The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-07
LANDED NEAR SANTIAGO

it is believed that to prevent confusion in
the direction of the forces ashore the ma
rine detachment, commanded by Lieutenant
the orders of General Shafter to act as part
of the regular army for the time being
The cable-cutting ship sent down ny the
Signal Corps to Santiago de Cuba to cut the
cables connecting Cuba with the outslde
world has not yet completed that work, tor
General Greedy, who is directly in charge OF
it, had notice yesterday that the caple lead-
ing from Guantanamo to Haiti was sun
in operation. This particular cable was re-
ported in the press dispatches to nave Deen
cut, but it is probable a mistake was maze
and one of the local cables running along
the Cuban coast was cut under the impress
sion that 1t was the main line. 1t is be-
lieVed however, that this link that remains
to connect Madrid and Havana will not ex-
cables connecting Key West and Havana
will not be interfered with by our govern
ment, inasmuch as the censorship exercised
at Key West prevents them being used IN
the Spanish interest. The government sui
permits commercial messages to pass over
these cables, providing they 90 not contain
information that would be of assistance to
Spain in conducting the war. 1t is supposed
that. under guise Of commercial i9 messaigei
yesterday at Havana of the ship Ardilla
with a load of cattle.
1t was stated at several or the foreign en-
bassies and legations to-day that there was
no warrant for the published reports that
the foreign military and naval attaches
were making unfaVorable reports to their
home Offices on the American army and
navy, particularly the former: 1t is SAID
these foreign observers knew from expert
eDce the difficulties attending the equipment
of raw levies, and that they give generous
recognition to the manner IN which zOOVO0
men have been assembled, armed and
equipped. The foreign experts say that
more or less confusion is unavoidable in
such a gigantic undertaking, and that mill
tary science recognizes this confusion as
inseparabe to the assembling of large vol
unteer force.
That Cadiz fleet which was reported to be
doing strange things in the West Indies
yesterday is not giving the naval officials
any concern. They have learned through
the State Department that the Spanish
ships were at Cadiz last Friday so they
could not we'll have been in the West Indies
two days later
the French embassy left here tonight for
Tampa, where he will proceed with the
troops embarking for Cuba. Prince LieVen,
of Russia a captain of the Russian Royal
Artillery and recently assigned for special
on the war and navy officials to-day, and
later left for the South. These are the last
of the foreign observers to leave for the
scene of action.
The War Department officials are moving
heaven and earth to improve conditions at
Tampa and vicinity. General Miles has made
some pretty sharp reports to the department
criticising the conditions there and is max
ing every effort to improve them. The gen.
eral represents among other matters of COM
plant that railroad cars were stalled for Il
distance of ten miles from Tampa, making it
impossible to get at the supplies that are abb
solutely essential to the embarkation of
troops for Cuba. The railroad officials, how
ever, are doing all they cam to assist the
Quartermaster' Department in clearing up
this confusion, and Secretary Alger said to-
day he was confident that matters would be
Strengthened out in day or two.