The times., 1898-06-13
THE MOVEMENT RESUMED
Gen. Shafter's Troops Make
Another Start for Santiago.
PHANTOM FLEET A HOAX
Delay and Determined to Lose No
More Time-Every Day Lost Makes
the Undertaking More Dangerous
for Our Troops-Troops should Ar
rive on Wednesday,.

Gen. Shafter's army of invasion is again
on the move. 1t viii proceed as far
as Key West. a large convoy of naval
vessels will await it at that place.
1t is stated that no stop of any impor-
tance will be made at Key West, but that
the fleet will be joined by the convoy yes
sells at Key West and then proceed to
Santiago without delay.
The phantom feet of Spanish war
ships which was reported off Key West
does not exist. The rumor to that effect
was only a hoax. AS a result, Admiral
Sampson. who says he can easily take
Santiago with 1900 troops, is compelled
to wait four more days.
Secretary Alger is exceedingly dis
pleased at the delay. The troops are
packed upon the transports and every
day that they are compelled to live in
that manner is extremely detrimental to
their health and efficiency, besides the
loss eHtailed by the failure to take San
tiago Immediately. The Secasrr, lere-
fore said to be resolved to have the trans
ports arrive at their destination near
Santiago at the earliest possible moment
Santiago is practically defenseless now.
The fortifications at the entrance to the
harbor are sileneed. Cervera's feet has
been made useless by the sinking of the
Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor.
Guantanamo has been practically placed
in the hands of the Americans by the sue
cessful landing of marines. at La Caiman-
era blockhouse and the planting of the
Stars and Stripes on Cuban SOIL
Further delay will furnish the enemy
every opportunity to strengthen their de-
fenses. They may even attempt to retake
La Caimanera or dislodge the marines
who have already landed.
Cervera realizes that his fleet is useless.
but viii have to make some kind of a
stand TO appease the anger of the impul-
sive Spaniards at Santiago. The only thing
that he do viii be to cover the ap-
proaches to the city by the four 11-inch.
two 10-!ncn, forty 6-inch and the hundreds
of siX-poundeT guns of his feet, the idea
being to remove them from the fleet and
mount them around Santiago. He has
many rapid-iire guns which he may use
If the American Army does not soon
appear around the city this work cannot
be prevented, and every gun that is
allowed to be placed on an embankment
means more bloodshed.
If the Army had continued on to San
tiago it would have been there by today.
As it is, it cannot arrive before Wednes-
day. In three days the Spaniards will
have time to mount great many guns.
The general opinion is that a blunder
has been made in holding up the trans
ports and that though Santiagos day of
doom is among the things inevitable, a.
larger loss and more bloodshed will be
entailed by the American forces in bring
ing IL about.
The War Department realizes this and
also that the best thing that can be done
is to send the troops, with all possible
dispatch, to Santiago, hence its anxiety
TO have the transports leave Tampa, and
the orders which are said to have been
issued ordering Gen. Shafter to resume
the movement begun by him last We'd
nesday.