J Double Sheet |
TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR. NO. 255.
THE DON AND HIS LAST FRIEND IN CUBA—THE BUZZARD
THE ARMY OF INVASION IS NOW EMBARKED
Tampa, Fla., June 11.—(By Associated Press.) The army of invasion is now embarked on a large fleet of swift trans,
ports. The first of the notifications that the time for movement had arrived came in the foYm of a general order posted on
May JI. The embarkation assumed definite shape on Monday afternoon, June 6, when the First United States infantry,
Major General Shatter's old command, was given the honor of embarking first. As the regiment marched down the long
pier at Port Tampa with their band playing, they caused the most intense enthusiasm. During the balance of the afternoon
until daylight the next morning the movement was resumed with the utmost vigor. All day Tuesday the wharves were a
moving mass of excited humanity. Late in the afternoon every commanding officer was ordered to get his regiment in
readiness for immediate movement, and soon afterward word was sent out to send the troops upon the transports as soon as
possible. Trains of coaches and cars of all descriptions were placed on sidings near the various camps and baggage, arms
and ammunition were hurried on board.
On Tuesday evening about 8 oclock Lieutenant Miley who was in the hotel telegraph office with General Miles was
seen to rush into the hall toward General Shaffer's apartments. Immediately the two returned rapidly to the telegraph office.
The regular operator was evicted, the office doors were closed and Captain J. E. Brady, the censor, took the key. General
Miles and General Shafter were then placed in direct communication with the war department, and a half hour's conference
ensued. The termination of this resulted in hurried whispered conferences among the lesser officials, followed by a wave of
excitement. "The army of invasion must immediately depart" was the word, and from the comparative calm of a few min
utes before the scene was changed to one of action. Scurrying feet hurried from room to room, while horses flecked with
foam sped from camp to camp. Special trains were hurriedly coupled and baggage piled aboard. All during the night the
feverish rush continued.
R. Kyle Crank is a native of Houston, Texas, aged
25. He disobeyed orders that he might take his chance
with Hobson. He was chief engineer of the sunken collier.
The herald
O. W. Deignan is a nitive of Stuart, lowa,
aged 21. He was ditailet to service on the
Merrimac last April.
LOS ANGELES, SUNDAY MORNING.
JUNE 12, 1898
THE PORTO RICO EXPEDITION
WILL NOT WAIT UNTIL SANTIAGO HAS
BEEN CAPTURED
Haste Is Necessary Because It Is Feared That Spain Will Sur
render Before the Seizure of the Island Which the United
States Intends to Claim for War Indemnity
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD
Washington, June 11. —Orders have been sent to General Coppinger, directing him to push preparations
for the Porto Rican expedition. The island is to be invaded without waiting for the result of the Santiago
expedition. Orders have been sent to all bureaus of the war department having supplies to furnish for the expe
dition to get them south at the earliest possible moment. The quartermaster-general has received instructions to
secure all vessels available tor transport purposes. The ships used in the Santiago expedition will return as soon
as they land their forces. The sudden change of plans by the administration, by which General Coppinger's corps
will be sent to Porto Rico without waiting for the surrender of Santiago, was partly caused by the receipt of
reliable information that not more than 6000 Spanish troops are in Porto Rico.
Heretofore, it has been supposed that between 15,000 and 20,000 were stationed there. The troops com
posing the invading forces, numbering about 12,000, will sail from Jacksonville, while the heavy ordnance and
commissary and quartermaster's supplies will go from Tampa, where General Coppinger is now making arrai ge
ments for hurrying up the work. The renewed talk of peace overtures in behalf of Spain also made the min
istration realize that the war may end before Porto Rico is taken. This would leave the United States in poor
condition for obtaining indemnity or dictating the terms of peace, and the expedition will therefore be hurried.
Troops Already on the Way
Washington, June 11. (Special to the Herald.) All the troops destined for the Santiago-Porto Rican
expedition are now on their way. The vessels which have been detained at Tampa, owing to the mismanagement
of the war department in the handling of men and supplies, sailed today and General Shafter and his staff went
along. The squadron can reach Key West in twelve hours. Most of the troops that have already sailed are ren
dezvousing, and the convoying fleet is also there awaiting the arrival of the troops from Tampa. The start for
the eastern end of Cuba will probably be made early tomorrow morning. All the troops needed to invade the
town will be debarked. Those not needed will accompany the warships to Porto Rico, which after the reduction
of the San Juan forts, will be occupied. Today's movemant was made uuder the fifth urgency, order the presi
dent has given. When the war department received word today of the landing of marines at Caimanera, it was
clear to all that no further dillydallying would bj permitted. When the landing place is fifteen miles from San
tiago a strong Spanish force under Ganeral Linares could march across country and engage the marines in a
bloody battle. Reinforcements for the marines are deemed absolutely essential.
As soon as the news of the landing was received there was intense activity among the officers of the war
and navy departments. The war board met at 3 oclock, with Assistant Secretary Allen present, lt was at once
decided that the marines anel sailors should be reinforced at the earliest possible moment. Several members of the
board thought that the ships now at Key West should be ordered to sail without waiting for the rest of the fleet
at Tampa, lt was finally decided to permit the Key West vessels to remain until tomorrow at daybreak, in the
expectation that the ships at Tampa could be sent to Key West in time to sail for the point in time. The board's
recommendations were taken to the president. The president summoned Secretary Alger and Assistant Secretary
of the Navy Allen at 4:30, and at 5 it was understood the president directed that the board's recommendations
should be carried out, with the addition that Shafter should be ordered to sail from Tampa at once. Secretary
Alger gave it as his opiniou to the president that Shafter could sail properly prepared this afternoon.
Porto Rican Conditions
FORT de France, June ll.—(Special to The Herald.) Walter Bett, secretary of the British consulate at
San Juan de Porto Rico, who was expelled from the island on Tuesday charged with being an American spy, has
arrived at St. Thomas. After being imprisoned and suffering many indignities, his guards took him before Gov
ernor General Macias, who handed him his passports and banished him from Porto Rico on pain of death. One
of the officers supplied Bett with a mule and ordered him to ride across the island to Ponce, and there to take the
Italian steamer to Genoa. Bett's ride was heralded everywhere and he was insulted at all points along the road
with very vile epithets. A soldier would spring up and cry, "Who lives ?" This challenge is always supposed to
bring the answer "Spain lives." Bett instead always answered "Great Britain and the United States live." Pro
tected as he was by the governor general's passport, the soldiers did not kill him, but several times he was dragged
from his mule, prodded with bayonets and beaten with swords. The feeling of the Spanish against the British is
very bitter in San Juan. To be spat upon in the streets is a common occurrence to British subjects, and English
men are openly insulted. Spanish military authorities fear the Porto Rican compulsory volunteers as much as
they do the Yankees. A cordon of regulars has been stretched about the city of San Juan with orders to shoot
the first volunteer who attempts to leave.
Spain's Friends Despair
London, June 12.—(8y Associated Press.) The Paris correspondent of the Sunday special says:
"Spain's most steadfast friends here are losing hope. Her candid friends of the press deplore the obstinacy
with which she accepted war when totally unprepared and declare that to continue fighting when the cause is
hopelessly lost will only alienate France, whose good words would prove serviceable in the day of settlement."
THE MERRIMAC AND ITS HEROES
Diagram of the "Fulminating Stopper" of the Bottle of Santiago Harbor
The dotted line shows how Hobson exploded the torpedo that sank the boat on which he and his companions entered
the channel under the fire of the forts.
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