The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-31
INFLAMMATION OF TROOPS
RELIEVED TO HAVE BEGUN EARLY
 MONDAY MORNING.

Twenty-Five Transports, the Biggest and Fastest Ships Obtainab1e for the Purpose and Able to Accommodate 3O,OO0 Men, Were in Waiting-A War Conference at the White House Gcn- era1 Miles and Staff Leave Washing ton,
 Washington, May 30.-The military invasion of Cuba has begun. Unless the orders of the war department are miscarried, at an early hour this morn- ing the troops that have gathered at the gulf ports commenced to break camp and march aboard transports waiting to carry them to the eneny's territory. About twenty-five of these ships, the biggest and fastest that could be ob tained suitable for the purpose had been gathered ready to receive the troops. They will accommodate about 30,o0O men for in a short voyage like
 
 Cuba, it is possible with safety and comfort to carry a much larger num- Der of men aboard ship than would be admissible in the case of a cruise to the Philippines, for instance. How many troops started this morning where they took ship, where they are bound, are questions which the digni- fled spirits of the campaign refuse to answer. They have no desire that the Spanish should have an opportunity af- forded 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 it is prob able that in such cases the fleets of troops will converge at Key West to pass the convoy of the warships which Admiral Sampson has provided to en- sure the troops during the passage across the Florida straits against att tack by some stray Spanish cruiser or gunboat.
 Four Separate 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 the entire force which it is proposed to use in Cuba can be landed, the troops must make four separate voyages across the straits Arrangements have been made to utilize the services of the insurgents To 10 1o noCcih1n Qyfant Tha government already has sent expedi- tions to large number of points on the island and landed arms for the in- surgents. Most of the parties succeed ed perfectly in their object and it was said at the war department to-day that a sufficient number of the insurgents have been armed to constitute very effective support for the troops as they land.
 A War Conference.
 A war conference was held at the white house 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 was present a part of the time and Secretary Day also dropped in during the conference. Af- ter the 6utlIG SlIudIlOn Idu been gone over, Secretary Long retired and Secre- tary Alger and General Miles remained to discuss more in detail the military operations now about to be put into ex- ecution. Those who participated in the conference observed strict silence re- garding it. It was stated, however, in an authoritative quarter that the discussion had covered the entire range or,I ,1,iI; flow L particular view to the active move- ments about to begin. General Miles brought with him a memorandum showing the exact disposition of the military forces now concentrated at various points throughout the country with the number of men at Tampa and southern points ready for embarka- ton. He also made known that at 1 o'clock this morning, immediately fol- lowing the receipt of definite informa- tion of the presence of the Spanish squadron at Santiago, he had issued or ders putting the troops in motion.
 Reliance on the Regulars.
 It vas 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 regi- ments as were thoroughly equipped and reasonably well seasoned in ser vice, Although the officials will not