The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-06
TROOPS NOT
STARTED YET
Naval Officers Impatient
For Movement.
DIFFICULTIES in THE WAY
Men who Achieved Renown by The
Merrimac Exploit.
DIFFICULTIES in THE WAY
THEY WILL SOON BE EXCHANGED

Washington, June Gas far as can be
gathered. in spite OF all reports to the
contrary troops have not yet started,
and the naval officials are impatiently
awaiting the movement 1t is possible
that q small advance detachment has
gone forward. but it is felt here that even
that, composed of an engineer battalion
with siege train. Is lying off Key West.
There is much dissatisfaction expressed
at the slowness of movements In the
south owing in large part to the slender
means Of transportation and the chronic
difficulty encountered In getting any
thing down there In hurry. In army
circles 1t seems to be expected that
Sampson is to furnish a sufficient force
to convoy the troop transports, but II In
not known whether he is to supply this
force from his own squadron now of
Santiago, or whether he will call upon
Commodore Watson off Havana to per-
form this work. In the first case there
would be considerable delay owing to
the length of time required for the war
ships to make the passage around from
Santiago to Key West. The officials do
not credit the cable report that troops
have been landed at Point Cabrera, half
a dozen miles west of Santiago bay, and
they are inclined to the opinion that II
there has been any landing in that vi
cinity 1t was confined to the supply OF
arms and food to the insurgents abound
ing in Santiago province.
Nt~< A~k NJ
Pherson. Ga, has furnished the depart
ment a full list of the Spanish captives
TO facilitate the work Of exchange. This
is likely to occupy more time than was
originally expected because of the Diff
ficulty OF communicating with the Span
ish admiral at Santiago. The exchange
effected at Havana was conducted
through the British consul general at
Havana, Mr.. Gollan, and the British
ambassador here, Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, with the aid Of the existing cable;
but 1t is not likely that there Is now any
cable communication with Santiago. so
the preliminaries must be arranged di-
rectly through Admiral Sampson. a time
consuming operation. as he can be
reached only through the agency Of dis
patch boats from Jamaica or Hayti. The
war department officials were surprised
at the number Of Spanish officers held
captive at Fort Mcpherson, and there
Is no lack Of material as was at first
feared, for equal exchange.
Information afforded by the Official
records OF the navy department as to the
full names and antecedents of the gallant
sailors who made up Hobsons crew is
about as follows:
Daniel Montagu. first-class machinist
on the New York; born In Ireland, 20
years Of age, last enlisted In December,
1896
George Charette. frst-class gupner's
mate on the New York; born i'm Lowell
29 years Of age. last enlisted May 20. 1896;
has been in the service since 1884.
Osborn Deignan, coxswain on the
Merrimac; born In Stuart. Ia, 21 years Of
age; last enlisted April %. 1898
George Il. Phillips machinist on the
born in Boston. "a years of
age. last enlistment March 30. 1898.
Francis Kelly. water tender on the
Merrimac; born in Boston, 2S years Of
age. enlisted at Norfolk April 21 last.
Randolph Clausen, coxswain on the
new Icrk, DOrn III Boston, 20 years or
age.
Great admiration Is expressed at the
department at the cool pluck and dis
erection shown by the young cadet,
George w. Powell, who took command
OF the New York's steam launch and lay
under the batteries for many hours until
he was satisfied from his own observa-
tion that the Merrimac had gone down
before he returned TO the flagship. 1t Is
felt that his fate involved a display Of
quite as much courage as was shown by
the Merrimac crew, and he Is likely to
profit by 1t. Young Powell was known
as "one of Hobson's chickens" When
Hohson joined the squadron he secured
from the authorities to take
with him three cadets from the academy
ut Annapolis. They were included In his
own class, and he wished to take them
with him to supplement the theoretical
force by some practical experience In the
effect Of explosives on ships. Powell
was appointed to the academy from New
York In May, 1893.