Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-06-02
INVASION OF CUBA.
The Onward Movement Of American
Troops Already Begun.
THE ORDER SENT SUNDAY MIDNIGHT.
The Vas Department Reticent as to the
Number and Destination Of the Troops
Forwarded, bat they win be In
Sufficient Force.


WASHINGTON. May ol.-The military
invasion Of Cuba has begun. At an
early hour yesterday morning the
troops that had been gathered ut the
gplf ports began to break camp and
march aboard transports waiting to
carry them t the enemy's territory.
About 25 of these ships, the biggest
and fastest that could be obtained
suitable for the purpose, had been
gathered ready to receive the troops.
They will accommodate about 80, oO
men, for, in q short voyage, like that
from n OF the gulf ports to Cuba, 1t
Is possible with safety and comfort to
carry Il much larger number of men
aboard ship than would be admissible
in a cruise to the Philippines, for in
gtanee.
How many troops started yesterday
morningi where they took ship; where
they are bound, are questions which
the directing spirits of the campaign
refuse positively TO answer. They
have no desire that the Spanish should
have opportunity afforded 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 probable that, in such ase
tie fleets of transports will eonverge
u Key West to pass under the conveys
ofthe van ships which Admiral Samp-
son hes provided to insure the safety
OF the troops during the passage
across the Florida straits and to insure
them against attack at the hands of
some stray Spanish cruiser or gun
bOat.
II IS probable that there will be no
less than four separate military expedf-
tons, and that these win be landed at
f9ar different points. Whether Porto
Rico IS u OF these points n not can
not be learned. Before the entire force
which 1t is proposed to use in Cuba can
b1 landed the transports must make
four separate voyages across the
straits.
Arrangements have been made to
utilize the services of the insurgents tic
the largest possible extent.
The government already has sem ex-
petitions q a large number OF points
on the island and landed arms for the
insurgents. Most of the parties sue
cco3ad perfectly in their object, and il
was said at the war department yester-
day that Il sufficient number of the In
surgents have beenarmed to constitute
3 very effective support for the troops
as they land.
vtrz a1,fnraraa x,o hold on tha
White House at three o'clock yester-
day afternoon between the president
and his two war secretaries Alger and
Long, and Mai Miles in command of
the army.
V~iGe-President Hobart, who accom-
-panied the president TO Arlington and
returned with him to lunch, wa pres
ent & part OF the time and Secretary
Day, who had just returned to Wash
ington, also droppedin during the con-
ference.
after the entire situation, naval and
military, had been gone over, Score
taTy Long retired, and Secretary Al
ger and Gen. Miles remained to discuss
more in detail the military operations
now about to be put into execution as
& result Of the definite official informa-
ton that tho Spanish squadron is Sc
cure!y held within Santiago harbor.
Naturally those who participated In
zhe conference observed strict Peti-
cence regarding it. 1t was stated,
however, in an authoritative quarter
that the discussion had covered the en-
tire range Of naval and military opera
tons with particular view to the &c
tive movements about to begin.
Gen. Miles brought with him a
memorandum showing the exact dis
position Of the military forces nov
concentrated at various points through
out the country, with the number of
men at Tampa and other southern
points ready for enbarkation. lie also
made known that at one o'clock yesteF-
day morning, Immediately following
the receipt Of definite information as
10 the presence of the Spanish feet at
Santiago, he had gone 10 the war de-
p~artneut and had issued Geographic
orders putting the troops in motion,
and thus starting the forward move
meDt Of the military arm OF the service.
Farther than this those attending
the conference would not discuss their
plans. Il was said at the war depart
mcnt that the chief reliance would be
placed at the outset on the United
States regulars, most OF whom are cen
tered in Florida. and such volunteer
regiments as were thoroughly equipped
and reasonably well seasoned for
service.
Although the officials will not state
hotg Iuunv troops are available for
active service, 1t is roughly estimated
that .nere are about 10000 regulars
-aua 1900 volunteers of regular in
fantry and Il regiments of volunteer
cavalry, Il battaIions Of artillery and
five regiments of regular cavalry.
The infantry force, regular ana vol
untc1r, Is about $4,000 men, the cav
airy a0out 1900, the artillery about
l,230. How many of these have been
OF viii be dispatched to any given
point OF TO several points is not dis
closed, as that forms part of the secret
campaign plans Of the government.
Back OF this force are other available
regiments at Mobile, New Orleans and
other points easily accessible to Tam
pr. Stin further back Is the large vol
nngeer lamp at Chiekamauga compris-
ing about $4,000 infantry volunteers,
I,0g1 cavalry volunteers and three reg
szaGnts Of artillery volunteers