The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-10
100 U. S. TROOPS TO GO
THEY WILL SEE THE SUPPLIES
SAFELY LANDED.
SECRECY AS TO THE LANDING POINT
Expected that the Arms and Supplies Will be
in the Hands of the Insurgents with
in a Week-.Ammuniton for
BIockading Fleet.
BIOckading Fleet.

Tampa, Fla, May 9.-The steamer
Guessie, one of the Mallory Line OF
boats, chartered by the government for
use as a transport, will sail for Cuba
before morning, loaded with arms, am
munition and supplies furnished by the
United States government for the ust
of the Cuban insurgents A company OF
one hundred United States troops from
the First Regiment of Infantry, will ac
company the expedition and aid in guard
ing the landing of the valuable cargo on
the coast OF Cuba, and will, if necessary
penetrate into the interior far enough tC
place the supplies i'll the hands Of the
insurgents. The expedition will be il
charge of Captain ]. II. Dorst, Gen
eral Miles aide, who has just returned
from Cuba. The Gussie has on b0arC
between six and seven thousand rifles
and about 100000 rounds of ammunition
and several hundred boxes Of provisions
consisting principally of canned meats
and hard tacks. The utmost secrecy is
maintained regarding the point of land
ing, but in view of Capt. Dorst's recent
landing near Havana, where he com
municated with the insurgent leader
General Delgado, it is believed that tht
expedition will be headed for point no
far from Havana. The Gussie haC
mounted on her forward deck to-day, ;
one FOUNDER rapid fire motion gun fei
protection. 1t is understood, however
that she will be met at some point no
far from Key West by gun boat from
the American blockading squadron, anC
escorted to the designated landing place
The Whitney, the sister ship of th'
Gussie, which sailed for Dry Tortuga
Saturday with two companies for th'
Fifth Infantry, returned to-day. 1t il
intimated that she vii follow the Gussi
to Cuba as soon as the arms, ammunition
and supplies can be loaded. Before ;
week has passed, it is believed that tn
insurgent leaders will have been furnish
cd with arms enough for at least tifteel
thousand men, and with a base of sup
plies established on the coast, vigorous
campaign against the Spanish forces vii
be inaugurated.
Large amounts of powder and projec
tiles for the blockading squadron ar
now arriving here. On Picnic 1slant
there are twelve ears loaded with dyna
mite, torpedoes, powder and ammunition
which will soon be sent to Key West
and as many cars on the wharf tracks
An extra heavy guard has been placeC
around the cars with orders to shoe
anyone attempting to tamper with th'
seals. Hundreds of carpenters are a
work to-day fitting up the big transports
Heretofore the work has been rathe
slow, owing to lack of material, but it il
believed now that al of the boats here
will be in readiness for loading by Wed
nesday night.
The Engineer Corps to-day were drilled
in the use of the big canvas pontoons
which are a part of their equipment. II
the spacious hold of the Alamo are stored
enough of these pOntoons to form {
bridge several hundred feet in length
They will be carried along with the e2
pedition.
Tampa, Fla, May 9.-1:35 a. ma
telephone message just received from
Port Tampa, says that the steamer Gus
sic has not yet sailed, and perhaps viii
not go out before morning.