The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-01

tdTy iutaS;Ou Va OuUc udS OSS uu.
Unless the oroers of the war depart
ment miscarried. at an early hour this
morning the troops that have been
gathered at the guilt ports began to
break camp aud march aboard the
transports waiting to carry them to
the enemy's territory.
About 25 of these ships. the biggest
and fastest that could be obtained
suitable for the purpose, had been
gathered ready to receive the troops
They will accommodate about 10000
men, for in shot voyage like that
from one of the gulf ports to Cuba
it is possible with safety and comfort
to carry much larger number Of
men aboard ship chan would be ad-
missible in the case of cruise to the
Philippines, for instance. How
many troops started this morning !;
where they took ships; where they
are bound are questions which the
directing spirits of the campaign
refuse positively to answer They
have no desire that the Spanish
should have opportunity afforded
them to gather forces to attack our
soldiers as they land Therefore,
nothing of the details of this first
movement can be- learned. There is
spspicion that the start will be made
from Tampa and Mobile. and it is
probable that in such case the fleets
of transports Will converge at Key
West to pass under the conveys of
warships which Admiral Sampson
has provided to ensure them against
attack at the hands of some stray
Spanish cruiser or gunboat.
1t is probable shat there will be no
less than four separate military expe-
ditions, and that these will be landed
at four different points. Whether
Porto Rico is one of these points or
not cannot be Eearned. Before the
entire force which it is proposed to
use in Cuba can De landed, the trans
ports must make four separate voy
ages across the straits.
Americans have made arrange
ments to utilize che service Of the in
surgents to the greatest possible
extent. The government already has
sent expeditions to large number Of
points on the leland and landed arms
for the insurgents.
Most of the parties we're success
ful in their object, and it was said at
| the war department to-day that a
sufficient number of the insurgents
have been armed to constitute very
effective support for the troops as
they land.
A war conference was held at the
White House at 3 o'clock this after
noon between the President and his
two war secretaries. Alger and Long.
and Major General Miles, in command
of the army.
Vice President Hobart. who ac-
companied the President to Airing
ton and returned with him to lunch,
was present part of the time, and
Secretary Day. who had just returned
to Washington. also dropped in dur.
ing the conference. After the entire
situation, naval and military, had
been gone over, Secretary Long re
tired and Secretary Alger and Gen
Miles remained to discuss more in
detail the military operations now
about to be put into execution as a
result of the definite information that
thesSpanish eqaadron is securely held
within Santiago harbor. Naturally,
those who participated in the con-
ference observed strict reticenc re-
garding it 1t was stated. however,
in aa authoritative quarter, that the
discussion had covered the entire
range of navel and military opera
tions, with particular view to the
active movements about to begin.
Gen Miles brought with him mem
orandum showing the exact disposl-
ton of the military forces now con-
centrated at various points through
out the country with the number Of
men at Tamoa and other southern
points ready for embarkation. he
also made known that at l O'Clock
this morning. Immediately following
the receipt of definite Information as
to the presence of the Spanish fleet
at Santiago. be had gone to the war
department aud had issued telegraph
ic orders putting the troops in mo-
ton. thus starting the forward move
menr Of the military arm OF the SER
vice. Further than this those at
tending the conference would not
discuss their plans
II was said at the war department
that chief reliance would be placed
at the outset on the United States
regulars. most of whom are centered
in Florida, and in such volunteer regi-