The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-31

invasion of Cuba has begun. Unless
the orders of the war department have
miscarried, at an early hour this morn
ing the troops that have been gathered
at the gulf ports began to break camp
and march aboard the transports wait
ing to carry them TO the enemy's terri
tories. About Is of these ships, the
biggest and fastest that could be OBJ
tanned suitable for the purpose. had
been gathered, ready to receive the
troops They will accommodate about
10000 men, for in a short voyage like
that from one of the gulf ports to Cuba
it is possible. with safety and comfort,
to carry a much larger number of men
aboard ship than would be admissible
in the case of a cruise to the Philip
pines, for instance.
How many troops started this morn
ing; where they took ships. or whittier
they are bound. are questions which
the directing spirits of the campaign
refuse positively to answer. They have
no desire that the Spanish should have
opportunity afforded them to gather
forces TO attack our soldiers as they
land.
Therefore nothing of the details of
this first movement can be learned.
There is a suspicion that the start will
be made from Tampa and Mobile, and
in such cases the fleets of transports
will converge at Key West, to pass I'M
der the convoy of the warships which
Admiral Sampson has provided to en-
sure the safety of the troops during
the passage across the Florida straits,
to protect them against attack at the
hands of some stray Spanish cruiser or
gunboats.
FOTTR EXPEDITIONS
It is probable that there will be no
less than four separate military expe-
ditions, and that these Will be landed
at four different points. Whether Por-
to Rico is one of these points or not
cannot be learned. Before tie entire
force which it is proposed to use IN
Cuba can be landed. the transports
must make four separate voyages
across the straits
Arrangements have been made to
utilize the services of the insurgents TO
the largest possible extent. The gov
eminent already has sent expeditions
to a large number of points on the ISL
and and landed arms for the insurg-
ents Most of the parties succeeded
perfectly in their object. and it was
said at the war department today that
a sufficient number of the insurgents
have been armed to constitute a very
effective support for the troops as they
land.
A WAR CONFERENCE.
war conference was held at the
White House at o'clock this afternoon
between the president and his two war
secretaries. Alger and Long, and Major
General Miles, in command of the
army Vice President Hobart, who ac-
companied the president to Arlington
and returned with him to lunch, was
e Ia SaCPa-
tary Day, who had just returned to
Washington, also dropped in during the
conference. After the entire situation,
naval and military. had been gone
over. Secretary Long retired and Sec
rotary Alger and General Miles remain
ed to discuss more in detail the mill
tar.y operations now about to be put in
to execution as result of the definite
official information that the Spanish
SQUADRON is securely held within San
tiago harbor.
TROOPS ORDERED TO MOVE.
Naturally. those who participated in
the conference observed strict reticence
regarding it. It was stated, however
IN an authoritative quarter that the
discussion had covered the entire range
of naval and military operations, with
Dsrticular view to the achievements
about to begin
General Miles brought with him
memorandum. showing the exact dis
positioA of the military forces now con-
centrated at various points throughout
at Tampa and other sOotnern points
ready for embarkation. He also made
known that at l o'clock this morning,
Immediately following the receipt of
definite information of the presence of
the Spanish fleet at Santiago, he had
gone to the war department and had
issued telegraphic orders putting the
troops in motion and thus starting the
forward movement of the military arm
OF the service. Further than this, those
attending the conference would not dis
cuss their plans.
1t was said at the war department
that chief reliance would be placed at
the outset on the United States regu-
lars. most of whom are centered in
Florida. and in such volunteer Tegi-
ments as are thoroughly equipped and
well seasoned for service.
AVAILABLE FORCES.
Although the officials will not state
how many troops are available for act
i've service, it is roughly estimated that
there are about 20 900 regulars and 1900
volunteers at Tampa. These include l.
regiments of regular infantry and IA
of volunteer infantry, y bat !
talions of artillery and regiments of /
the regular cavalry. The infantry force,
regular and volunteer, is about $500 |
men, the cavalry about 1000, the artil- |
lery about 1900. How many of these |
have been or will be dispatched to any |
given point or to several points, is not |
disclosed. as that is a part of the secret |
campaign plans of the government. I
Back of this force are other available |
regiments at Mobile. New Orleans and |
other points easily accessible to Tam 1
pa. Still farther back is the large vol
unteer camp at ChickamauSa, compris-
ing about 1000 infantry volunteers,
1 600 cavalry volunteers and three regi-
ments of artillery volunteers.
It is understood to be the plan-al-
though as to this there is no precise
official statement-to have the troops at
take the place of those at
Florida ports as fast as the latter leave
Tor active service, thus keeping large
,orce always ready for embarkation
from Florida
Aside from the troops already speci-