The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-06
ACTIVITY
Displayed in the Preparations for the
Invasion of Cnba-Collecting Trans
ports for the Troops Cubens En-.
lf&f3n~

POItS IOI INC ATOOBb SUDEnS En-
listing.
Tampa, Fla, May 2.-Eleven regi-
ments of infantry, one of cavalry and
ten light batteries Of artillery are now
concentrated at Tampa ana Port
Tampa, making a force Of about 1000
men. All the troops recently ordered
her from Mobile, New Orleans and
| Chickamauga have arrived. 1t is gen
| orally believed in Tampa that this force
| will be augmented in the near future
| from ~ChickaInauga besides the artil-
Iery. The troops now here are the
First, Fourth, Seventh, Sixth. Ninth,
Tenth, Thirteenth. Seventeenth, Tween
ty-first. Twenty-second and Twenty
fourth infantry and the Ninth cavalry.
The Plant syste~l today notified he
| government that the steamers Olivette
n Florida were at its service for use
as transport ships. The Mascotte also
will b rendered at once. These three
boats have a capacity OF 1880 men.
| Two recruiting offices were opened
in Tampa today for enlistment OF Gu
bans for Gomez's army. The spacii-
| atiOn allow Only young unmarried
men 10 enlist. 1t is believed at least
Il " VIII CSpDlu - lAS call -ADONI III
teen carloads of rifles and ammunition
from various military schools through
out the country have arrived here.
The guns are mostly OF the Spring
field pattern and are for the equipment
OF GOmeZ's soldiers.
Two hundred and five Cubans who
have. been quietly enlisted in New
York city by General Julio Sanguilly.
arrived in Tampa tonight. They will
ia formed into a cavalry regiment and
under the leadership of the famous
Cuban who enlisted them, will proba-
bly, embark for Cuba with the American
troops. The rest of the regiment will
be made UP of Cubans from Tampa and
vicinity. For the enlistment forty-two
recruiting offices were opened here to-
day. The New Workers created a
sensation as they marched down the
street in a body and they were follow
ed for blocks by a perfect mob Of ex-
cited Cubans .
Slowly, but surely, are arranging be-
inb made for the landing of an Amer
lean force in Cuba. The Plant System
today gave formal notice to the gov
eminent that it's steamers, Olivette and
Florida, both of which are in port here.
| were 1T the disposal of the government
for use as troop ships. The Mascotte,
of the same line, will be turned over
tomorrow. By Friday the following
fleet of vessels is expected to be in
waiting at the wharves at Tampa for
the reception of the United States
troops. The Florida, Olivette and Mas
coffee, of the Plant Line; the Alamo and
Comal, of the Mallory Line; the Comal,
which is already anchored in the
stream here; the AranZaS, and possibly
the Lampassas, Of the Morgan Line,
n the Allegheny M Berkshire, of
the Merchants and Miners Line.
Those heats all have hoan contracted
for and have a carriage capacity of
alb >ut 5000 troops. 1t is not believed,
however, that the actual embarkation
will take place before Sunday at the
latest. Much remains to be done in the
way Of gathering ammunition and sup
plies, and several days must elapse be-
fore all is in readiness. 1t is believed
that the force will be made up of 1000
infantry, 1000 cavalry and ten batter
It's of artillery, in all, close to 5000 men.
Only n regiment of cavalry, the
Ninth, is now in camp at Tampa, but
the Tenth, now at Chickamauga, will
it is believed, be brought down here to
fill out the quota.
The Notifications at Egmont and
Mullet Keys, commanding the north
and south channels of Tampa bay, and
on which work has been rapidly push
ed, are now practically complete n
ready for the mounting of the guns
Most Of these, it is said, will be of the
S-inch calibre and such others as are
at hand, the urgency of the situation
not permitting the delay, which would
be unavoidable if heavy gun were to
be mounted.
Bids for the purchase Of about 50, 000,-
900 worth Of coal for use of the gov
eminent were opened today. No an
nOuncement of the successful bidder
will be made pending a report to
VI: 49, Ill L.
into Tampa as fast as possible.
Key West, May 2.-More naval Off
GERS from the big ships were ashore
today than at any other time since the
fleet sailed for Cuban waters.
PLANNING AN IMPORTANT MOVE
Although the blockade is still main
tanned by the smaller cruisers, an i'm
portant movement is being planned.
What it is, however, can only be con-
jectured.
The day has been barren of actual
news. The Cuban colony here is de-
veloping great activity. "A mass meet
ing was held this afternoon to perfect
arrangements for the departure of
about 200 patriots who will go to
Tampa and thence to Cuba, when the
army moves over to the island. This
party will act in concert with the Unit
ed States regulars, but it's members
will serve more in the capacity of
scouts, though members of the regular
army. The party will be under the di-
rection of Colonel Mendez.
The officers and men of the fleet here
are jubilant at Commodore Dewey's
daring in running the batteries n
achieving what is considered likely to
be the greatest triumph OF the war;
but they long for a similar Opportuni-
ty and hope the significant conferences
and movems It's Of the past twenty-four
hours indicat that it is not far distant.
The cruiser. Marblehead is bringing
in the Spanish steamer A~rgonanta, cap
tured by the gunNooat Nashville off the
south coast of Cuba, last Friday. The
Argonauta was bound for Havana n
had on board a colonel of the Spanish
non-commissioned officers.
The auxiliary cruiser Eagle, a trans
formed yacht, was securing along he
southern coast of Cuba near Cienfue-