The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-11
70 GUARD THE TROOPS.
A Strong Fleet to Convoy the
Cuban Army Of Invasion.
SIXTEEN BIG MARINE FIGHTERS

Attack by Spaniards-The Charles
toms Pacific Voyage.
Washington, June 11.-Out of the
maze of doubt and contradiction as to
the dispatch of the first army of in
vasion to Cuba, one thing stands out
clearly, namely, that the government,
feeling strong In Its present position
and plan, is moving cautiously and
with the delberation which 1t believes
will secure success unattended with
disasters. With this main purpose in
view the army and navy are co-oper-
ating toward the dispatch of the troops,
some $4,000 in number, under escort Of
a strong fleet of naval conveys, made
up of 10 warships, headed by the bat
tleship Indiana. Unattended by this
strong fleet the troops might have left
last Friday, when one strong naval
convoy was ready for this service.
Since then, however, reports have come
as to the presence of Spanish ships in
the North Atlantic. Realizing that
nothing was to be gained by haste, and
that the war was progressing steadily
towards success it was determined not
to take the one small chance Of having
our troop transports menaced by some
scouting ship Of the enemy.
AS result the troop transports have
not proceeded to Cuba, either Thursday
or the day before. as has been reported.
They are in readiness to go, but will
not move until the naval convoy Is
ready to accompany them, assuring the
safe conduct from Florida to the point
of destination. Whether that will be
today or tomorrow the war department
positively declines to say, and there Is
authority for the statement that any
reports purporting TO give the hour or
day when this formidable hotilla of
invasion will start was not only un-
warranted, but meets with the most
vigorous official condemnation. The
administration feels that the time has
come when it is of utmost importance
that the precise movements of this in
vading fleet shall not be published in
this country, and thus heralded to the
enemy.
The completeness with which the
transport of troops has been planned
Is shown in the official list of transport
vessels given out at the war depart
ment. OF this list "a large steamships.
varying from 4.1o0 tons down to 600
tons, are at Florida ports ready to
carry our troops to the point Of inva-
sion. There are some Is other craft, in
cluding vessels suitable for conveying
fresh water, stores. etc, and for light
ering the troops and stores from the
ships to the beach when the embarka-
trop
Of about so steamships, augmented by
the fleet of naval conveys, 16 in num-
ber, will make formidable marine pro-
cession, exceeding in magnitude the
notable spectacle Of the naval review
during the Worlds fair year.
The first official confirmation of the
engagement at Guantanamo last Tues
day came to the navy department yes
terday and was made the subject of a
bulletin. The terms in which Admiral
Sampson described the affair tended
strongly to take away the large I'M
portance that had been given 1t in the
unofficial dispatches. There was q no.
table failure on the part of the admiral
to mention anything like landing,
although the statement that the Mar
blehead now holds the lower ba may
by implication carry with it the idea
that her marines are ashore. Elderly
naval officers who have been in Guam
tanamo bay describe it as admirably
suited to the reception Of transports.
The locality is one that would make a
good base of operation sagainst Santl-
ago itself, should it be decided to at
tack the latter town by the troops from
the rear instead of by the warships
The statement coming from San
Francisco to the effect that the real
object of the Charleston's voyage was
the seizure of the Spanish Ladrone
Islands has small basis of truth in it.
1t became necessary to find places in
the Pacific where the monitors could
replenish their bunkers. The officials
do not deem it prudent to name the
particular islands chosen for the pur-
pose, but it is obvious that the first re-
course would necessarily be to some Of
the Spanish islands. Therefore it Is
assumed that If the Charleston really
goes to one Of the Spanish islands it
will be with the purpose Of securing
in advance q suitable harbor for the
use of the monitors.
A very substantial evidence of self
sacrifice for the sake of their country
is afforded by the taking up of mill
tary nurses duties by the daughter of
Secretary Long, Miss Margaret Long,
with some of her chums at the John
Hopkins Medical school, of Baltimore.
The young ladies who go with Miss
Long are Dorothy Reid, Mabel Austin,
daughter of Ex-Governor Austin, of
Minnesota, and Mabel Simis. They
have already reported to the naval
hospital at Brooklyn to nurse the
wounded and sick sailors who We're sent
up from SIMPSONS fleet on the SolaCe.