Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-02
TROOPS ARE EMBARk|NG.
The Order for the Invasion Of Cuba
Given Out by Secretary
of War Alger.
ALL IS STIR AT THE MILITARY CAMPS.
Thirty Thousand Soldiers Expected to Be
Sent and Landed at Four Points on the
Cuban Coast-Other Troops to Be Moved
Forward and Held ms Reserves for Fu-
ture Emergencies.

WASHINGTON, May ol.-AHe military
invasion of Cuba has begun. AT an
early hour yesterday morning the
troops that had been gathered at the
gulf ports began to break camp and
march aboard transports waiting to
carry them to the enemy's territory.
| About IS of these ships, the biggest
and fastest that could be obtained
suitable for the purpose, had been
gathered ready to receive the troops.
| They will accommodate about 10000
men, for, in a short voyage, like that
from one of the gulf ports to Cuba, it
is possible with safety and comfort to
carry a much larger number of men
aboard ship than would be admissible
in cruise to the Philippines, for in
| stance.
How many troops started yesterday
morning; where they took ship; where
they are bound, are questions which
the directing spirits of the campaign
refuse positively to answer. They
| have no desire that the Spanish should,
| have opportunity afforded them to
| gather forces to attack our soldiers as
| they land Therefore, nothing of the
| details of this first movement can be
| learned.
There is suspicion that the start
will be made from Tampa and Mobile.
and it is probable that, in such case,
| the fleets of transports will converge
at Key West to pass under the conveys.
of the war ships which Admiral Samp-
son has provided to insure the safety
| of the troops during the passage
| across the Florida straits and to insure
| them against attack at the hands of
some stray Spanish cruiser or gun
| boat
| 1t is probable that there will be no
| less than four separate military eXpedi-
| tions, and that these will be landed at
four different points. Whether Porto
| Rico is one of these points or not can
not be learned Before the entire force
which it is proposed to use in Cuba can
| be landed the transports must make
four separate voyages across the
straits.
Arrangements have been made to
| utilize the services of the insurgents to,
the largest possible extent.
The government already has sent ex-
petitions to large number of points
on the island and landed arms for the
insurgents. Most of the parties sue
was said at the war department yester-
day that sufficient number of the in
| surgents have been armed to constitute
a very effective support for the troops
as they land.
A war conference was held at the
| White House at three o'clock yester-
day afternoon between the president
and his two war secretaries Alger and
nj in n i,
of the army.
Vice-President Hobart, who accom-,
panied the president to Arlington and
returned with him to lunch, was pres
ent part of the time, and Secretary
Day, who had just returned to Wash
ington, also dropped in during the con.
ference.
After the entire situation, naval and
military, had been gone over, Secre
tary Long retired, and Secretary AL.
ger and Gen. Miles remained to discuss
more in detail the military operations.
Naturally those who participated in
the conference observed strict reti-
cence regarding it. 1t was stated,
however, in an authoritative quarter
that the discussion had covered the en-
tire range of naval and mill tary opera
tions with particular view to the &C
tive movements about to begin.
Gen. Miles brought with him a
memorandum showing the exact dis
position of the military forces now
concentrated at various points through.
out the country, with the number OH
men at Tampa and other southern
points ready for embarkation. He also
made known that at one o'clock yester
day morning, Immediately following
the receipt of definite information as
TO the presence of the Spanish fleet at
Santiago, he had gone to the war de-.
partment and had issued telegraphie
orders putting the troops in motion,
and thus starting the forward move.
ment OF the military arm of the service.
Further than this those attending
the conference would not discuss theil
plans. 1t was said at the war depart.
ment that the chief reliance would be
placed at the outset on the United
States regulars, most of whom are cen.
tered in Florida, and such volunteer
regiments as were thoroughly equipped
and reasonably well seasoned fol
service
Although the officials will not state
now many troops are available for
active service, it is roughly estimated
that there are about 10000 regulars
and $4,000 volunteers of regular in
tantry and IA regiments of volunteer
cavalry, IL battalions of artillery and
hive regiments of regular cavalry.
The infantry force, regular and vol
unteer, is about $4,000 men, the cav
airy about 1900, the artillery about
1000. How many of these have been
or will be dispatched to any given
point or to several points is not dis
closed, as that forms part of the secret
campaign plans formulated the gov
eminent.
Back of this force are other available
regiments at Mobile, New Orleans and
other points easily accessible to Tam
pa Still further back is the large vol
unteer camp at Chickamaupa compris-.
ing about 10000 infantry volunteers.
1000 cavalry volunteers and three req.
1ments OF artillery volunteers.
1t seems to be the plan-althourh as
to this there is no precise official state
ment-to have the troops at Chicka.
manga take the place of those at Flori.
da points as fast as the latter leave for
active service, thus keeping a large
force always ready for embarxat1on.
Aside from the troops already speci-
ned there are the $1,000 men at Camp
Aiger' near Washington, and lesser
n nc ~ 49,