The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-27
REGULARS AND PORTO RICO.
THE OFFICERS WOULD PREFER TO
GO TO CUBA.

Gen. FitzhuEh Lee at Tampa. Hut
Has Not Yet Taken Command Of
the Seventh Army Corps-Gen. Joe
Wheeler Also on the GrOund-Men
Can Not BE Embarked as Quickly
as Some over Enthusiastic COrres-
pOndents Have Claimed.
Tampa, Fla, May 26.-The reported
change in plans by which the first military
expedition IS to be sent to Porto Rico in
stead of Cuba does not meet with favor
among the army officers stationed here.
They are all anxious for the fighting 10
begin, but think that Cuba should be the
first field of battle. as it was in a Cuban
harbor that the men Of the Maine were
murdered. as the soldiers believe, by the
Spaniards under Gen Blanco
The army wishes to meet the forces
commanded by Blanco and the men viii
never be satisfied until that wish is graft
fed.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee is here, but has not
taken command of the Seventh army
corps. All the members of his staff have
not yet arrived, but they are expected to
be here by Saturday.
The magnificent horse presented to Gen.
Lee arrived this morning. and will be
used by Gen. Lee while here and VIII be
taken with him to Cuba.
Gen. Joe Wheeler visited Port Tampa,
where the Ninth United States Cavalry
is camped. today He found the regi-
ment camped on fiat piece of land Dor
dering on Tampa bay. There is not
shade tree in the camp and men and
horses are exposed to the full force of
the sun. Gen. Wheeler was not pleased
with this condition of affairs, and will no
doubt move the regiment to the cavalry
camp near West Tampa unless orders TO
leave for Cuba or Porto Rico are received
in day or two.
The men of the Florida regiment are
greatly elated over the report that this
regiment will be the only volunteer regi-
ment to go with the first military expedi-
ton to Cuba or Porto Rico. The reason
for this Is that the Floridians are consid-
cred to be acclimated and could stand the
climate of Cuba much better than the
men of any other regiment. The other
volunteers, it is said will be allowed to
remain in Florida as long as possible be-
fore being sent to Cuba, so that they may
gradually get accustomed to the climate
Two hundred members of the Second
Battalion, Illinois State Naval Militia, ar
rived here to-day from Chicago and left
tonight on the steamer Mascotte for
Key West, where they expect to be as
signed to duty on one of the vessels of the
navy. The men were under command Of
Lieut. Stratton, formerly of the Illinois
naval militia, but who now holds a COM
mission as lieutenant in the United States
navy. They We're enthusiastic over the
prospect of being stationed on a warshib
instead of being assigned to signal DUTY
Nearly all of them expressed the desire to
be assigned to the Iowa under Fighting
Bob Evans While at Port Tampa thew
all enjoyed their first salt water bath
Maj. Gen. Shafter has now the troops
under his command well equipped for SER
vice, and If orders TO move are received
the men can quickly be placed on the
transports at Port Tampa. This could not
be done at an hours notice however. as
some correspondents have announced as
il would take a day or longer TO get all
of the troops to Port Tampa, where the
transports are lying. AT present there
are four regiments at Port TAMPA seven
teen regiments in Tampa and its suburbs
and four regiments at Lakeland thirty
miles from Tampa. Tampa is nine miles
from the place of embarkation and il
would take considerable time to move
these twenty-five regiments and get them
loaded, SO no invasion of Cuba or Porto
Rico need be expected within a week