The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-22
NO LANDING YET.
Small Bodies of Troops May Be Put
Ashore at Several Points.


Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, on board the
Associated Press dispatch boat Dandy,
Monday night, June 20, via Kingston, jana
ica June q, IL a. m--.After General Shafter
and staff visited Admiral Sampson this aft
ernoon, the Seguranca went to Acerraderos,
about seventeen miles west OF Santiago,
and near which place General Garcia is en-
canped with three thousand Cuban soldiers.
General Shafter ard his staff and Rear Ad-
miral Sampson went ashore and proceeded
to General Garcias headquarters. about a
mile inland where they spent several hours
in consultation with the Cuban general. The
best information obtainable is that there
will be no attempt to make general land
ing for two or three days. but small bodies
of troops will be put ashore, probably to-
morrow, at several points, both east and
west of Santiago, including Acerraderos.
This will give General Shafter an opportun-
ity to become more familiar with the work
before him and to ascertain the best place
for general landing. The transports and
war ships which conveyed the troops here
came into full view of the lookouts on MORO
Castle and they will lay fifteen miles out
from Admiral Simpsons fleet.
The result Of Rear Admiral Sampson's In
vestigation of the various proposed landing
places was also laid before the army Off
GERS. but General Shafter is not prepared
TO announce definite selection without i'm
vestigating the matter further himself.
General Garcia gave the Americans as
suiances that they need have no fear OF
contracting diseases on the southeastern
coast Of Cuba as the climate there is not
unhealthy, only extremely hot at this sea-
of the The han
clared that his own troops, ill-fed and poor
ly clothed as they were were in good health
and, therefore, the Americans need not fear
fevers or other serious ailments General
Shafter examined the condition of the Cuban
soldiers during his visit and was impressed
with their hardy and soldierly appearance,
though he recognized the fact that they
need clothes and provisions both of which
were given them during the day.
The interview closed with the understand
ing On the part of both generals that small
bodies of troops are to be landed at once
at several points along the coast. where they
will be safe from any serious attack by the
Spaniards and will be able to keep the
enemy in doubt. for the present, as to their
ultimate intentions. Among the troops that
will be landed first are a number of men
from the engineer corps, who will begin
WIN db OHIC, PicPdAihS iOt NHc movement
of the main body. Generals Shafter and
Garcia will consult further tomorrow.
1T was nearly dark before the officers re-
turned to the Seguranca. and then she
steamed back to the flagship and took up
a position for the night. Before nightfall
all the other transports and the conveying
war ships had drifted nearer to the shore
and the Spanish soldiers, watching from the
bluffs on both sides of the entrance of SAM
uago harbor. must have been impressed by
the great array Of vessels standing off
shore. There were nearly sixty of them in
cluding the troop ships and the men-of-war.
comprising Rear Admiral Simpsons fleet
and the squadron of Commodore Schley.
The eight thousand Spanish soldiers and
perhaps two thousand Spanish sailors
guarding the city and harbor of Santiago
de Cuba doubtless concluded that there was
but small chance of overcoming the force
of American war ships and some twenty
THOUSAND American soldiers and sailors
which will be hurled against them before
the present week is over
The dispatch boat Of the Associated Press
left the fleet for the cable station Just at
nis;htfall, when the war ships had taken
their positions in sem-circle in front OF
the harbor entrance. with the troop ships
smooth for the first time in several weeks
and the great fleet was almost motionless
The soldiers, most of whom beheld the
shores of Cuba for the first time in their
lives. watched the, steep mountain sides
through the gathering darkness with many
thoughts of home passing through their
minds realizing the fact that in few days
they will be lighting for their countrys
honor on the hills and In the ravines which
were then darkly visible IN the gloom in
the passing day and wondering how many
of them would return to the homes they had
left to do service in the Nations cause and
how many would find a grave IN thar
strange and distant land they had come to
conquer.
The newspaper dispatch boats which had
beisa steansing back and forth among the