The San Francisco call., 1898-06-22
Invading Force of Sixteen Thousand Men Joins
 Sampson.
Spanish Ashore Watch With Awe the Imposing Marine Spec
 tdCle.

ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DANDY. OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA. Mon day, June 20, p. m. (via Mole St. Nicholas, Hayti, June 21, 3 a. m.) .)-The United States army for the invasion of Cuba, about 16,00O strong, commanded by General Shafter, arrived off San tiago de Cuba at noon to-day. The time of its disembarkation has not yet been determined upon, but it will be within the next three days
 When the fleet of thirty-five trans ports with it's freight of fighting men swept up the southern coast to-day and slowed up within sight Of the doomed city of Santiago, the anXiously awaited l soldiers were greeted with ringing cheers, which faintly echoed to the transports from the decks of the block ading warships far inshore. They were answered by the troops most enthu- siastically and in kind. The weeks of anxious waiting and of impatient chaf- ing were over, the army and the navy had at last joined forces. and all felt that the final blow at Santiago was at | hand.
 It was l o'clock this morning when | the lookout on the Brooklyn reported seeing the smoke of several steamers away to the southeast, and a moment or two later he announced that dozen or two transports were in sight. The news was exchanged from ship to ship, l gladdening the hearts of the weary blockaders. Then the auxiliary cruiser Gloucester, formerly J. P. Morgan's yacht Corsica, darted away to meet and i to welcome the troops.
 About half an hour later grim forest of masts had sprung up apparently from the sea, and a most impressive scene was presented as the armada swept gracefully up from the horizon toward the shores where the great struggle is to take place. The trans ports were ranged in three shifting lines, with the battleship Indiana on the extreme right and the other men of-war on the outskirts of the fleet. In this order the transports and their escorts steamed slowly in toward the hills where Morros red walls gleamed in the sunlight
 It was intended to take the entipe fleet to the line of Rear Admiral Samp- sons squadron of warships, but an or der rom the admiral stopped the ad- vance of the ships about fifteen miles to the southeast and, escorted by the Gloucester, General Shafter went for ward on the Seguranca to confer with the admiral
 The transports lay on the smooth sea while plans were discussed by the lead CTS on board the flagship. Not the faintest intimation of their intentions regarding the landing has been allowed to escape. Undoubtedly however some of the troops will be landed at Guam tanamo Bay in order to relieve the ma r1nes there, but it is generally believed the main body of the troops will be landed much nearer Santiago.
 The long and irving Journey from Tampa has left the men in much better condition than anticipated. There are fourteen mild cases of typhoid on the ships, among the patients being Major Horton of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, and several cases of measles. There are, however, no serious cases of sick ness,
 Owing to the smoothness of the pas sage the soldiers were not generally af- fected by seasickness. They are all wildly anxious to get ashore and begin fighting
 The dispatch boat of the Associated Press, as she steamed among the trans ports, was eagerly besieged on all sides for news of Admiral Sampsons opera tlons, officers and men clamoring for a word from the blockading fleet. Much satisfaction was expressed among the troops when it became known that the actual capture of Santiago is to be left to the army.
 The horses and mules on board the transports have suffered severely, many dying
 The American fleet off Santiago has been greatly strengthened by the addi- tion Of the warships which escorted the transports, consisting of the Indiana, Detroit, Montgomery, Bancroft, Hell ena, Ericsson, Foote, Hornet, Annapo- lis, Castine and Eagle.
 Wherever the landing may take place, the operations and the information of the last ten days show conclusively that bitter work is ahead for Shafter's men before the Spanish flag comes down from Morro's walls. The Spanish in- fantry, cavalry and guerrilla forces, es- tlmated by Admiral Sampson to-day to number from 30,000 to 35,000 men, are stretched from Guantanamo to Caban- as, distance of fifty miles, and ready to concentrate at the point of attack. But, starving and harassed by the in- surgents, the situation of the Spaniards IS desperate, and naval officers famil- jar with the situation fully expect ter rlflc lighting about Santiago.
 interviews with army officers on the transports show that there is some anX- iety as to how the men will stand the strain if the fighting begins immediate ly after the long inactivity at Tampa and the wearing voyage There is no
 
 the guns of the fleet will be of i'm mense assistance to the American troops.
 Before nightfall all the transports and the convcy,ng warships had drift ed nearer to the shore and the Spanish soldiers, watching from the bluffs on both sides of the entrance of Santiago harbor must have been impressed by the great array of vessels standing off shore. There were nearly sixty of them, including the troop ships and the men of-war, comprising Rear Admiral Sampsons fleet and the squadron of Commodore Schley
 The 5000 Spanish soldiers and perhaps 2000 Spanish sailors guarding the city and harbor of Santiago de Cuba doubt less concluded that there was but a small chance of overcoming the force of American warships and some 20,000 American soldiers and sailors which will be hurled against them before the present week is over.
 The dispatch boat of the Associated Press left the fleet for the cable sta- tion just at nightfall. when the war ships had taken their positions in a semi-circle in front of the harbor en- trance with the troop ships further out
 The sea was comparatively smooth,