The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-08

Washington, June THE navy de-
partment officials are prepared to learn
that Sampson might be clearing the
way with his big guns for the landing
of the troops, or that possibly some
marines had been landed temporarily,
but that forces had been put ashore
they would not admit, for the reason
that no information had reached the
department of the actual departure or
the soldiers for Cuba. 1t is not denied,
however. that every effort Is making 10
put the troops into Cuba at the earliest
possible moment, and this afternoon 1t
is believed, although no official advices
to that effect were at hand, that the
troops have actually been embarking
at Tampa today, and may get away to-
night The reason for this belief is
found in the admission by officials that
the troops have been under orders to
embark for some time past The DIFF
ficulty that presented itself was the
absence of absolute necessary supplies,
which, in most cases, were stored away
in some of the thousands of freight cars
which blocked the railroad tracks many
miles out from Tampa The orders that
went forward yesterday were OF a CHAR
acter to cause speedy breaking OF the
deadlock and if the troops now nave
their supplies, which is believed to be
the case, there is no reason why they
should not sail at once for Santiago.
BY the newspaper reports of the
breach Sampson has made in the coast
Gefenses there, there is every reason 20
believe that little difficulty will be found
in the actual debarkation of the troops,
particularly if marines are already on
shore to guard the landing.
A suspicion is entertained IN some
quarters that Sampson was hastened IN
his movements at Santiago by the news
of the intended departure of the troops
from Tampa, and made this attack IN
order that the navy might have the
honor of effecting the occupation OF
Cuban soil.
1t is likely that the first troops of the
regular army to take up position
ashore will be the engineer battalion,
although they are SO badly hampered
by the heavy siege trains they carry
that they must be greatly delayed IN
making a landing. These guns, by the
way. have given infinite trouble, for the
transports that were hastily chartered
were so lightly constructed as TO re-
ouire a great deal of strengthening be-
fore the great masses of steel could De
safely placed on them
The extent of SIMPSONS attack on
the Santiago defenses have brought out
one fact very clearly, namely that ne
has practically unlimited power as 10
the time and character of an attack.
and that ne is unhampered by restrlc-
lions from Washington. The exact ma
trre of his orders have never been made
public. but a naval official in a position
to know what they are, said that Ad-
miral Sampson had greater power con-
ferred upon him than had even been
gwen to any commander 1t was Tor
him to decide on the time for an attack,
and the place and manner of its exc
cution. He may attack whenever, IN
his discretion, it is necessary. Or, II
circumstances warrant, he may refrain
from any operations In short, II Is
said that Admiral Sampson is complete
master of the tactical and strategic
operations by the naval forces OH san
tiagO.