The times., 1898-06-09
NO OFFICIAL NEWS.
War Department People Believe
Troops Have Sailed.

War Department People Believe
Troops Have Sailed.
Although positive information leaked
out Tuesday evening at the War Depart
ment to the effect that the army at
Tampa would leave yesterday. not one
official word of any kind could be had
from the officials at the War Department
yesterday to tell whether the army had
really gone.
Secretary Alger was asked several times
to state if the army had departed, In
whole or in part He refused to give
any information whatever concerning
the movement of troops. When asked to
deny or affirm that the reports that troops
had left were accurate he said positively
that he must decline to give any answer
The non-committal replies given by the
Secretary are regarded by persons init
mately associated with him as being
equivalent 10 an affirmation that troops
have sailed.
Inquiries at the various bureaus where
knowledge Of the departure of troops
might naturally be learned elected the
reply that officers were forbidden TO speak
10 the press.
The reporter for The Times, as we'll as
newspaper men in general, was in every
instance directed to inquire at the office
OF the adjutant general. He issues orders
for troops to march, but like the Secre-
tary Of War, was not inclined to make
any statement about the reported depart
ure OF troops. 1t is thoroughly believed
at the department, however, that troops
left Tampa yesterday.
The fact was well known on Tuesday
that after several pointed messages had
passed between the War Department and
the Army headquarters at Tampa. ar
rangements were made for the troops to
sail yesterday.
The secrecy which has since character
lied every move at the War Department
only serves to strengthen the belief that
the army has sailed. Army officials are
trying in every way to conceal the fact.
The censorship has been strengthened and
ii is known and stated by army officers
that no news bearing on the departure of
transports vii leak through the telegraph
offices in the South until they have been
al sea three days. II is a three days trip
( from Key West to Santiago.
Adjt Gen. Corbin has also been fur
nished with a cipher clerk. All the mes
sages sent between the generals COM
manding at the front and army headquart-
ers are now sent by code. This was not
the case previous to last week. Measures
10 insure the secrecy of war moves by
Inls meIhOd were only recently adopted
The army should be in the vicinity of
Santiago by Sunday and fighting should
occur Immediately after that time 1t is
probable that the marines which left Key
West last week, and which were landed
during the bombardment Monday morn
ing, have thrown up breastworks by this
time. so that when the regular army puts
in an appearance no de1zy IN landing will
be experienced. Admiral Sampson will
distribute his warships so as to protect
the landing by the fire of his guns. The
enemy will not be able TO Withstand the
fire of his heavy batteries.
On the whole whether the army meets
with resistance at ALL it is not thought
that 1t will be effective in preventing
quick forward movement on the city
of Santiago and inside of another week
il should be in the hands of the Ameri-
cans.