Evening star., 1898-06-13

Tampa bay in one or two divisions for
different destinationsiif the needs of war
so demand. It's growth is only limited by
the number Of the transports, and these are
receiving many additions. Whatever i'm
patierce may have been felt because an
advance could not be made in Cuba in suf-
flcient force. the cause no longer exists.
The last stage Of preparation has been
passed. When these lines are published
10000, 10000 or 10000 troops may be out
at ssa. i
Life on Shipboard.
Meantime, while waiting the orders to
advance, life on board the troops hips is
what it will be when the feet Is under way.
There is one difference. Land soldiers are
rot seamen. They cannot transform them
selves into hardened sailors. Neither Cuba
nor Porto Rico can be reached without
gaining knowledge of the Florida straits
and the Gulf stream. The soldiers will all
have day two of misery, during which
the invasion of a foreign country which
has to be reached by crossing lumpy waters
will cause them to realize that war is not
entirely combat of arms at close quar-
ters. But since they have been living
aboard ship in the glasslike waters of a
sheltered port the soldiers have not made
themselves unhappy thinking of unpleas-
ant experiences that are to come The
members of the volunteer regiments who
are afoat have congratulated one another
at their good fortune in going with the
first division, which comprises SO large a
part of the regular army. The regulars en-
1oyed their first day on the water and the
edge has not been taken off their enjoy
ment. The novelty of the change has
ing call until taps at night they are con-
tent 1t Is a peculiar sight to look across
the bay and see them perched like human
flies by the scores high up in the shrouds
of the vessels. This is sport relished
because it is trif1e adventurous. Another
amusement is to cheer en- masse at every
chance. Discipline does not seem to suffer
from these relaxations. The spirit of the
men which vents itself is a wholesome one.
There will be inquiry about the quarters
OF the soldiers on these transports Posi-
bly, there will be grumbling. 1 have look
ed through several of them. The arrange
ments are good both as to sanitation and
as to personal comfort Naturally neither
oncers nor men have the freedom that is
Afforded in camp. When the voyage Is end
ed some elbows that will have to help sight
the Krag-Jorgensen rifles may be stiff and
crampeo. IL was necessary to utilize every
inch of sea room and this has been done
Otherwise, commodious as most of The
transports are, they could not carry quotas
of men ranging from 500 to LOCO. But
every means that could be suggested for
having the troops in good condition when
they land seems to have been employed
On some ships even the hurricane decks
have been rooted over, while on others
awnings will be made to answer the pur-
pose of shelter from sun and rain.
The appearance of these transport ves-
sells is in itself an instructive lesson in the
reserve resources of war. There are three
or four queer little craft that might be
Noah's arks, and for which use has been
found. few side-wheelers are also in
the fleet, but it is in the main made up of
splendid merchant ships. Their present
employment causes a momentary reelection
on the extent to which war interrupts COM
merce. Many of them piled between Amer
lean and Spanish ports, while others would
not now care to take the risk of capture
which. following their former courses at
sea, would involve: but reflections of this
kind can await the conclusion of hostili-
ties. The transports are a notable part of
the war equipment of the United States.
because of their similarity. The differences
In design and construction are lost in the
harmonious general outline. Each has the
single big and lofty smokestack and the
rigging without yardarms. They do not
have military masts, coming towers, tur-
rets, barbettes or immense guns. All such
sUllen evidence Of war engineery is lacking.
Yet they have that which is a more vivid
sign Of war. This is the presence of the
swarming soldiers who make beehives of
the ships.
Capacity of the Transports.
Daytime gives an idea of the potential
capacity of the transports. Night also Of
fers its picture. The contrast with the
blockading squadrons would be a marked
one. A stretch of dark canvas with here
and there black splotch would answer for
the squadron Of warships, whether lying off
Havana, drifting with the gulf stream, or
cruising at half speed. No ships lights are
shown with Sampson and Schley and it
takes sharp lookout to keep one black
mass from drifting into another. When
lights are shown they are usually flashing
signals, which appear and disappear in
moment. leaving only the darkness of the
waters. When the searchlight is flashed it
Is generally at close and bi.r1iay range.
The boat to which the searchlight is direct
ed finds itself right under a dazzling eye CT
tremendous brilliancy, which seems to glare
from out of space, for nothing of the war
ship can be seen. Before the binding effect
is over the searchight has gone out sud-
denly.
But the conditions are not the same in
the waters adjacent to Port Tampa, where
the transports have been lying Spanish
warshps would run aground in trying to
thread their way through the keys and
shoals to the inner bay. If they did seek
to approach they would be sighted at Egg
mont key, thirty miles away. No hostile
craft could sneak through the shoals there
without being observed So while patrol
is maintained, it is not such one as would
be required at sea. Instead of having to
drift with the gulf stream. the transports
may be moored along the dock, where they
can be discerned almost a continuous
line of light, or anchored out in the stream,
where their masthead lights swing high
enough to be confused with the low hang
ing stars. Officers and crews of the gun
boats which occasionally come up from the
fleet enjoy the change that enables them