The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-06-10
LANDING OF TROOPS.
Naval Officials Believe Sampson
Has Already Paved the WAY.

Has Already Paved the Way.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-It is be-
leved here that the first reinforcement
ior SIMPSONS fleet has arrived to-
DAY Off Santiago. These are the 800
marines under the command of Lieu
tenant Colonel Huntington, who sailed
tnree days ago from Key West on the
steamer Panther. These marines had
peen encamped on the beach at Key
west for several weeks undergoing the
most severe drill and military training.
They are intended not for distribution
among the fleet but as a landing force,
pure and simple
Naval officers are confident with this
small but well-disciplined landing force
Admiral Sampson will be able immedi
ately to take possession of such points
on the coast in the neighborhood of
Santiago as he may deem necessary to
serve as base Of occupation for the
regular United States troops. With the
marines in possession of the beach, and
the American warships' shells clearing
the country behind the Spaniards,
there Will be little danger in effecting
the landing of the troops.
Though no official confirmation has
yet reached the Navy Department to
the effect that he landed marines at
Canaimera, and that they are still in
possession of strategic stronghold on
the hills near by, the naval officers
here are inclined to give credence to
the reports. They feel a pride in the
fact that the navy, through its marine
adjunct, has earned the distinction of
having been the first to occupy the ter
ritory of Cuba. The marines who eff
&l~s l.
1t is believed, from the whole fleet, and
We're perfectly capable and disciplined
troops
Officials here express the belief that
troops have already sailed from Tampa,
but no one in authority and advised of
the facts will make the statement pub
llcly. The destination of the troops
can be only surmised, but it is felt that
there still remains a necessity for
concealing the exact time of the de-
parture of the troops, and it il 4 notice.
able fact that in spite of the under-
standing that obtained to the effect
that the censor at Tampa would relax
his rules as soon as the troops had :tctu-
ally departed, there is no authentic
news direct from Key West or Tampa
to-day
Tampa yesterday they are on their
way, although such is generally be-
lieved to be the case, for the original
orders to the military commanders
contemplated a start in finality from
Key West. AT that point the trans
ports We're to be rounded up and takep
under convoy of some of the more for
mitable naval vessels. Assuming tina.
the transports left Tampa yesterday
morning. moving at squadron speed,
they could scarcely do more than reach
Key West to-day. Some time must be
consumed in organizing the twenty
nine transports into the squadron, and
in placing them under convoy so that
there is probability that if Tampa
was left yesterday the final start from
Key West would not be before to-
night.
Unmistakable signs of nervousness
were exhibited by the army officers
who saw the Associated Press bulletins
to-day from Key West giving currency
to the report that three Spanish men
of-War had run the blockade into Ha-
vana. The very first question that
rose was as to the identity of the ships
if the report be true and more than
one officer Immediately recalled the fact
that the department was still in some
doubt as to the exact whereabouts of
all the Spanish warships, not alone of
Cerveras fleet. but others that had
preceded it into West Indian waters
The naval officers made light of these
fears, taking their stand on SIMPSONS
report that six Spanish warships were
in Santiago harbor. They admitted
that it would be no difficult task for
Warship to run the Havana block
ade at this moment, weakened as it has
been by the withdra wal of the fast and
powerful ships for service at Santiago.
1t is recalled. too, that there were re-
ports Of recent date from Jamaica of
very heavy gales off the Cuban coast,
and it is comparatively easy in blind
ing tropical squalls for a vessel to es-
cape detection while running a block
ade. Still, the impression is general
that if any Spanish warships really
passed the blockade line, they were lit
tie more than small gunboats that are
numerous along the north Cuban coast.