The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-13
100 MEN ALL TOLD.
Loaded on Thirty-TWO Ocean
Transports.
Only Picked and Seasoned Sold
iers Taken.

army sailed last night from Key west
for Santiago de Cuba to besiege and
capture that town. The army trans
ports, 80 in number. left Port Tampa
Saturday and stopped at Key West
The conveying warships, numbering
between 16 and 10, were ready when the
transports arrived at Key West, and
with this powerful force there is no
longer reason for apprehension that the
transports can be attacked successfully
by any Spanish warships, even If some
should have escaped the vigilant search
of the naval commanders at Key west
and off Havana.
1t is believed here that the sally out
of Havana of the three Spanish gun
boats was intended to create the i'm
preston that they were prepared to go
out to attack the transports If so, the
plan miscarried, for the craft were de-
tected Immediately by Commodore
WatsOn's cruisers and driven back pel
nell into Havana harbOr under the pro-
lection of the guns of the shore bat
teries. Even If these boats had es
capped, they could have done no dam
age, for the size of the convoy furnish
ed for the troop-ships is sufficient to
warrant the belief that they would
have been speedily destroyed had they
had the courage to make an attack up
on the fleet of American ships.
The Spanish gunboats are not of a
formidable character, not one of them
being the equal in power of the smallest
OF the American cruisers, or even OF
such gunboats as the little Bancroft,
which may be used as General Shat
ter's flagship.
Every precaution has been taken by
the government to insure the safety of
the troops en- route to Cuba. The ma
val war board was in session yesterday,
making the final preparations for the
disposition of the guard ships. The
transports will be kept as closely to-
gether as safe navigation will permit,
and the warships will be disposed
ahead, astern and on either flank. The
heeteSt running vessels Will be thrown
far out in advance of the transports,
and. in order to insure against an at
tack from the rear, some of these YES
sells, such as the ST. Louis, perhaps, will
finger far astern, ready to signal the
heavily armed cruisers at the first sign
of an approaching foe. The stately
battleship Indiana, it is expected, will
lead the procession of. ships, which will
be the most numerous gathered in
American waters since the civil war.
The troops should arrive off Santiago
by Wednesday night, suppOsing the
fleet proceeds at eight knots speed and
landing operations should begin by
Thursday, for General Shafter will not
keep his men cooped UP on shipboard q
moment longer than necessary. 1t is
not believed that they will be landed at
Caimanera, the point on Guantanamo
bay, where the American flag now flies
over the heads of SIMPSONS marines,
as that place, while well adapted to
serve as a naval base, and as harbor
of refuge for the American warships, is
not particularly well suited for the be-
ginning of military operations.
In ten days time, unless Unforeseen
obstacles are encountered, the move
ment upon Porto Rico will begin. The
war department has been in close COM
munication by telegraph with General
Miles at Tampa, and all of the neces-
sary instructions have been given to
the commanding general for the pre-
paration of the military forces to be
used in this part of the campaign Cen
eraI Miles, in turn, has been consulting
Generals COppinger and Lee at jack
SonvilIe, giving the necessary detailed
instructions, and all is so near ready
that, were some essential supplies on
hand, the expedition could start within
"A hours.
The navy department has been advised
of the purpose of the army, and the war
board is making arrangements for the sup
ply of the conveying fleet. This will be
of a more formidable character than that
Nhlch goes with the Santiago expedition,
upon the San Juan fortificati tons by the
army and navy; and these Qualifications
are so powerful that heavily armored
ships only can be sent against them at
fleet. f'@'-' > ''ieSiiipS Will helo TINS
Now that Sampson has taken I'D a posi-
ton ashore in Guantanamo bay. it is ex-
Dected at the navy department that he
will soon be in direct cable Observation-Disclosures
with the department, which will greatly
facilitate the combined operation of the
navy and army, The cable he cut just
before landing the marines was buoyed,
and soon as cable operators and instr1I.
ments can be gotten over from Hayti the
cable viii be opened again.
Make Up of the Expedition.
Tampa, Fla, June 13-The expedition
that sailed from here to Key West prior
to going to Santiago was made up of
R Fs9+y tWe ny regiments of regular in
beside four regiments of the Fifth army
Ietal force OF the regular infantry was
about 1l,Oo0 men, There were also two
M9 men altogether. the Second regiment
of infantry from Mobile, 500 mem and
two battalions each from the First, Third.
sixth. Ninth and Tenth cavalry, about q
GOO men: eight troops of volunteer cavalry,
men four batteries of light artillery, 400
men and Is guns; two batteries of heavy
ion of engineers. 200 men; signal and hos
total of about 1900 men.
The regulars were practically picked
men, as not single ruit was taken
the regiments carrying only the old sea-
The following is the list of transports.
arranged N their numerical orders. names,
So1nmanders and carrying capacity: L
Miami, Commander Mcdonald, 300 men;
Girney, 100 men; 4-Cherokee, Garvin. 1000
mem 5-Seneca, Decker. 800 men: 6-Ala-
men and Is Hoses Yucatan EVRan obeg $40
son, $50 men; S-Berkshire. Dizer, 474 men
men; 11-Olivette Stevenson, 400 men and
10 herSes; l2-Seguranca (Florfda). Han
son. Spu men, l3-Blank. 14-COnchO, Rick.
800 men: 15-Florida, Miner 800 men; IS
tSslIy or Washington, Stevens, 800 men; IL
allegheny, Nickerson. $50 men and 100
horses; 1S-San Marcos. Itsen. 100 men
and 20 horses: 19-H. Miller. Peterson, $50
men and 800 mules; 20-Saratoga, johnson,
soo men; H-Leona, Wilders, 1.25O men; %
Rio rGande, Staples, LOO men: 25-Iro-
qucis, Kimball, $50 men; 26-Ma ttewan.
Lewis, 500 men, 40 horses: 27-Morgan. Sta
pies; 2smStlll water, Gault; 29-Brealkwater,
River; 30-Cumberland; Observation-Disclosures
300 men; 32-Clinton.
State of Texas ChospitaD. Commander