Evening star., 1898-06-21

launching of the new British battle
ship Albion, in which it is estimated
fifty people were drowned
The third expedition to Manila is
expected to sail next SATURDAY..
There was important news at the White
House and War Department this morning.
First the President and officials knew that
the transports, with 150OO troops, had ar
rived safely off Santiago. and second,
though no less important, was the infor-
alton that direct cable communica ton
had been established between the United
States and Guantanamo, where the United
States marines now hold possession of
Cuban soil Thus not only is Captain
General Blanco cut off from any communi-
cation with the outside world, save through
the Key West cables within our control but
the authorities in Washington have been
placed in close connection with our forces
OF the army and navy which are conduct
ing tie invasion of Cuba.
10 Gen. Greedy and his signal corps be-
long the honor of achieving this last feat
To him was intrusted some weeks ago the
task of re-establishing cable and tele-
graphic communication with Cuba. Under
his supervision Lieut.. Col. Allen of Gen.
Miles staff, with officers and men of the
signal corps. have been busily engaged in
the execution of that work. The French
Cable Company whose cable runs from
Santiago to Guantanamo bay, and thence
to Cape Haitien. where direct connec-
ticn is obtained with New York, was ac-
corded the privilege of restoring this com
municatiOn with Guantanamo and Santf-
ago, with permission to send commercial
and domestic dispatches under a strict mill
tary censorship neces STATED by war con-
d-tions The cable steamer Mancel was
employed for the work, and operating on
these lines communication was restored be-
tween Cape Haitien and Guantanamo
about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. 1t is
expected that today or Wednesday the ca
bic will be thrown open to the general pub
lie. subject to censorship.
Communication in Progress
The first message over this restored "a
BILE was one from Lieut.. Col. Allen to Gen
Greely announcing the reopening of COM
munication. Gen. Greely Immediately di-
rected the officer to obtain and forward the
earliest possible sdvices to the arrival
OF the United States troop transports
Lieut.. Col Allen applied to Captain Nc
Gala, in command of the naval forces in
Guantanamo bay. The captain in turn
sent out a boat to Admiral Sampson's
squadron off Santiago which returned with
the news that the transports had arrived
safely end were lying off Santiago, and at
the moment of the report Gen Shafter
commanding the military expedition was
on board the flagship New York consulting
with Admiral Sampson respecting the land
ing of the troops. The news was particu-
larly gratifying to Secretary AIger, who
besides his official interest in the safe ar
rival of the expedition, has a natural con-
Germ for the welfare of his son, an inspect
or on Gen. Skaters staff.
More Good News.
The news was promptly communicated to
the Navy Department where there was a
general expression OF satisfaction at the no
tification that they will be able here
after to communicate directly with Samp-
son. Another piece of good news that came
to them, through the medium of the State
Department. was from a reliable authority
IN Marseilles, France, stating that positive
information mad been received there that
Inc Cadlz fleet had returned to Cadiz after
Its pretentious departure, with one of the
most formidable of the ships, Vittoria. dis
sbied and in tow by one OF the other ships
The Spanish navy. being very similar In that
respect to the Numancia, another vessel az
The squadron. She has no turrets. but like
the old style of ironclad. has her a,ups
mounted broadside behind a citadel of
heavy iron She has lain neglected for
many years at Cadiz, and il is presumed
that the nasty repairs made upon her to
prepare for active service were not exten-
1--WE enough to make good the damage sus
sained to her machinery through neglect.
The Restored Cable.
II took just about fifteen minutes for the
cable message which told of the arrival Of
General Shafter with his troops at santia-
go TO reach the War Department Yesterday
from Captain Allen of the Signal Corns
who is on duty with the cable-cuttinp
ship, employed off the southern coast of
Cuba The dispatch was sent with one end
OF the cable bouyed on board ship. and
came 10 the United States over the French
cable. via Haiti, reaching the War De.
partment about o'clock in the afternoon
Since that time and up to about 2 o'clock
this afternoon the department had not sent
any messages in reply to the officials on
the ship, for the reason that they were en-
gagged in transferring the cable to soue
point on shore near Guantanamo bay. IT Is
not probable that this work will consume
very much time. and before long the Off
Gals here will be able to communicate
freely with the officials at the cable sta
ton, and in the case of hurry message a
telegram ought to be sent and a replv re-
ceived in half an hours time The d,,
tance from Gueacanamo bay to Aguadores
by water is probably three hours travel
Aguadores is the place where the United
States troops are destined TO land. II the