The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-14
INVASION AGAIN POSTPONED.
TROOPS NOT TO LEAVE TAMPA w
TIL. AFTER NAVAL BATTLE.

Command the Volunteer Cavalry.
Every Available stOrehOuse in the
civ Rented by the Government.
Prepnrations on the Transports
for Accommodating the SOIdiery.
Nearly All the Florida Companies
in Camp.
Tampa. Fla. May 18.-Gen. Joseph
Wheeler. the old Confederate cavalry
leader recently commissioned major gem
eral of volunteers. will command TIE
United States cavalry in the Cuban army
of occupation. Gen Wheeler reached here
tonight from Chickamauga under orders
from Gen. Miles and reported to Gen.
Wade
He will take command of the cavalry.
which it is expected will be organized into
a brigade tomorrow.
once more have the 10000 United States
troops at Tampa and Port Tampa I'M
packed their baggage and settled down
into the dull routine of camp life.
There is apparently little doubt that ii
was the intention 10 have every man,
horse. mule and pound of supplies on board
ship by Sunday night, and to have the
big fleet OF transports on their way 70
Cuba by Mondays
But the appearance of that will-o'-the
wisp, the Spanish fleet. off Martinique,
and the almost hourly expectation of a
conflict between the Spaniards and Ad-
miral SIMPSONS fleet, has resulted in an
other poctponement of the invasion of
Cuba
AS one army officer, high in rank, ex-
pressed it to-day: "All the preparations
for an immediate invasion of Cuba We're
on the hypothesis that the Spanish flo
tlla had returned to Cadiz. as all the
previous delay had been on account OF
the unwillingness to send the troops over
while the Spanish fleet was supposed to
he approaching American waters
THE knowledge of the whereabouts of
The spaniards. simply makes conditions the
same as they were a week ago."
Officers and men alike are apparently
much disappointed at the turn of affairs
and news of the expected conflict between
the Spanish and American fleets is anx-
iously awaited.
It is very probable that no more alibus-
tering expeditions similar to that of the
Gussie. which sailed last Tuesday, and
the cargo of which was successfully land
ed, will be sent out from here
1t is known that the Plant line steam
ship Florida, loaded with rifles, ammuni-
ton and supplies for Gen. Gomez army.
was scheduled to leave last night, but
the order to sail was for some reason
countermanded shortly before the hour
set for sailing
Nearly 1900 troops, regulars and state
militia, arrived in Tampa to-day and went
into camp. The Sixth Cavalry, Brig
Gen. Summer, commanding and the
Third Cavalry, Mai Vessel in command
arrived from Chickamauga and pitched
their tents in West Tampa about a mile
west of the Tampa Bay Hotel.
Fifteen train loads of troops from
Chickamauga are scheduled to arrive in
Tampa tomorrow over the Plant Sys-
tenn. The Florida Central and Pennsular
viii also bring in large number
Thousands of soldiers, horses and mules.
with all their war equipments, make this
the busiest city in the entire South.
The streets are lined from sun up to sun
down with six-mule teams hauling provis-
ions from the trains.
Every vacant storehouse i'm Tampa has
been rented by the government and is now
occupied as a warehouse.
sitions as clerks and assistants, and every
body is busy. Tampa is strictly in the
swim
Every hour additional troops arrive and
the greatest alacrity is displayed in making
room for them. The city can accommo-
date 100000 with as much ease and grace
as Il is entertaining the 10000 that are now
here
In the absence of Col. Phillips. quarter
m 81 IF has pfI
duty has devolved upon Col. Anderson. He
has selected and provided the camp, had
II supplied with wood, water and commits
sary stories, and everything was made
ready for the boys as fast as they came in.
lie performed il in a way that would do
credit to veteran officer.
Matters are fast assuming shape with
the Cuban brigade. Gen. Lacret to-day
issued orders that every one connected
with his command must report for mill
tary duty tonight, remaining in camp I'M
Ger stringent orders. They expect that
within twenty-four hours they will be TAX
ing ship
At Port Tampa Capt James Mckay.
the commander OF the fleet of transports
mas charge of the work that is being done
10 get the transports ready for the &c
parture of the troops. All of the trans
ports have been provided with stalls, and
punks have been provided between decks
Tor the men. They are constructed out
o. rough pine boards but are far better
than sleeping on the decks of the vessels
The arrangements for making coffee for
the large number of men TO be carrie,,
on each of the transports are novel ana
unique. Pipes are run from the boilers
into large casks and coiled around them
IKE those in a still. Steam viii be run
through these pipes and when the ground
coffee is placed in the casks and the steam
termed on 1t will take but a short while
70 nave steaming coffee for hundreds of
men. Dozens of tanks of water are dis
iributed around the ships and each of
these will be filled with water from the
spring at 81. Petersburg sent here. There
will be no lack of good drinking water on
the transports.
The Comal and Florida have their full
cargoes of arms and ammunition on board
put no horses or men have yet been placed
on the vessels. All will be loaded al The
same time when the order for departure
comes.
1t IS wonderful how the Plant system
has managed to handle all the toops
trains and supply trains with such perfect
order and without delaying the regular