The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-27
4 AT TAMPA AND KEY WEST.
Ships and Troops Are waiting Ready for
sseg Call to Action.

Correspondence of the Associated Press, J
Key West, Fla, May 23.-Yesterday,
soon after the sailing of Rear Admiral
Sampson squadron, Commodore Schley s
squadron.having gone to the south of
Cuba, q day or two before, there were left
at Key West seventeen vessels of war,
these consisting entirely of converted tugs
and auxiliary gunboats of small size, but
considerable lighting power. A few
changes are expected to take place in the
Key West complement in a day or So;
and the battleship Oregon is confidently
expected to arrive here before the end of
the week. She will prove a great al
vantage to the vessels in the harbor,
though she will probably be ordered to
Havana very soon after her arrival. Far
back in the harbor are the captured
Spanish vessels swinging ut their anchors
and atfording the sailor men happy pros
poets OF large prize fund.
The prize vessels constitute a fleet al
most as formidable as that now waiting
at Port Tampa to carry the troops to
Cuba, and In view of the fact that those
~ transports can accommodate from 15,-
O0O to 20 003 troops, army men are Won
dering If the Spanish steamers might not
be made available for the purpose
The work of terrifying, Key West has
sure with it's ancient cannon, is of small
account, but the new fort is of substantial
character and will mount some formidable
guns. Already one S-inch rifle has been
placed in position to command the wide
gauge beyond the bar and Others are now
being rapidly put in place, d contingent
OF men having been sent down from
tampa for that purpose.
All night long the great search light on
Fort Taylor sweeps the horizon, and it's
white mark on the sky can be picked mp
fifty miles at sea by the boats in coming
from the blockading line. Other search.
lights on the warships are constantly at
work, many boats being utilized In night
target practice. The great problem now
both at Key West and at Tampa is that
relating to the movement of the troops.
Naval men are in the dark as to what the
administration will do and army men
certainly find the naval tactics strange
and mysterious.
At Tampa there are now about $4,000
regulars and many thousands of yolun-
tiers. There are daily arrivals of troops at
at Tampa, Port Tampa and Lakeland,
but some Of the volunteers regiments have
not yet received their complete accountre-
ments, though the latter will soon be
forthcoming.
The Southern portion of Florida is be-
ginning to realize how difficult matter
1t Is to supply this great army of new
residents with necessaries and comforts.
Here at Key West, after dry season of
nVe months, the rain has come at last
and renewed the drinking water supply.
This, at least, WAS an opportune vista
tion of Providence, and with 1t all, the
soldiers are making merry.
Eau Tampa they are tenting in the sand
hills about the town, strictly disciplined
and kept closely to regulation diet, with
not much amusement, anxiously waiting
for the order to nova on Cuba. This, it is
generally believed by army men will not
be received at An early date. for there is,
first of all, the Estate of Florida expedi-
ton" to be heard from, an expedition to
supply General Gomez with arms and
ammunition There are score or more
additional transports to be harbored in
Tampa bay, under guard of the gunboat