The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-15
ON THE WAY TO SANTIAGO.
THRIFT TRANSPORTS OFF WIFE TEE
ARMY OF INTASIoM

tn. U,,, M 4. p,.o,
N"A'"S " 'hr'e ""s'e'Asns'
= Mentor asa Five Snnbssts e. Aessu'
pnny Thorn TO CuSS-The Force Estimated
at Not More Than ~, 600 Men-A ap,.-a,a
spoc,,o,o q, tho
PORT TAMPA. Fla, Juno 1.-THE sailing oe
the army OF invasion on tho fleet and transports
Tor santiago, which has been 80 long promiseds
10 now an accomplished fact. The last Of the
transports left the pier at Port Tampa tonight.
This was tho Olivette, carrying tho high oflceru
OF she medical corps under Major popo and the
newspaper correspondents nearly q hundred 10
numoer anu representing the great dailios Of
tho United states from San Francisco 10 Now
AorK.
inc emDarkation OF tho troops had boon IN
progress FOR a number OF days, and half a dozen
sailing dates had been set, but 1t was not until
noon yesterday that tho first ship of the fout
moved down the bay to the Gulf. All the morn
Ing tho steamships had been loading, aad they
TOOK positions in the bay opposite the flagship
scgurAnca. In the midst Of sthe feet OF thirty
transports "ero scattered the war vessels which
composed the convoy down the bay to the meet
ing place. Ihere they were Joined by the battlos
Sn'pS iorming the main convoy to tho landing
place
The Eunboats which sailed with the TRANSPORT
heet from the pier were the Helena, CRStino.
bancroft, Annapolis and Hornet These are to
DO Joined between Tampa Bay and RobecoN
snoals py the Oregon, Iowa. Terror and
INDIANA When the junction Of the two
Meets which will be effected tomorrow, Is made
the transports will form into two divisions OF
tnree columns with tho Miami heading tho
right column and the transports according to
thelr numbers completing the limo to tho rear.
Ihis arrangement places the flagship about the
centre OF the fleet, and in this order the vessels
Will proceed TO their destination. 4
Antront OF tho centre column In single file will
DO the Iowa and Indiana. while bringing up the
roar. between the first and third columns. will
DO Inc oregon and Terror. The several gunboats
Which FORM part of the escort will be used 40
scouts. This formation had been decided on for
some time prior to the sailing. but was not given
out until q Few hours before the actual de-
parture. =
The strength Of the force carried by tho tFanSsl
ports hos been variously estimated from 12.001|
TO 2o'oOo men. but it is possible the numbe2
does not exceed $4,000. or this number there
are about 10000 infantry, 500 artillery. include
ing sicge batteries, ! 600 unmounted and 400,
mounted cavalry. and two companies of ensl
gineers. All otthe troops of the expedition are
United states regulars except eight troops OF
hoosoveits rough riders, the Seventy-hrst
NOW 1ork ana the second Massachusetts regtS
menus OF volunteers.
The provisional division. composed Of volun%
teers under the command OF Gen. Snyder. which,
was scheouied TO form part OF the army OF in~i
yasion. was left behind at the last momentJ
Every preparation FOR the departure OF then0I
troops had been made. and tho horses OF thes
oncers were ABOARD the transports when the
reEoking order was issued.
Inc reason TOT their being left behind ID not
known but 1t Is believed to have been the fact
that the transports available were Insufficient
10 accommodate any more than went As ttis
inc Transports are crowded to their utmost ca-'
paoitS' ana several or them are carrying moro
than l'ooo mon and their equipage.
many OF the transports have on board horses
anu muies LOT the omcers ana artillery, the
That Santiago is the destination of the feet