The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-03

&roQ McH-A SeCOnQ EXpcu1ClOu OA
Like Size Ready to Go--Transports
Have Been Secured.
Washington, September 30.-Amer-
lean troops now are moving toward
Cuba. Mobilization Of the force will
be at Newport News, Va, for the
most part, although a part of the first
expeditionary force to Cuba will be
sent from New York and Tampa, Fla.
Advice received at the departments
Of the military establishment of the
government today indicate that all is
quiet in Cuba and that the insurgents
intend to lay down their arms. The
probability is that United States
forces in the island will be landed only
as a precautionary measure. SO far
as officials Of the government here
are advised, no arouble Of a serious
kind<is ANTICIPATED; but in accordance
with instructions from President
Roosevelt hurried preparations are
being made for the sending of an ex-
peditionary force of the army to
Cuba.
The first American troops will be
landed at Havana next Saturday.
Meantime, the marines and blue jack
cts from the American fleet in Cuban
waters will protect American inter-
ests and support Secretary Taft, the
provisional governor of Cuba, in the
preservation of order and the protec-
ton of life and property.
In official circles here American in
tervention was regarded as inevitable.
How long it may continue. it is i'm
possible to foretell The nature of
the Intervention and the preparations
for it indicate supervision of Cuban
affairs on the part OF the American
government, for an indefinite period.
haze, beenscaneludeda
not only for the first expeditionary
force to Cuba of about $500 men
but for a second force, of course,
have been issued, but if the men are
needed all arrangements have been
completed for hurrying them to Cuba
at the earliest possible moment.
Whether more troops than are in
cluded in the first expedition will be
sent to Cuba will depend upon the de-
velopments in the island during the
next ten days or two weeks.
1T is certain, however, that suf-
fcient force Of American troops will
be maintained in Cuba to support the
provisional government and to insure
security to life and property pending
the establishment of a stable govern
ment by the Cubans.
Operations in all departments of
the military establishments of the gov
ernment today were on war basis.
The acting secretaries and chiefs Of
all bureaus were at their desks and
every Office was humming with activz-
ty. Scores Of clerks who have not
worked on Sunday since the Spanish
American war were on duty at the
war and navy departments and at the
headquarters of the marine corps.
Gen. Ainsworth, military secretary.
and Gen. Bell, chief Of staff Of the
army, worked throughout the day
arrangements for the de-
parture Of the first expeditionary
force to Cuba. Orders for the move
ments of the troops were sent out last
night, but today scores Of orders were
sent to officers who are on leave to
joint their regiments.
Gen. Humphrey, quartermaster
general, practically closed arrange
ments today fer the transports, which
are to convey the expedition to Cuba.
The ships will be ready for departure
before the troops have been modified
at Newport News. If it should be
necessary to send a second expedition
ary force to Cuba Immediately follow
ing the first, the war department ap-
prehends some difficulty on account
of the quarantine laws of the various
Southern States. A transport return
ing tc any Southern State from Cuba
will have to remain in quarantine five
days before it can take on a cargo Of
troops for Cuba. The war depart
ment has taken up this matter with
the authorities of the Southern states
in the hope of arranging for waiver
of the five days quarantine regula-
ton.
Foreign Powers Not Yet Notified.
Washington, September 30.-No-