENT.
The occupation of Guantanamo by
Col. Huntington's marines is believed to
be the beginning of the landing OF a
force of American troops sufficiently
strong to overwhelm the Spaniards
and give the Americans complete con-
trol of eastern Cuba. 1t is argued that
they are not the only land forces on
Cuban soil, the general belief being that
the government is determined to keep
its own counsel as to the movements
Of troops until it is ready to strike a
decisive blow and, further, that that
time is not far distant. The direct an
nouncement from Tampa that the
troops under Gen. Shafter were aboard
the transports and ready to sail fur
nished additional food for doubt as
tS whether the troops were still at
Tampa or on the way to Cuba, for the
reason that the date of embarkation
mentioned was June 6, and there was
nothing in the semi-official statement
to show that they had not departed at
once. The announcement was not made
until June II, and by that time it
would have been possible for the troops
to have been we'll on the way to Cuba.
GEN. COPPINGER's COMMAND.
In the talk here Of army movements
It is made significant that little is be-
ing said the past few days about Gen.
Skaters men. 1t Is all Coppinger now,
and this strengthens the belief that
the Santiago expedition has been dis
posed of and the energies of the war
department will now be directed to
getting into shape the Porto Rico eX-
pedtion. That WILL it is said, be the
most formidable of any that has yet
been got together by the government
1t will, it is said, be accompanied by
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet will go di-
rect to San Juan and make short work
of the preliminaries to occupation.
The conquest. of Porto Rico is regard
ed here as a much easier proposition
than the reduction of Santiago has
proved.
CONDITION OF TROOPS.
The persistent rumors as to the in
the hardships of a campaign in a
tropical cline has been a source of no
little annoyance and anxiety to the
authorities here. So solicitous were GER
tain officials of the war department
that it is said they instituted an in
Quiry and were gratified to learn that
a mountain had been made of mole
hill, and that the telegraphed stories
of soldiers dropping by the wayside
had been grossly exaggerated. While
1t is true, it is said, that some reason
existed for the sending out of that sort
of information, yet the number strick-
en- down and overcome by heat to
which they were unaccustomed had
been grossly exaggerated. 1t is ex-
pected that the volunteers will have
to become conditioned" but it is given
out in official circles that the new
men are rapidly coming into shape to
Withstand all the hardships of a try
Ing campaign.
NAVY'S WORK COMMENDED.
The work done by the United States
navy is the talk of the diplomats who
represent various powers at the ma
tjonal capital. There is nothing save
praise for Admiral Sampson and Com