The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-25
It IS REAL WAR NOV.
Tbs Landing of Troops in Cuba
Without Casualties.
CUBANS WELL ARMED And EQUIPPED.
Gen. Miles Expects a Battle Immediately
"That's What the Troops are There
FOF"-Further ReinrOrcements Or
dered 20 the Front, Etc, Etc.

ger and Gen. Miles were in conference
in the secretary's ofiice at four o'clock
yesterday afternoon when the first Ma
dr'd buiIetIA tnnounc:ng that Tight
Ing had nc-LX. wh> shown to them.
The secretary rcid it aloud with evil
dent satisfaction. and both expressed
themselves gTatif Fl with this favOra-
Die report. coming as it dId from the
enemy. There was no surprise tina
the fighting had begun SO soon
1t was suggested by the reporters
that the troops had completed their
landing only yesterday morning.
Yes: but they have gone there TO
fight, and are ready to begin at once
said Gen. Miles
Secretary Alger said no word had
been received up to that hour indica-
ting that fighting was in progress. He
had no reason to doubt. however, that
our troops had encountered the Span
ish forces, aud had given a good ac-
count of themselves. He commented
on Admiral Cervera'S cable that the
situation was critical" and hat the
Spaniards had been obliged to retire,
as in strange contrast with Madrid's
claim of a spanish victory"
Gen. Miles said that the American
troops would 10Y push forward az
excessively drivin Ia the Spanish and
forcing them to fight.
There was not IL suggestion of ap-
prehenSion or doubt. either with Sec
rotary Alger or Gen. Miles. as to what
the outcome would be. They had
made their plans well and they were
confident that Gen. Shafter and his
troops would be hatnmering at the
gates of Santiago before long.
Will Make Their Strongest stand Near
Santiago.
The impression here is that the
Spaniards will make their strongest
stand close to Santiago and the inner
harbor within the range of protection
of the guns of the big Spanish cruisers
lying there. There is no doubt that
until these ships are removed rom the
field of operatiOnst The campaign against
Santiago will be conducted against or
derS.
The guns of the ships command the
hills over which Our soldiers must GO
to attack the town and reach the bay,
but we will soOn bring IL own ar
tillery into play. The naval officers
here believe that when the time comes
for ali attack by land on the town,
Sampson will force his way into the
harbor and take part in the engage
ment. They are satisfied that the
wreck of the Merrimac does not COM
pletely block the channel. and saythat
If Sampson does not coIne in the Span
ish fleet is likely to make a desperate
effort to get out. The mine are To be
considered in such a case, but it is be-
iieved that once MORO castle is taken
by the combined attack of the soldiers
and fleet. these Instructions can be
easily removed with the experience
gained in Guantanamo bay.
Landing of Troops Completed Without
Casualties.
The only positive news coming to The
war department up To the close of
Office hours was a dispatch to Gen.
Miles from one of his staff officers
with Gen. Shafter, and also Il brief dis
patch to Gen. Greedy from Lieut.-Col.
Allen. Gen. Miles dispatch stated in
substance that the landing of troops
had been co npleted without any cas-
~uaities, ave to one Cuban soldier who
had his arm injured by the bursting of
q shell.
The troops of Garcia and Rabi, about
5,7Or in number, had met the American
forces with enthusiastic greetings.
Cubans Well Armed and Disciplined.
Stress was laid upon the point that
the CubanS were well armed and well
disciplined. Gen. Garcia was conf
dent that his forces would be swelled
TO 10. 900 men as soon as Santiago fell.
A5nut the only need among the Cubans
WAS shoes and quinine. The dispatch
to ten. Greedy merely stated that pro- |
greSs was being made in connecting
the military forces directly with the
war department.
Ordered to Reinforce Gen. S~Iafter.
During the day orders were issued to
the entire division. comprising the
newly-creatcd command of Brighten.
Guy V. Henry. for the speedy Gepar-
ture to reinforce Gen. Shafter at San
tiago. Already the thirty-third Michi-
gan regiment and one battalion of the
t lirty-fourth Michigan lave started on
this mission. Yesterdays orders cover
the balance of Gen Henry's command.
II includes the remaining battalion of
the th~irty-fourtt Michigan and the
ninth Massachusetts regiment. These
will complete ten. Duffield's command.
The third Virginia. which belongs to
this brigade. will not go. as its equip
mcnt is incomplete.
'ihr orders also cover the entire
brigade of Brighten. GarretSon. which
inc udes the sixth Illinois. sixth Mass
az ,u>ctts and eighth and ninth Ohio
abe plan is to move all of Gen.
Hcnry's division on the Harvard and
Yale. these ships to make two round
trips. The first trip will carry most.
il not all. of Gen. Duffield's brigade.
The wal department allows three days
for the trip. two days to unload the
troops. and three DAYS to return to
Newport News, making eight days.
tx that time Gen. Garrison brigade
will be at Newport News ready to go
board the ships, and then will come
the second trip, taking three days.
with two days allowed for Garretson's