The sun., 1898-06-11
Transports Wait for Convoy

Special Dispatch to The Sun.
WASHINGTON, June TO- The transports
with the United States troops will prob
able not leave Key West for Santiago for
three or four days, certainly not before
the first OF next week. The soldiers are
on board the ships and the latte. are at
sea off Key West and will remain there
until the Navy Department can furnish a
sufficient and adequate convoy to escort
them to Santiago de Cuba.
The President, as exclusively stated in
these dispatches yesterday, has ordered
the delay in the sailing, and although
publicly the army and navy both de-
clare they are ready to start and put
little faith in the stories of the Spanish
warships off Havana, still the President
is determined that the transports shall
not sail while there is the least suspicion
of l. Spanish vessel lowering between
Key West and Havana.
The situation was discussed at the Cab
met meeting, but it was not matter for
the Presidents advisers to decide, as the
President himself has taken the matter
in his hands, and while there is undoubt-
edIy difference of opinion between the
Army and Navy Departments, nothing
will be done until the President orders
it. 1t was the Navy Department which
first raised the scare of Spanish warships
waiting in the Florida straits for trans
ports.
The army, according to instructions
from headquarters here, embarked the
troops, sailed the transports from Tampa
on Wednesday, but was suddenly halted
off Key West. The Navy Department
declares it has fleet of over dozen
war vessels at Key West ready to convoy
the transports, but at the same time has
acknowledged in report to the Presi-
dent that if there are Spanish warships
outside of Havana the naval vessels
waiting at Key West are not of the class
to give battle to Spanish cruiser. The
only batteship in the convoy is the
Indiana, and hence the President de-
cided to hold the transports until the
Navy Department could order Admiral
Sampson to send the Iowa and perhaps
an ;ther battleship and cruiser to Key
West to join the fleet.
The vessels, now at Key West compos-
ing the conway fleet are the Indiana,
Nashville, Montgomery, Detroit, Will
mington, Marietta, Bancroft, Annapolis,
Castine, Vicksburg, Newport and one or
two vessels of the mosquito feet 1t will
be seen from this list that all the vessels
! are either second class cruisers or gun
boats, and would be easily vanquished if
attacked by, an armored cruiser OF the
Vizcaya type, and the Indiana could not
protect the whole fleet, if it was attacked.
The officials at the War Department,
from the Secretary down, deny en-
phatically that they are responsible for
the delay, and the facts in the case, as
stated show cOnclusiveIy that it is not
the War Departments fault that the
Santiago.
The War Department. is especially an
moved at the deav because the army is
not only anxious to get to Cuba and
assist Admiral Sampson in his attmepts
to capture Santiago, but it fears bad
results from being obliged TO keep SO
many troops on transports in tropical
seas during this weather, The delay
also interferes with the Porto Rican ex-
pedition. From indications today it
will be at least Sunday night or Mon
day before the Iowa and the other battle
ships from Admiral SIMPSONS fleet off
Santiago can reach Key West. Although
dispatches were sent to him last night,
they will have to await the d spatch-
boats to take them to him. 1t will take
a couple OF days for the vessels to steam
back to Key West and for the transports
and the convoys to get ready to start By
that time the Navy Department. will
certainly be able to find out the truth Of /
the report as to the Spanish vessels off
Havana.
England Says Seek Spain.
Special Dis,aa.ai, tc TArGuN
LONDON, June, lo.--The St. James