The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-14


OF invasion to Cuba is now well on its
way. 81 transport steamships. bearing
over 1900 officers and men. conveyed
by battleships. cruisers, gunboats and
auxiliary craft, is in number. having
actually sailed from Key West at day.
break this morning. An authorita-
tive statement to this effect was made
at the war department to-day. setting
at rest all reports that the expedition
was on its way or landed last week.
The authorities made the announce
ment for the reason that the time for
secrecy was passed. as the scout boats
had made sure that the path was clear
before IL. and that no possible menace
could come from the Spanish ships or
troops. even should the enemy know
that our forces were now advancing
against them. With the expedition OF.
officials here feel that there will be
period of comparative inaction for
few days. By Thursday. at the lat.
est. the transports will be off Santiago.
and a large American army viii make
its landing on Cuban soil. Admiral
Sampson has cleared the way for this
undertaking. and little danger Is appre-
hended in getting ashore II will be
that the actual developments may be
expected.
By that time II is likely the Ameri-
can command viii be in direct cable
communication with the authorities
here. Admiral Sampson has taken the
shore end of the cable landing at Guam
tanamo, and a force of cable experts
are rapidly restoring the line to work
ing order. The progress of this work
has been so satisfactory that one OF
| the leading officials of the state depart
| ment said tonight that IL was hoped
| direct cable communication would be
established by Thursday. II Will put
| an end to the dearth Of official infor-
| nation concerning important move
ments, and will enable the authorities
| here to keep in close touch with those
| executing the strategic movements.
l. Aside from the men and officers max
ing up the expedition, the boats car
ried a vast quantity Of supplies. ammu-
milton and war equipment necessary
| TO maintain an organization OF this size
| for at least SO days. Every detail for
the landing of this party has been
worked out by the engineer corps of
| the army. Ii will be a laborious pro-
cess at best, and will take full day
| or more. The point of landing has
been so chosen that there Is little dam
ger of interruption from the Spanish
/
| trouble Admiral SIMPSONS ships VIII
insure ample protection until the troops
| can take care OF themselves.
| The Spanish fleet at Cadiz Is almost
as much of a mystery 20 the naval OF
fcers here as was Admiral Cervera $
flying squadron during the two weeks
| Immediately preceding its inglorious
bottling up at Santiago. Today a re-
| port came that the suadron was unnt
| for sea. That would have been credit
/ ed except that the department has had
| information as late as SATURDAY. TO the
| effect that the squadron was already
| at sea and was about to depart About
q week before that 1t had been told
| that the Cadiz fleet had sailed. Having
| in mind these conflicting reports. the
| war board scarcely knows where to
give credence, though IL would seem 10
| be an extraordinary circumstance that
| the least doubt could exist as TO the
presence I'm or absence from the harbor
| of such a populous city as Cadiz of a
| whole SQUADRON of warships. However.
| the weight of opinion seems TO incline
| the presence Of the fleet at Cadiz owing
to the bad condition of tthe ships. IL
\ NAV be noted. however. that although
acting upon this belief as shown by
the beginning of the military invasion
| of Cuba the war board is taking no
| unnecessary chances of a surprise, and
| by means of scouts has provided for
| secu-'-- timely WARNINGS of the ap-
proach Of any hostile force to the seat
| OF war.
The news OF the attack by the Span
iards upon the United States marines
| at Guantanamo bay was not confirmed
by official advices up to the close of the
| day here. However. there Is no dis
| position to question the accuracy of the
| press reports. and the newspapers had
| a rather SOLDERING effect upon the ele-
ment that has insisted upon rushing
| troops forward regardless OF their un-
| preparedness. The action shows that
the Spaniards are not afraid to charge
boldly upon United States troops. and
the prospects of bushwhacking warfare
disclosed by the Spanish movements
are anvthing but agreeable to the per-
sons who have been hoping for a short
campaign. A good deal of surprise Is
expressed at the failure of that report
to mention any substantial aid received
from the insurgents by the United
States marines camped on the crest of
the hill. Reinforcements were sent
| from our own ships, but IL does not
| appear in the reports that the marines
had help from the men best calculated
from their experience in '''ngle fightine
to be of service in an encounter with
| Spanish guerillas. Without any dis
paragement of the fighting ability OF
the marines. who appear to have ac-
| quilted themselves with credit. so far
as concerns bravery and steadiness un-
der fire, the question has been raised in
the minds of the military experts
whether. failing in any substantial as
sistance from the Cubans. who were re-
ported 10 have been so numerous in the
vicinity. Western soldiers. trained In
Indian fighting. would not be OF more
service in a Cuban jungle campaign
Nothing so severely taxes the courage
and endurance of troops as to be shot
at from cover by an unseen foe. and
only troops trained in our latest skir-
mish drill can render effective service
in such attacks.
The navy department has concluded
that IL has purchased as many small
vessels for the auxiliary fleet as IL re-
quires. and an intimation to that ef-
feet was conveyed to Admiral Erben
in charge of that service, to-day.
Ordered tn His Regiment.
Special Dispatch TO the Standard
l Washington, June lS--First Lieutenant