The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-16
AMERICA 5 ARMADA
On IHE SEA.
General Skaters Expedi=
ton Leaves Key West.
BIG ARMY 70 SEIZE SANTIAGO
Conveyed by Formidable Fleet
OF War Ships, the Crowded
Transports Proceed
Without Fear of
Molestati0n.
Molestation.
THE TROOPS WILL LIND TODAY.
Contrary to General Belief the Embar-
katiOn May Not Be Made in Guam
tanamo Bay Which Sampson
is Holding.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 12.-Un-
der command of Major General Shat
ter, the first division of the United
States army sailed tonight from Key
West for Santiago de Cuba to besiege
and capture that town, having come
down from Port Tampa and halted at
Key West until the Spanish second
fleet scare subsided. The conveying
war ships number between sixteen
and nineteen. With this powerful
force there is no longer reason for APP
prehension that the transports can be
attacked successfully by any Spanish
war ships, even if such should have es-
capped the vigilant search of the naval
commanders at Key West and off Ha-
vana. 1t is believed here that the
sally out of Havana of three Spanish
gunbOats was intended to create the
impression that they were prepared
to 60 out to attack the transports.
The crafts were detected Immediately
ON w = VI lulStIS anu
driven back pell nell into Havana
harbor under the protection of the
guns of the shore batteries.
Even if these boats had escaped,
they could have done no damage, for
the size of the convoy furnished for
the troop ships is sufficient to warrant
the belief that they would have been
speedily destroyed should they have
had the courage to make an attack
upon the fleet of American ships. The
Spanish gunboats are not of formid-
able character, not one of them being
the equal in power of the smallest of
the American cruiser, or even of such
gunboats as the little Bancroft.
The Naval War Board was in ses-
sion to-day making the final pre-
parations for the disposition of the
guardship.
The transports will be kept as close
ly together as safe navigation will
permit and the warships will be dis
posed ahead, astern on either flank.
The fast scouting vessels will be
thrown far out in advance of the trans
ports, and in order to insure against
an attack from the rear some of these
vessels, such as the st. Louis, perhaps,
will linger far astern, ready to signal
the heavily armed cruisers at the first
sign of an approaching foe. The
stately battleship Indiana it is ex-
pected will lead the procession of
ships.
The troops should arrive off San
tiago by Wednesday night, suppos-
ing the fleet proceeds at eight knots
speed, and landing operations should
begin by Thursday, for General Shat
ter will not keep his men cooped up
on shipboard moment longer than
necessary.
1t is not believed that they will be
landed at Caimanera, the point on
Guantanamo Bay where the American
flag now flies over the heads of Samp-
sons marines, as that place, while
well adopted to serve as naval base,
and as a harbor of refuge for the
American war ships is not particularly
well suited for the beginning of mill
tary operations.
In ten days time, unless unforeseen
obstacles are encountered, the move
ment upon Porto Rico will begin. The
War Department has been in close
communication by telegraph with
Gen. Miles at Tampa, and all of the
necessary instructions have been given
to the commanding general for the
preparation of the military forces to
be used in this part of the campaign.
Gen. Miles, in turn, has been consult
ing Gems. Coppinger and Lee at Jack
sonville, giving the necessary detailed
instructions, and all is so near ready
that were some essential supplies on