New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-09
CUBAN INVASION PLANS.
ACTIVE PREPARATIONS CONTINGENT ON
NAVAL NEWS.
TRANSPORTS MAKING READY-PONTOOS TRAINS
TO BE D1SEM8ARKED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.


Tampa. Fla. May SIN spite of the utmost
activity In fitting up the transports. assurances
were received to-day that there would be no
invasion OF Cuba until the Spanish fleet had
been disposed Of
There the sound OF hammers from
early until late on the decks OF the troopsh ps
at Port Tampa. Grated foorings were put in,
and box stalls erected for the droves Of horses
and mules which Will he need ID for the service
across the Florida Strait.
Besides the cavalry chargers and the artillery
draught animals, there are the mounts FOR the
officers and the horses and mules 20 drag the
numerous regimental and Red Cross wagons.
An extra force Of carpenters put 10 work
yesterday. and they spent the entire Sunday
as busy bees. Their orders are to have the
boats in readiness for the reception Of the four
footed cargoes by Tuesday. The dependence OF
q movement here on the news from the naval
engagement naturally causes frequent inquiries
after Developments from or near Porto Rico.
REASONS FOR DELAY.
or course an overwhelming victory is expected
for the American feet bat the wisdom OF post
poning the Cuban campaign until the Spanish
vessels have actually been destroyed is not lost
sight Of So long as the naval forces OF the
enemy anoat and unca ptured II would be
wrong. said the stratessts. to land an army,
perhaps to have it cut off from reinforcements
and supplies.
That the enharl,aton Is several days of
whatever the developments at Porto Rico was
further shown by the statement that the com
pany Of engineers at Por Tampa would unload
their pontoons tomorrow. and have practice
dr,ll. The men arrived from New-York yester-
day morning on the Alamo but did not land un-
I'll late in the day. because the low tide pre-
vented the ship coming 70 the pier. 1t was
O'Clock before they were settled IN camp
The intention was to unload the pontoons to-
day. hut a high sea prevented their use. To-
morrow. however. they are to be set up. At
West Point, where the company is regularly sta
toned. pontoors capable Of sustaining field ar-
tillery built TO a length Of over two hundred
feet in forty minutes.
PONTOON PRACTICE EXPECTED.
An interesting exhibit Will be given at Port
Tampa Of just what Will be done when the Gu
ban coast IS reached. one OF the pontoons Is II
wood and the other Of canvas mounted on col
lapsible frames. The lighter one can be carried
by cavalry on quick marches II necessary Of
course II any immediate sailing for Cuba We're
expected. the pontoons would not be taken out
Of the Alamo's hold.
General Shafter. General Ludlow and the rest
Of the commanders staff spent the afternoon a.
Port Tampa. on Picnic Island. where the lst
Infantry IS encamped. there was music by the
reEimental band.
The part Of the 25th Infantry. which came from
Chickamauga and arrived here last night. Is
now in camp on Tampa Heights. Men and
officers are rejo.ced at getting SO much nearer
+ Cuba.
Visitors poured into the city to-day from the
surrounding and even distant towns to see the
soldiers. There were religious services at some
OF the regimental headquarters. game II
baseball. with military against civilian players,
drew crowd To-night's concert was given at
the Tampa Bay Hotel. in which there was a
liberal sprinlling Of patriotic airs
In the Cuban encampmont today there wac
an elaborate ceremonial over the naming II The
division and the two regiments. IN The iusIr-
gent army II IS customary 20 designate regiments
by names instead II numbers. The division was
formally called the AragIaren. after the patriot
who was slain I'm Havana Province. one rcgi-
ment is the Maine and he other tho Junco. be
ing named after Cuban who was killed in the
present struggle. The enthusiasm crea T..
especially when the flag Of the regiment Maine
was raised.