Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-08

Washington, D. c., June Start
ing cut with strong belief that there
had been nothing in the nature of
serious engagement between SIMPSONS
forces and the Spanish defenses at
Santiago, the Navy Department Off
Gals, as the day wore on, and the full
and detailed reports of the Associated
Press from it's correspondents with the
feet began to flow in, were compelled
to modify their view, and when the
day closed they were about ready to
admit that though without official in
formation on the subject, it was evil
dent that Sampson had made a strong
attack upon the Spanish force. The
one point upon which they maintained
their confidence was that no troops
had been landed. They were prepared
to admit that Sampson might be clear
ing the way with his big guns for the
landing of the troops, or that possibly
some marines had been landed tenn
porarily, but that forces had been put
ashore they would not admit, for the
reason that 40 information had reached
the War Department of the actual de-
parture of the soldiers from the Gulf
ports for Cuba. 1t is not denied, how
ever, that every effort is making to
put the troops into Cuba at the earli-
est possible moment and this afternoon
it is believed, although no official
advices to that effect were at hand,
that troops have actually been embark
ing at Tampa to-day and may get
away tonight. The reason for this be-
lief is found in the admission by Off
Gals that the troops have been under
orders to embark for some time past.
The difficulty that presented itself was
the absence of absolutely necessary
supplies, which in most cases
WEIRD STORED AWAY
in some of the thousands of freight
cars which blocked the railroad tracks
many miles out from Tampa. The
orders that went forth yesterday were
of a character to cause speedy breaking
of the deadlock and if the troops now
have their supplies, which is believed
to be the case, there are no reasons
why they should not sail at once for
Santiago.
BY the newspaper reports of the
breech Sampson has made in the coast
defenses, there is every reason to be-
lieve that little difficulty will be found
In the actual debarkation Of the troops,
particularly if marines are already
ashore to guard the landing. A sus-
picion Is entertained in some quarters
that Sampson was fastened in his
movements at Santiago by the news OF
the intended departure of the troops
from Tampa, and made this attack in
order that the navy alone might have
the honor of effecting the first occu-
patton of Cuban soil. 1t is likely that
the first troops of the regular army to
take up a position ashore will be the
engineer battalion, although they are
so badly hampered by the heavy siege
trains they carry that they must be
greatly delayed in making landing.
The extent of SIMPSONS attack on
the Santiago defenses has brought out
one fact very clearly, namely that he
| has practically unlimited power as to
| the time and character Of an attack,
and that he is unhampered by re-
| strictions from Washington. The ex-
act nature of his orders has never
| been made public, but a naval official
| in position to know what they are,
| said that Admiral Sampson had
GREATER POWER CONFERRED
| upon him than had ever been given
| to any commander in chief. 1t was
| for him to decide on the time for an
attack and the place and manner of
it's execution. He may attack before
troops arrive, or, in his discretion, act
without Ehe cooperation of the
| troops. Or if circumstances warrant,
he may refrain from any operations.
| In short, it is said that Admiral Samp-
son is complete master of the tactical
and strategic operations by the naval
| forces off Santiago
Under these circumstances the naval
authorities here have no means OF
knowing when a battle is to be ex-
| pected or what the line of action is to
| be.
The cruiser Buffalo, lately the
| Nictheroy, of the Brazilian navy, ar
| rived in Hampton Roads to-day di-
| rectly from Brazil. The vessel, it is
| learned, is not yet actually on the
| United States naval lists. She has
been acquired subject to certain con-
ditions that will doubtless be strictly
/ Cnnfjuuad m Eourfh PoU>