The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-13
SKATERS TROOPS READY
EXPEDITION EXPECTED TO
REACH CUBA WEDNESDAY

Formidable Fleet of Warships Will
Accompany the TranspOrts-
There VIII BE Fast Cruisers
to Lead and Follow, and the In
diana Wih Do the Heavy work
The Porto Rico Expedition.
WASHINGTON, June IL. Under
command of Maj Gen. Shafter the
first division Of the United States
army will sail tonight from Key West
for Santiago de Cuba, to besiege and
capture that town. The army trans
ports, thirty in number, left Port
Tampa yesterday and are now at Key
West. The conveying war ships, be-
lieved to number between sixteen and
nineteen, will be ready for the voyage
by nightfall, and with this powerful
force there is no longer reason for ap-
prehension of the transports being at
tackled successfully by any Spanish
warships, even if such should have
escaped the vigilant search of the ma
val commanders at Key West and off
Havana. 1t is believed here that the
sally out of Havana Of the three Span
ish gunboats was intended to create
the impression that they were prepar-
ed to go out to attack the TRANSPORTS.
If so. the plan miscarried, for the craft
were detected Immediately by Commo-
dore Watson's cruisers and driyen
back pell-mell into Havana harbor, un-
der the protection of the guns of the
shore batteries. Even if these boats
had escaped,s they could have done no
damage, for the size Of the convoy
furnished for the troop ships is suffi-
cient to warrant the belief that they
would have been speedily destroyed
should they have had the courage to
make an attack upon the fleet Of
American ships.
The Spanish gunboats are not Of for
midable character, not one of them be-
ing 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 Gen. Shafter's
flagship.
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN.
Every precaution has been taken by
the government to insure the safety
of the troops en- route to Cuba. The
naval war board was in session today
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 scouting vessels will be thrown
far out in advance Of the transports.
nd IN Is
tack from the rear, some Of these YES
sells, such as the st. Louis, perhaps.
will .linger far astern, ready to signal
the heavily armed cruisers at the first
sign of an approaching foe The state
~ 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 San
t1ago by Wednesday night, supposing
the fleet proceeds at eight knots speed,
and landing operations should begin
by Thursday, for Gen. Shafter will not
keep his men cooped up on shipboard
moment longer than necessary. 1t
is not believed that they will be land
ed at Caimanera, the point on Guam
tanamo bay where the American flag
now flies over the heads of SIMPSONS 8
marines, as that place, while well
adapted to serve as a naval base and
as harbor of refuge for the Amer
lean warships, is not particularly well
suited for the beginning Of military
operations.
In ten days, unless unforeseen OBJ
stacles are encountered, the movement
upon Porto Rico will begin. The war
department has been In close COM
munication by telegraph with Gen.
Miles at Tampa, and all of the neces-
sary instructions have been given to
the commanding general for the prep
aration of the military forces to be
used In this part Of the campaign.
PORTO RICO EXPEDITION.
Gen. Miles in turn has been consult
ing Gems. Coppinger and Lee at Jack
sonville, giving the necessary detailed
instructions, and all is SO near ready
that were some essential supplies on
hand, the expedition could start with
in twenty-four hours. The navy de-
partment has been advised of the pur-
pose Of the army, and the war board
today was making arrangements for
the supply Of the conveying fleet. This
will be of a more formidable character
than that which goes with the Santiago
expedition, for the plans contemplate
joint attack upon the San Juan fortifl-
cations by the army and navy, and
these Notifications are so powerful that
heavily armored ships only can be sent
against them at the beginning There
fore, it Is believed that Sampson's bat
tleshi2s will head this fleet. Now that
Sampson has taken up position
ashore In Guantanamo bay, it is ex-
pected at the navy department that he
will soon be in direct cable communf-
cation with the department, which will
greatly facilitate the combined opera
ton Of the navy and army. The cable
which he cut just before landing the
marines was buoyed, and as soon as
cable operators and instruments can be
gotten over from Hayti the cable will
be opened again.
ARMY OF INVASION.
1T Includes Over Tvvantv Ro~lrna,,<.