The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-24

Washington, June 22-Today, just a
week after the United States troops
left Tortugas, they began to disemberk
on Cuban soil, landing in formation at
two points so as to attack Santiago IN
the rear and ct the sides with the navy
to help the work in front. Thus, the
military invasion Of Cuba may be sald
to have fairly begun, for though the
United States marines were the first OF
the regular forces to land upon Cuban
soil their purpose after all was not in
vaSiOn but the establishment OF a
naval base and a base for cable sta
ton, in both Of which they were emil
nentIy successful. To the regular
troops was left the beginning of the
formidable task of invading Cuba in
force by land.
Just at the close Of office hours
brief cablegram came to the war de-
partment from Lieutenant Colonel AL
len. 1t had been expected all day. To
the surprise of officials the cablegram
was dated, not at Guantanamo, but at
a place called Playa del Este, about
twenty miles west of Guantanamo bay
and about half the distance between
that and Santiago bay. It's exact
wording is withheld, but the statement
was authorized that it said the troops
were landing and that preparations
had been made to attack Santiago at
the sides and rear.
The delay in receiving further cable
communications after the first of last
evening is thus explained. The lines
We're being carried westward, probably
to be nearer the point selected as the
landing place in Cuba.
In his dispatch Lieutenant Colonel
Allen said that he had heard nothing
officially from either General Shafter
or Admiral Sampson. This is account
ed for readily by his instructions. He
was told specifically by General Miles
in a cablegram sent yesterday not to
emDarrass General Shafter by any un-
necessary suggestions. Thus it will be
seen, to the delight of all true soldiers,
that General Shafter, like Admiral
Sampson, is not to be tied by exact
orders from Washington, but is to be
allowed the widest liberty of action, in
the belief that he, being on the ground,
is capable of judging best the prOpri
ETY. Of projected movements. The lieu
tenant colonel, however, who is a
member of General Miles staff and di-
rectly in charge of the signal work in
Santiago province, communicated brief
~ with General Miles in cipher the
fact that the debarkation of the troops
had begun and that a plan of attack
had been arranged.
REINFORCEMENT OF SHAFTER
BEGUN
The reinforcement of General Shat
ter actually begun today, in the de-
parture of the entire Thirty third
IL. l.
Thirty-fOurth Michigan from camp AL
ger for Santiago. They go to Newport
News and then by steamer direct tC
Santiago. If the expectations of the
projectors Of this movement are rea-
lized these troops are likely to occupy
less time in the passage than did the
first contingent which left Tampa di-
reCtly, Notwithstanding the distance is
twice as long.
Formal orders We're issued placing
General Guy V. Henry in charge of the
new division of troops composed OF
Duffield's and GarretsOns 'brigades
which are to form part of the new d.
vision. Probably some of the troops
now at Tampa will be attached also. ir
which case they will lie dispatched ir
separate transports. General Henry is
one of the most noted cavalry leaders
IN the army, possibly in the world.
LANDING TROOPS ON BOTH SIDES
or SANTIAGO.
1t is evident from the nature of Gen
-eral Miles adsiCeS that in addition tC
the troops now landing, as is supposed
not far from playa del Este, on the
~eastside of San ,iago bay, the second
landing is going on at point just
about the same distance west of the
harbor entrance. The two divisions
probably will be pushed forward stead
lily to take the town of Santiago on
elther flank While TO Garcia and Rab-
DIS bands of insurgents may be left the
task of bringing OH the attack in the
rear. The distance on the west side h
slightly greater thar on the east, but
N probably is not greater by either
route than !ifteen or eighteeen miles.
The country is mountainous but there
is no reason to believe it NAV not be
traversed by the United States troops
within week, even II it should be
necessary to construct entrenchments
and abat1iS every few miles in order
to beat back the Spaniardf. With the
beginning of the military movement.
the navy VIII draw close in shore to
pound away at the forts at the en-
trance and to draw the Gordon of war
ships so closely around the mouth as
10 make it impossible for Cervera's s
vessels to escape, even If they are dis
posed to take the most desperate
chances.
A MYSTERIOUS COAL PURCHASE.
News has reached here that - OOA
tons of coal are being loaded on shin
board at Valparaiso, Chill. AS coal is
worth abOu. SIS ton there the mr.
chase excitfs great curiosity here and