The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-24

TRANSPORT SHIPS At HAND
General shaftsr Expects No Cuban
Invasion Until the Spanish FLEET
Has Been Disposed Of

Annotated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK. May IA dispatch to the
Times from Tampa says:
The army here has grown to consid1eat5e
proportions during the last week. within
the military district Of Tampa there II
now a force Of not less than 1000 regulars
and volunteers. It IL composed Of abeus
thirty regiments, az follows:
Regulars at Tampa-One brigade light
artillery. Third, Sixth and Ninth Cavalry;
First, Fourth, Sixth. Seventh. NINTH
Tenth, Thirteenth. Sixteenth. sevsn-
teenth, Twenty-first, Tweuty.seconds
Twenty-fourth and Twenty-nfth infantry
regiments and three companies Of engs-
neers. At Lakeland are the First and
Twentieth Cavalry.
The following volunteer regiments ere
also in this district--Three from Florida;
the eeventy-first New York. the Second
Second Georgia. and one each from Wis
consin. Mississippi and Iowa
All the regulars and most Of the voiun-i
teers are equipped and well drilled. ana
ready for Immediate service. Those that
are not equipped can be furnishsd with
uniforms and supplies at once.
General Hhafter denied report that ~
transports at Fort Tampa are not ready
and that It would take at least = week
to get them In condition for carrying the
troops. He said that all Of the eleven
ships that have been here for some time
are in complete readiness, and that the
Ave or seven now on the way. ana which
will arrive at the port In day or two. arc
thought TO be fitted with hunks and stalls.
When the orders come for the emharlkas
ton, he said, 1t will require two or three
days to get the troops. horses and artil-
lery aboard. He still adheres to his View
that no movement will be made until the
Spanish fleet IL disposed Of.
Asked AZ to how many troops would
probably be taken to Cuba, General Skater
said that $1,000 would surely be enough. He
said that he thought the first expeditionary
force would not aggregate this number.
but a considerable army would be sent
over to establish base and hold It and
await the coming Of the volunteers under
General Lee and others.
He said that he did not think the moye-
ment would be delayed on account of the
siege guns. He has received advices that
forty-eight of the guns, together with 1900
men and 1900 horses, have been ordered
from Washington, but that they have nor
yet begun to arrive. They would not be
necessary. of course, in the commencement
Of the campaign. as they are needed chiefly
to take part In the bombardmsnt Of Ha-
vana.
Eager Insurgents
NEW YORK. May IA Key West sps-
cial says:
The Cubans are fighting their way to
the coast, where they will Join with our
forces of invasion. Three hundred Cubans
engaged a squad Of Spanish cavalry ON
Thursday fifteen miles west Of Matanxas.
The battle was fiercely waged In sight Of
ships of the blockading squadron. The
fighting continued after dark, and Friday
morning the Spanish cavalry. which had
been reinforced during the night by .
battalion of infantry, we're seen retreatfng
towards Havana. The Cubans approached
rapidly to the coast to Join with our land
ing troops.
Cowboy Cavalry
GALVESTON. Texas. May x3.-Major
Day, in command of the defense Of Calves
ton, who recently inspected the steam
lighters Bessie and Laura, the property OF
the Galveston Lighter Company. and rec
commended them in proper condition for
government service. has received orders to
charter them. .
Major Day will put them in commission
as soon as possible.
The opinion is prevalent here that the
lighters will be used for transporting the
horses Of the Rough Riders who are ex-
pected to embark from here for Cuba.
Italy Protests
. PARIS, May 2s.-According to dis
. patch received here today from Rome. .
Italy has protested against the block .
. ade of Cuba, claiming it Is ineffective. .
No, She Does Not
WASHINGTON, May 2s.-At the State
Department an emphatic denial was mac
that Italy or any other nation has made
a protest against the blockade.