Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-15
THIS WEEK, ANYHOW.
Before Sunday Shaftef MI, Have
Landed at Santiago.
THE MARINES MAY SUFFER.
Their Lot Already Is Anything But a
Happy One.
PREPARATIONS FOR PORTO RICO.
Superstition That Habana Also Nay Be
Promptly Attacked.
PREPARATIONS FOR PORTO RICO.
THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITION
second InstaIment of Nerritrs Force
cations as 10 Severed Cables.

WASHINGTON, June 1A-Without re-
ference 10 the exact hour at which the
United state. army left Florida for Cuba.
20 may be safely said that before the end
NJ the week General Shafter will have
landed with his 1900 troops on Cuban
soil. and that the investment of Santiago
1y land will have begun There was some
confusion in the licial mind here to-day
as % the time of departure of the trans
ports. though assurance was given that
they had al gotten away. The confusion
on this point is easily accounted for by
persons who know anything of the diff
cllties Of moving simultaneously a hume
rrus fleet. composed of vessels Of all sizes
and classes No less than three times,
BEGINNING Sunday, was a Dc hour
selected for the start, and the De-
Tsr.ment so notified. Yet in each case
some untold obstruction was encountered
rhat required notification TO the depart
ueat that a postponement had been
forced. Sailors say such delays are in
evitable, and that rarely does a fleet get
or according 10 the first intention. How
ever. the department officials stated this
afternoon that they believed the very
las. Of the transports had finally started
for Cuba.
After all, the delay Of a day or two In
the start IS not calculated to make any
material difference in the plans, and the
only persons who will suffer from il will
De SIMPSONS marines encamped on the
bay Of Guantanamo, and obliged 10 main
tain their position by vigilance. in re-
pelliug bushHhacking Spanish irregulars,
who swarm in the thickets. This foe
ayes no trouble during the daylight
hours. owing to the presence of the Mar
hiehead within easy range, but at night,
when the warship is unable to distinguish
.he.r own men from the enemy, the lot
9i the marines is n very exciting one.
PORTO RICO FORCE.
Having started the Santiago expedition,
the War Department has now concentra-
ted all it's energies on the preparation OF
the force 70 be sent to Porto Rico. Active
movements in that line have been made
on a scale so extensive as TO lead to the
supposition in some quarters that an at
tack is to be made directly upon Habana,
but if this IS so, there is no open indica-
ton OF II.
The volunteers collected at Chatta-
nooga--420C0 I'm number-are reaching a
degree Of excellence. under the magnifi-
cent management Of General Brooke, that
would warrant the government in order
ing them Immediately into active service;
but. unfortunately, there is still consid-
cradle lack of equipment that will not
permit OF this
General Merritt has brought the second
iusalment of his force into readiness,
and it sails for Manila tomorrow
1t is believed that the advance-guard-
the three transports which followed the
Charleston to Honolulu-met the cruiser
there and sailed in her company for
The Philippines about the 18th of this
MONTH Ia this case, il is reasonable TO
expect them 70 arrive at Manila within a
week.
MORE SOUTHERN DARING
The only bulletin posted at the Navy
Department to-day from Sampson con-
taiued the satisfactory news that an
American naval officer. Lieutenant Vic
tor Blue. Of South Carolina, at the risk
OF his life. succeeded in encircling the
Bay Of Santiago and counting the Span
lsh vessels therein, with the result Of es-
tablishing the fact that all Of Ceryera's
feet is bottled up.
CABLE COMPLICATION.
An unexpected complication has arisen
as 10 the right Of Admiral Sampson. at
Santiago, and Admiral Dewey, at Manila,
% use the cables which they have Sc
cured. with a view to bringing them into !
direct telegraphic communication with the |
authorities here. II is understood by ofli- |
c.als here that Admiral Dewey secured |
tine shore end Of the cable leading from |
Manila 20 Hongkong some time ago and |
Duoyed il with a view TO sending dis |
patches. The same condition IS under |
stood % exist at Santiago where Admiral J
Sampson has buoyed the shore end Of the |
cable with a view TO repairing and using |
S. But no messages have been sent, and |
the question has arisen as 10 whether it |
IS allowable, under the rules of neutrality, |
Tor the French and British companies
owning these lines 20 permit them to be
used for strictly military purposes.
INTERNATIONAL QUESTION
The companies control the points Of
exit. and are able 10 refuse to pass dis
patches along. so that the holding Of the
shore ends by Admirals Dewey and Samp-
son does not permit them 10 carry on
communication. except through the assent
OF The companies. These are private con-
Germs. but they are bound to observe the
neutrality OF their respective govern
ments. There is some anxiety, therefore,
as 10 the course Of the operators Of the
French company al Haiti when they re-
celye private messages from Admiral
sampson. Should they refuse TO handle
them over neutral lines. touching neutral
territory. an interesting international
question might arise.
The same condition exists as TO the
Manila cable and the failure TO receive
dispatches from Manila Is attributed 10
the failure OF the British operators at
Hongkong 10 take the messages. II was