Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01

bnt nothing is said as to their destination.
Washington, D. c., May 3O.-There ap-
pears to be 10 reason ROW why the mill
tary inCasion of Cuba cannot begin as
soon as a sufficient number of troops can
be equipped Tor the campaign. 1t was
with deep qualification that the secretary
of the navy last night received mes
sage from Commodore Schley that finally
removed from the field of conjecture any
question as to the location OF Cerveras
Spanish flying squadron The commo-
dore's telegram was brief, but TO the
point,
The text of his dispatch has not been
given out, but the substance has been
made public. The commodore said that
he had sighted the Spanish fleet in SAINT
ago harbor. The department construed
words &c mean that the officer had .
self with his own eyes, seen Cervera S
fleet. and as near as can be learned this
gratifying spectacle was beheld by SchlGy
yesterday morning. He expressed the be
lief that the whole feet was within Santi-
ago harbor, but he did not actually see
two Of the big cruisers, the NiZcaya and
the Oquendo. Like the commodore, the
naval officers here are confident that these
two cruisers are in the harbor, for they
say it would be very bad policy for an
admiral il Cervera's position to divide his
fleet
Even if it should be true, however. that
the Nizcaya and Oquendo are at large,
they can do little harm unless their COM
manders have arrived at that despera e
state of mind when they are willing 10
submit their ships to certain destruction
for the sake of inficting some small in
jury on enc of the unprotected vessels of
the American navy or for the glory of
running the blockade. The navy depart
a p
rival Of torpedO-bOat destroyer Terror at
San Juan. They say she has made her
last cruise under the Spanish flag. whence
1t is inferred that one Of the American
cruisers IS already on her way to bottle
her up in San Juan harbor
It is believed that Sampson confident
of Schley's ability to hold the Spaniards
III Santiago harb0r is now rapidly preDar-
ing to convey the military expeditions
the starting Of which cannot be deferred
much longer Sampson has reinforced
Schley's feet with some Of the best iron
clads, the Iowa, for instance, 50 that
there is no question of his overwhelming
the Spaniards in point of force The
CienfuegOS blockade, which was net
abandoned, but was temporarily weak
cned to ensure the safety of some of the
blockading vessels from attack by the
Spanish flying squadron. will now be re-
established in all Of its old rigor.
No one who can speak authoritativeIy
will say when the military expeditions
will start. Secretary Alger. when asked
the direct question this morning, replied
very decidedly that it would be impolitic
to make any statement on that subject:
1t would only serve to give the Spanish
IN Cuba an opportunity to mass forces at
certain points and thereby expose the
American troops to unnecessary dangers
Gen. Miles is prepared for instant de-
parture. a special car prepared for the
commanding general and his staff lies
on siding at the Pennsylvania station
here, ready to start whenever needed The
general himself refuses to say when he
VIII move. but there are signs at army
headquarters this morning that indicate
an early departure, possibly tonight
DECORATION day at the war department
was holiday in name only. so far as the
greater part Of the officials were con-
cerned, Us they were at their desks for
a good portion of the day. The depart
ment was technically closed, but notwith-
standing this large number of visitors
put IN an appearance and saw Secretary
Alger and his assistants The secretary
remained until about II o'clock, when he
left the department intending to go to the
Arlington National cemetery to witness
the exercises there. Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn also intended to go. but was
detained because of the pressure of bust
ness matters.
Maj.-Gen. Butler of South Carolina. re-
Gently appointed was among the callers at
the war department this morning. The
general expects to return to his South
Carolina home IN day or two to attend
to some important matters, after which
he will return to Washington for his or
ders.
Tampa. Fla, May 30.-Plans have been
outlined by Maj.-Gen. Lee for the placing
of the entire Seventh Army corps at Jack
sOnville and along the east coast of Flor
IL T. IL Ii 1. I'LL IL
headquarters of the corps at jacksonville
where the main body of troops will be To-
Gated, bat regiments will be placed also at
St. Augustine, Miami and probably other
points. Lakeland, as a rendezvous point
probably will be abandoned for the pres
ent. The four regiments at that point, all
of which are embraced in the Fifth Army
corps, Gen. Skaters command will be
moved to Tampa.
The Second Massachusetts, is already
| under orders to move, while the Seventy
first New York and the First and Tenth
United States cavalry will be brought
here as soon as possible.
Within the next week a general chang
ing about Of the troops in the Fifth and
Seventh army corps may take place.
Brig.-Gen. Young, commanding the cav
airy brigade at Atlanta came to Tampa
today and conferred with Gems. Shafter
and Wheeler relative to the removal of
port of Lieut.. Miley of Gen Skaters
staff, who is inspecting prospective camp
grounds at Miami and other east-coast
points, will depend III a great measure the
number of troops to be placed along the
east coast. Should his report be favora bic
it is probable that the five regiments of
volunteer troops at Tampa in the Seventh
army corps will be sent to the east coast
All drills were suspended today in OBJ
servat ton of Decoration day.
Memorial services were held IN the aft
ernoon at the Tampa Heights tabernacle
under the auspices of the local G. A. r.
post. The quartermasters and commits
sary departments are having great diff
Guilty in caring for the tons of supplies
| of all kinds that are being shipped here.
The railroad tracks are almost blockaded
with cars and in consequence of the delay
in switching many cars of commissary
supplies are said to be spelling on the
tracks. Fifteen cars Of bacon have al
ready spoiled, it is said The matter
has become SO serious that the army sur
geons have issued peremptory orders to
have the stuff removed at once. Sew
eral tons OF spoiled meat have been
pitched into the bay