The record-union., 1898-06-12
Had to Burn the Town Chosen for
the Site Of EmbarkatiOn.
All Now Ready for the Landing Of the
the Troops, the Marines Holding the
Ground They Won, Protected by
the MarbIehead'S Guns.

Department was in communication to-
by cable and mail, with the result that
it is now known officially that the
American flag floats over Cuba, that it
was raised by United States marines
at the mouth of the Guantanamo.
The marines who have thus glorifed
themselves were 800 in number. They
We're obliged to fight for their lives, and
in the course of that fight to burn down
the town chosen as the site of embark
alton. All is ready at Guantanamo for
the landing of United States regular
troops as soon as they arrive there, the
marines holding the ground they won
and being protected by the guns of the
Marblehead, under Captain McCalla,
who has already during the present
war SO distinguished himself by ener-
getic and valuable services as to en-
courage the belief that he will regain
the numbers he lost some time ago
through an unfortunate incident.
Regarding the fleet of transports, no
statement is obtainable- at the War De-
partment, and it is believed thai tine
situation is as it stood yesterday with
respect TO the starting of the expedition.
The only subject for an official bull
letin to-day at the Navy Department
was Hobson's glorious feat in bottlng
up the Spanish squadron with the hull
of the Merrimac. With the frankness
and candor peculiar to the man, Ad-
miral Sampson withheld no credit from
Hobson for either the execution or pro-
lection of a well-worked out scheme to
which the constructor was entitled, and
he has cleared away the small cloud
of dissatisfaction that had shown it
self among a few of the line officers
because of the selection of a staff Off
Ger in the person of Hobson to con-
duct the desperate enterprise.
Reference was made in Simpsons
statement to the inspiring letter. of
Secretary Long, as a basis for the re-
quest for Hobson's promotion. With
the consent of Secretary Long, the par
ticular passage in the letter 10 which
Admiral Sampson referred is now made
public. II reads:
Each man engaged in the work of
the inshore squadron should have in
him the stuff of which to make a pos
sible Cushing: and if the man wins.
the recognition given him shall be as
great as that given to Gushing, SO far
as the Department can bring it about.
JOHN d. LONG, Secretary
Hobson has won, and If he escapes
L; ha
Department will redeem its promise. A
consultation of the records of the
Navy Department shows that the rec
ognition according Gushing, was in his
advancement one full grade, that is,
from the rank of Lieutenant. which he
had when he took his little boat up to
the Albemarle. to the rank of Lieuten-
ant Commander In addition, he was
given a vote Of thanks by Congress. If
Hobson is rewarded in the same meas
ure he Will, if kept in his corps, be
raised to the rank of Lieutenant Com
mander at least, and made full Con-
structor instead Of the Assistant Con-
structor he now is.
The reports of friction between army
headquarters and the various supply
bureaus Of the War Department. be-
cause of the congested condition of af-
fairs at Tampa are denied by officers
under whose directions these matters
come. 1t is admitted by these officials
that in shipping great quantities of sub
sistence and equipments to Tampa diff
ficulties arrive in their unloading, but
on behalf of the commissary branch it
IS stated authoratively that there has
never been any controversy with the
higher officials regarding this matter,
and no delay in depositing at the
points designated by the authorities all
the supplies needed. On the contrary
IL is asserted and shown that there has
been sent to the various mobiliZing
points in the South a great quantity of
ratlons vastly more than enough for all
purposes needed up to this time Like
wise, in the Quartermaster's Depart
ment the statement is made that there
has been no controversy between the
ofhcials and no recriminating kilograms
between army headquarters and that
Department, as has been published.
The War Department has acceded to
the request of the owner of the steamer
Centennial. now on the Pacific Coast.
that another examination shall be