The herald., 1898-05-11
MAJOR GENERAL MILES
TAKES HIS DEPARTURE FOR
vTAMPA TONIGHT
INVASION OF CUBA imminent 7
The Only Question Remaining to Be
Solved Is That Of Providing
Transportation
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, May 10.-By Friday
morning the Commanding General OF the
United States Army, Major-Gen. Miles, Will
have assembled his staff around him at
Tampa, Fla. He leaves Washington tomor-
row night, taking with him Col. Micheler.
Col. Maus, Col. Greenleaf, Major Osgood.
Major Humphreys, Captain Seyburn and
Captain Scott. Only one member OF the
staff. Captain Davis. will remain at mead
quarters. and he will follow the General
within two or three days, or as soon as ne
can turn over the care Of the business at
army headquarters to an officer to be des-
ignated for that duty. Unless plans are
changed the General will go with the
first military expeditionary force to Cuba.
He Is not expected to relieve the Major
Generals, already selected for the conduct
of the campaign, but both in Florida and
In Cuba will exercise the same general
superintendent over the campaign that
he now does from his headquarters in
Washington.
The arrangements for the move upon
Cuba are being hastened with such energy
that it is evidsut to any observer that the
beginning of the campaign is imminent.
1t Is expected here that within a week the
first troops will be on their way from the
United States to Cuba. The only delay will
arise in the difficulty of securing the neces-
sary number of transports. The Quarter
masters department Is making great ef-
forts to assemble sufficient number Of
ships to the Gulf ports in time to receive
the troops who are even now on their way
there. Orders have been given for 10000
hammocks to be furnished for the army and
to be delivered. beginning Immediately,
reported that hammock is an absolute
necessity in Cuban campaign. 1t is the
only means to escape the vermin which
otherwise make sleep impossible to the
soldiers. and 1t is the only way he can
escape the fatal dampness Of the rich soil.
Engineers from the War Department
went in the neighborhood Of Falls Church
and located definitely the great camp upon
which will be concentrated from 5000 to
10000 United States troops within the next
week or two. The tract embraces about
14OO acres of splendid land. well watered
and wooded, and will afford accommoda-
tions for all the soldiers comprised within
the Presidents first order.
Troops in Camp
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. May 1o.-At
Chickamauga Park today officers and men
Of the regular army regiments are rushing
as they have not been called upon to do
since the days Of the Civil War. The en-
tire army is ordered to pack up and go to
the front. This was annaunced at 9
o'clock and since then things have been
moving at q tremendous pace The rail-
roads have been running all available
cars to the Park and as rapidly as they
arrive they are loaded with the camp
equipment and horses, supplies, etc.
The work of moving the big command
during the next few days as they are ex-
pected to do, is an immense job for the
railroads. They had received no intima-
tion Of the orders and had made no ade-
quate arrangements. The two lines to
Tampa, the Southern and the Western and
Atlantic. are doing everything possible, but
the Indications are now that the first troops
will not get out before tomorrow morning
The first out will probably be the infantry
division, composed of the Second. Seventh,
Eighth, Sixteenth and Twelfth Regiments.
the men to Tampa will be available to-
night.
Colonel Sheridan of General Brooke's
staff said: 1.-THE order does not say rush
to the front, so 1t simply instructs us to
get there as soon as we conveniently can.
There are six thousand men with hundreds
Of horses and large amount Of equipment
Ia the Park and the whole business can
=, +,
Colonel Sheridan refused to give any
opinion about what the order meant. The
majority of the officers, however, do not
hesitate in saying that it means they will
land in Cuba as soon as they can get
there.
Besides the infantry division the Third
and Fifth Cavalry go to Tampa.
The Second Cavalry will go to Mobile,
and the First and Tenth Cavalry to New
Orleans. All the artillery was sent out
several days ago.
Brooke in Command
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 10-It is
announced that General Brooke will re-
main at Chickamauga Park in command
of the volunteers coming. Chickamauga
will continue to be the headquarters of the
Wheeler and Wilson are expected to ar
rive the latter part Of the week.
Havana Defenses
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT KATE SPENCER, OFF
CARDENAS, May 9, via Key West, May
10.-The Spanish soldiers are displaying
much activity along the coast from Bahia
and Honda, forty-five miles west of Ha-
vana, to Cardenas, 65 miles to the east
ward. AS the ships of the blockading
fleet have instructions to prevent the erec-
ton of new fortidcations and have at var
ious points shelled working parties, the
task of strengthening existing defenses and
throwing up earthworks is carried on prin-
cipally at night save in the immediate
vicinity of Havana.
The narrow escape of the Vicksburg ana
Morrill, on Saturday when they were de-
coyed within easy range of the Santa Clara
batteries, just west Of Morro Castle, has
taught some Of the unarmored ships les
son and 1t is not likely that that class OF
boats will venture within range of the
modern high power guns again.
Along the coast fresh sand batteries are
being thrown up almost every night, but
these works are of a fiimsy character and
would be reduced by the fire of the big
guns in few minutes. The officers of the
blockading fleet believe Captain-General
Blanco Is wasting good deal of energy in
the erection of insignificant shore batter