The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-15
CABLE COMPLICATIONS.
We May Not Be Able to IJse Oar
Captures.

Washington, June 14.-Withopt roso.-
ence to the exact hour at which +ha
United States army left Florida for Cuha
1t may be safely said that before tho o,d
Of the week, General Shafter will hove
landed with his Is, 900 United St.tas
troops on Cuban soil, and that the in
vasion of Santiago by land will have ba.
gun. There was some confusion in the
official mind here as to the time Of tho
departure Of the transports, though as.
surance was given that they had all got
ten away: The confusion on this noint
is easily accounted for by persons who
know anything Of the difficulty OF moving
simultaneously numerous fleet composed
of vessels of all sizes and classes. No lass
than three times, beginning Sunday was
a definite hour selected for the start. and
the war department. so notified. vet in
each case, some untold obstacle was en-
countered that required notification to
the department that postponement had
been forced. Sailors say such delays are
inevitable and rarely does a fleet get off
by first intention. However, the depart
ment officials stated this afternoon that
they believed the very last of the trans
ports had at last started for Cuba. After
all, the delay of day or two in the start,
is not oaloulated to make any material
difference in the plans and the only per-
sons who will suffer from it will be
Simpsons marines, camped near the
tropical bay Of Guantanamo and Obliged
to maintain the strictest vigilance in re.
pelling the bushwhacking Spanish ire.
gulars who swarm in the thickets. This
foe gives no trouble during the daylight
hours owing to the presence OF the
Marblehead, within easy range, but at
night, when the warships are unable to
distinguish their own men from the
enemy, the lot of the marines is a very
exciting one. -
Having started the Santiago expedition
the War Department. has now concentrated
all its energies in the preparation of the
forces to be sent to Porto Rico. Active
movements in that line have been made
on a scale SO extensive as to lead to the
superstition in some quarters that the at
tack is to be direct upon Havana, but If
this is so, there is no open indication of
1t. The volunteers collected at Chatta-
nooga, $4,000 in number are reaching q
degree of excellence under the manage.
ment of General Brooke that would war
rant the government in ordering them
Immediately into active service, but un-
fortunately, there is still a considerable
lack of equipment that will not permit
Of this.
General Merritt has brought the second
installment of his force into readiness
and sails for Manila tomorrow. 1t Is be-
lieved that the advance guard, the three
transports which followed the Charleston
to Honolulu, met the cruiser there and
sailed in her company for the Philippines
about the 18th. In that case it is reason
able to expect them to arrive at Manila
within week.
The only bulletin posted at the Navy
Department today from Sampson oon-
tanned the satisfactory news that an
American naval officer, Lieut.. Victor
Blue Of South Carolina, at the risk Of his
life, had succeeded In encircling the bay
of Santiago and counting the Spanish
vessels therein, with the result Of estab-
fishing the fact that all of Cervera's feet
were bottled up.