The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-22
ARRIVAL OF THE ARMADA.
Transports Sighted by Simpsons
Fleet at 10 a. m. Monday.

Fleet at 10 a. M. Monday.
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, on board the
Associated Press dispatch boat Dandy,
June 20, 10 p. M, via the Mole st. Nicho-
las, Haiti, June 81, a. m.-The American
army for the invasion of Cuba, about 10000
strong. commanded by General Shafter ar
rived off Santiago de Cuba at noon to-day.
The time of its Decentralization has not yet
been determined on, but it probably will he
within the next three days.
When the fleet of thirty-seven transports
with its freight of fighting men, swept up
the southern coast to-day and slowed up
within sight of the doomed city of San
tiago de Cuba the anxiOusly awaited SOL
diers were greeted with ringing cheers
which family echoed to the transports from
the decks of the blockading war ships far
in shore, and they were answered by the
troops most heartily and III kind. The
weeks OF anxious waiting one side and
with its impati chatting on the other were
over and the army and the navy had at last
joined forces and all felt that the final blow
at Santiago was at hand.
1t was IL o'clock this morning when the
lookout on board the armored cruiser
Brooklyn reported seeing the smoke of sew
eral steamers away to tho southeast. and
a moment or so later he announced that
dozen or more transports were in sight.
Then signals were exchanged from ship to
ship, gaddening the hearts Of the weary
blockaders. Then the United States aux
iliary cruiser Gloucester, formerly ]. Pier
pont Morgdns yacht CGrsair dashed away
to meet and welcome the troops. In about
half an hour a grim forest of masts had
sprung up, apparently from the sea, and
most impressive scene was presented as
the armada swept gracefully up from the
horizon toward the shores where the great
struggle is to take place
The transports were ranged in three shift
ing lines, with the battle ship Indiana on
the extreme right and the other men-of-
war on the outskirts of the fleet In this
order the transports and their escorts
steamed slowly in toward the bills where
the Morro's red walls cleaned in the sun
light. 1t was intended TO take the entire
fleet to the lines of Rear Admiral Samp-
sons fleet of war ships, but order from
the admiral stopped the advance of the
ships about fifteen miles to the southeast
and. escorted by the Gloucester, General
Shafter went forward on the Seguranca to
confer with the admiral.
The transports lay on the smooth sea
while the plans were discussed by the lead
ers on board the flagship. Not the faintest
intimation of their intentions regarding the
landing has been allowed to escape. IN
doubtedy, however, some of the troops
will be landed at Guantanamo bay in order
to relieve the marines there, but il is gem
orally believed the main body of the troops
will be landed much nearer Santiago
The long and trying journey from Tampa
has left the men in a much better condi-
ton than anticipated. There are fourteen
mild cases of typhoid on the hospital ship
among them being Major Horton, of the
Twenty-fifth Infantry and several cases of
measles. There are, however, no serious
cases of sickness. Owing to the smooth
ness of the passage the soldiers were not
generally affected by sea sickness. They
are all wildly anxious to get ashore and be-
gin fighting.
The dispatch boat of the Associated Press,
as she steamed among the transports, was
eagerly besieged on all sides for news of
Admiral Simpsons operations. officers and
men clamorng for a word from the block
aders. Much satisfaction was expressed
among the troops when 1t became known
that the actual capture of Santiago is to
be left to the army.
The horses and mules on board the trans
ports have suffered severely, many of them
dying.
The American fleet off Santiago has been
materially strengthened by the addition of
the war ships which escorted the trans
ports here. consisting of the Indiana De-
troit. Montgomery, Bancroft, Helena. Erics-
son. Foote. Hornet. Annapolis, Castine and
Eagle,
Wherever the landing may take place,
the operations and the information of the
last ten days show conclusively that bitter
war is ahead for General Skaters men be-
fore the Spanish flag comes down from
Morro's walls. The Spanish infantry. artll-
lery and guerrilla forces. estimated by Ad-
miral Sampson to-day 10 number from 10000
TO 1890 men. are stretched from Guam
tanamo TO Cabanas. a distance of fifty
miles. ready to concentrate at the point of
attack But. starving and harassed from