Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-16
ARMY Of INVASION.
Over $4,000 Men Sail from Key
West to Cuba.
The EXPEDITION TO PORTO RICO.
Authorities Busily Engaged In Arranging
the Details-Another Batch of Troops
Ready to BE Sent to the Philip
pines-The Ambulance Ship.

WASHINGTON, June 14.-The first
army Of invasion to Cuba is now well
on its way, 80 transport steamships
bearing over $4,000 officers and men,
conveyed by battleships, cruisers, gun.
boats and auxiliary craft IS in num-
Der, having actually sailed from Key
West at daybreak yesterday morning.
An authoritative statement to this eff.
feet was made at the war department
yesterday, setting at rest all reports
that the expedition was on its way, or
had landed last week. The authorl.
ties made the announceme mt for the
reason that the time for secrecy was
passed, as the scout boats had made
sure that the path was clear before 1t,
and that no possible menace could
come from the Spanish ships or troops,
even should the enemy know that our
forces were now advancing against
them.
With the expedition off, officials
here feel that there will be q period
OF comparative inaction for few days.
BY Thursday, at the latest, the trans
ports will be off Santiago and large
American army will make its landing
on Cuban SOIL Admiral Sampson has
cleared the way for this undertaking,
and little danger is apprehended In
getting ashore. 1t will be after that,
when the advance Is made, that the
actual dramatic developments may be
expected. BY that time it is likely the
American commanders will be in direct
cable communication with the author
tiles here. Admiral Sampson has taken
the shore end Of the cable landing at
Guantanamo, and force of cable ex-
perts are rapidly restoring the line to
working order The progress of this
work has been so satisfactory that one
of the leading officials of the state de.
partment said last night that 1t was
hoped the direct cable communication
would be established by Thursday. 1t
will put an end to the dearth of Off
cial information concerning important
movements and will enable the au-
thorities here to keep in close touch
with those executing the strategic
movements.
THE EXPEDITION TO PORTO RICO.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE expedl.
ton to Porto Rico will leave Jackson
vile, Fla, within ten days. This
statement was made at the war de-
partment yesterday, and all branches
of the department are busily engaged
in arranging the details. The assistant
secretary of war has been instructed
to furnish 20 transports at the earliest
possible moment To do this 1t will
be necessary to utilize some OF the
transports now en- route to Santiago.
Assistant Secretary Meikeljohn said
yesterday that some of the vessels now
in use would return by the end of the
week. Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers,
has ordered full engineer corps to
report to Gen. Coppinger at once.
This corps, combined with a force of
marines, will form the advance guard,
as in the Santiago expedition. A larger
compliment of marines than was sent
to Santiago has been deemed neces-
sary, as the occupation Of base Of
operation will be exceedingly difficult
at Porto Rico.
TROOPS FOR THE PHILIPPINES
SAN FRANCISCO. June lA-The most