Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-16
INVADING ARMY OFF
Transports Carrying Gen. Skaters
Troops Sail at Last.
AMERICAN TROOPS WILL SOON Land.
Before the End Of the Week $4,000 United
States Soldiers VIII Be on Cuban Soil
and the Investment Of ssnti-
ago by Land VIII Begin.

TAMPA, Fla, June Is. After weeks
Of waiting and preparations the first
army OF invasion to start from the
eastern shores OF the United States
departed under the command Of Gen.
Shafter yesterday morning at nine
o'clock. The fleet of transports con.
sisted OF So vessels, four tenders and
IA conveys. These are all now upon
the gulf Of Mexico, headed southwark
until they pass Key West at least II
the destination be Cuba, they will con.
tinue their present course until Cape
Antonio, at the west Of the islands is
doubled, when an easterly course will
be sailed until they reach the vicinity
Of Santiago. The alleged cause Of the
delay was the report that the Hornet,
while out scouting, had sighted sew
eral Spanish warships. Like a wet
blanket came the order to halt.
The unloading Of the Florida, which
had been run into by the Miami and
seriously damaged last Wednesday,
gave grounds for the rumor that all
the transports were being unloaded.
Newspaper men were confidently told
on Friday night that they would bet
ter 20 on board. The following day
II was openly stated that the sailing
would occur on Sunday noon. The
rush Of the previous Monday was
repeated; Gen. Miles and his staff went
TO Port Tampa Sunday morning to de-
! liver parting instructions During
heavy rain squall on Saturday night
at eight o'clock, while the transports
were strainng at their cables, the
little tug Capt. Sam steamed from ship
TO ship, megnphoning the orders, stand
ready to sail at daylight" Above the
roar Of the storm, wild cheers were
heard and bright fash Of lightning
revealed the soldiers standing In the
rain, waving their wet hats and hur-
rahing Then Sunday passed, the
transports ut the docks and
those In midstream receiving their
quotas Of men and the neces.
saries to sustain them. Gen. Miles
again went TO the port on Mon
day on the early train. The stirring
scenes continued, the mad rush had
not abated. Gen. Miles, from the OBJ
servaton end Of his ear, watched the
crowd Us 1t passed near him, The
transports swinging at their moorings
were plainly in view, as were also
many Of those at the. docks. BY day
light yesterday oil the ships except
the Seguranca had moved down
the bay. At nine o'clock the
6eguranca amid cheers and the blow.
ing Of whistles, followed. Gen.
6hafter and his staff were the last 70
leave. The last orders were handed
TO Lieut.. Miley, an aide to Gen.
Shafter, yesterday morning and i'm.
mcdiately the flagship started
AMERICAN TROOPS WILL SOON LAND.
WASHINGTON, June ID. Without ref
erence TO the exact hour at which the
United States army left Florida for
Cuba, 1t may DO safely said that be.
fore the end Of the week Gen. Skater
will have landed his $4,000 United
States troops on Cuban soil, and that
the investment OF Santiago by land
will have begun. There was some
confusion In the official mind here yes
terday on the time of departure Of the
transports, though assurance was
given that they had all gotten
away. The confusion on this point
Is easily accounted for by per-
sons who know anything Of the
difficulties Of moving simultaneously
numerous feet composed Of vessels
Of all sizes and classes. No less than
three times beginning Sunday, was a
definite hour selected for the start,
and the war department SO notified
Yet In each case some untold obstacle
was encountered that required notif-
cation to the department that post
ponement had been forced. Sailors
say such delays are inevitable, and
that rarely does a fleet get off by first
intention. However, the department
officials stated yesterday afternoon
that they believed the very last of the
transports had Mt last started for Cuba.
After all, the delay Of u day or two in
the start is not calculated to make any
material difference in the plans, and
the only person who will suffer from
1t will be SIMPSONS marines, camped
on the tropical bay of Guantanamo
and obliged to maintain the creates,
vigilance in repelling the bushwback.
ing Spanish irregulars who swarm in
the thickets. This foe gives no trouble
during the daylight hours, owing to
the presence Of the Marblehead with.
In easy range, but ut night. when the
wnrship is unable to distinguish Their
own men from the enemy the lot o,
the marines is very exciting one.
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