Evening star., 1898-06-21
Skaters Expedition Forms a juno
tion With SIMPSONS Fleet.
SAILORS GREET THE SOLDIERS
Landing viii Probably Be Effected
in Short Time.
l. S 7 OF TIL E SHIPS

copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press1
on Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Beat Dandy on Santiago de Cuba, Mon
day, June 20 via the Mole ST. Nicholas
Haiti, Tuesday, June 21.-The United States
army for the invasion Of Cuba, 1000
suong, commanded by General Shafter, ar
rived on Santiago de Cuba at noon today
Inc time Of its Decentralization has not
yet been decided upon, but It will probably
be within the next three days
When the fleet Of thirty-seven transports,
with Its freight Of fighting men swept up
the southern coast today and slowed I'd
within sight Of the doomed city Of San
dago de Cuba, the anxiously awaited SOL
oiers were greeted with ringing cheers,
which fsintly re-echoed to the transports
from the decks Of the blockading warships
far in shore. They were answered by the
troops most heartily and in kind.
Army and Navy Joined at Last.
The weeks of anxious waiting on one
side and of impatient chafing on the other
We're over. and the army and navy had at
last Joined forces and all felt that the final
blow at Santiago was at hand.
1t was 10 o'clock this morning when the
lookout on board the armored cruiser
Brooklyn reported seeing the smoke OF
several steamers away 10 the southeast,
and moment or SO later he announced
that dozen transports were in sight.
Then signals We're exchanged from ship TO
ship, gladdening the hearts of the weary
blcckaders. Then the United States aux
iliary cruiser Gloucester, formerly ]. Pier
pont Morgan's yacht Corsair, dashed away
to meet and welcome the troops.
In about half an hour later a grim forest
of masts had sprung up apparently from
the sea, and a most impressive scene was
presented as the armada swept gracefully
up from the horizon toward the shores
where the great struggle is to take place.
The transports were ranged in thrae
shifting lines. with the battle ship Indiana
on the extreme right and the other men,
of-war On the outskirts of the feet. In this
order ths transports and their escorts
steamed slowly in toward the hills where
Morros red walls CLEANED in the sunlight.
Kept Away From the Line.
1t was intended to take the entire feet to
the lines OF Rear Admiral Sampson's fleet
of warships but an order from the admiral
stopped the advance of the ships about fif-
teen miles to the southeast, and, escorted
by the Gloucester. General Shafter went
forward on the Seguranca to confer with
the admiral
The transports lay on the smooth sea
while the plans were discussed by the lead
ers on board the flagship. Not the faintest
information of their intentions regarding
the landing has been allowed to escape.
Undoubtedly, however. some of the troops
will be landed at Guantanamo bay in order
to relieve the marines there. but IT is gen.
orally believed the main body of the troops
xx-fll h. ,zaZ
The long and trying journey from Tampa
has left the men in a much better condition
than anticipated. There are fourteen mild
cases of typhoid on the hospital ship,
among them being Major Horton Of the
25th Infantry and several cases OF
measles. There are, however no serious
cases of sickness.
Soldiers Were Not seasfck.
Owing to the smoothness OF the passage
the soldiers were not generally affected by
seasickness. They are all wildly anxious
to get ashore and begin fighting.
The dispatch boat of the Associated Press
as she steamed among the transports was
eagerly besieged on all sides for news Of
Admiral SIMPSONS operations officers and
men clamoring for a word from the block
aders. Much satisfaction was expressed
among the troops when it became known
that the actual capture of Santiago is to
be left to the army.
The horses and mules on board the trans
ports have suffered severely, many of them
dying.
The American fleet off Santiago has been
materially strengthened by the addition
of the warships which escorted the trans
ports here, consisting of the Indiana, De-
troit, Montgomery, Bancroft, Helena, Erics-
son and Foote.