Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-06-16

erence to the exact hour at which the
United States army left Florida for
Cuba, it may be safely said that before
the end of the week, General Shafter
will have landed with $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
Tuesday on the time of the departure
of the transports, though assurance
was given that they had all gotten
away. The confusion on this point is
easily accounted for by the difficulties
of moving simultaneously numerous
fleet composed of vessels of all sizes
and classes. No less than three times,
beginning Sunday, was definite hour
selected for the start, but in each case
some untold obstacle was encountered
that required postponement. How
Tuesday afternoon that they believed
the very last of the transports had at
last started for Cuba.
Having started the Santiago eXpe-
dition the war department has now
concentrated all of it's energies on the
preparation of force to be sent to
Porto Rico. Active movements in that
line have been made on a scale so
extensive as to lead to the supposition
in some quarters that an attack is to
be directed upon Havana, but if this is
so there is no open indication of it.
General Merritt has brought the sec
ond installment of his force into read
is believed that the adavnce guard, the
three transports which followed the
Charleston to Honolulu, met the
cruiser there and sailed in her COM
pany for the Philippines about last
Sunday. In this case it is reasonable
to expect them to arrive at Manila
within week.
The only bulletin posted at the navy
department from Sampson Tuesday
contained the satisfactory news that
the American naval officer, Lieutenant
Victor Blue of South Carolina, at the
risk of his life, had succeeded in en-
circling the bay of Santiago and count
ing the Spanish vessels therein with
the result of establishing the fact that
all of Cervera S fleet is bottled up.
An unexpected complication has
arisen as to the right of Admiral
Sampson at Santiago and Admiral
Dewey at Manila to use the cables
which each has secured with the view
of bringing them into direct tele-
graphic communication with the au-
thorities here. No messages have
been sent, and the question has arisen
as to whether it is allowable under
the rules of neutrality for the French
and British companies owning these
lines to permit them to be used for
strictly military purposes. These are
private concerns, but they are bound
to observe the neutrality of their re-
spective governments. 1t was stated
last night that negotiations are now
progressing which give promise of a
satisfactory understanding with the
companies and the forwarding of such
messages as the American admirals
send.
The Start from Tampa.
Tampa, June 15.-After weeks OF
waiting and preparation the first army
of invasion to start from the eastern
shores of the United States departed
under command of General Shafter
Tuesday morning at o'clock. The
fleet of transports consisted Of thirty
five vessels, four tenders and fourteen
conveys. These are all now upon the
gulf of Mexico headed to the south
ward until they pass Key West al
least. If their destination be Cuba
they will continue their present course
until Cape Antonio, at the west
end OF the island is doubled
when an easterly course will
be sailed until they reach the vicin-
ity of Santiago The actual embark
alton of the troops began Monday June
s. The work proceeded diligently un-
til late Wednesday afternoon, when,
after the departure of several vessels,
an important order came calling a
halt in proceedings. The Castine was
dispatched at once to overhaul the
disappearing vessels and recall them