Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1898 — INVADING ARMY MOVES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INVADING ARMY MOVES

American Troops Embark to Begin War’s Real Work. FLEETS OFTRANSPORTS START Military Expeditions from Tampa and Mobile Move on Cuba. Exact Destination and Number of Men in Various Expeditions Hidden from the Public-Reserve Troops from All Points of Concentration Will at Once Move to the Gulf Ports and Prepare to Follow Them—Schley to Have Aid in Smashins the Armada. —i 1 . , | Washington special: The military invasion of Cuba began Monday. Almost immediately following the receipt of definite information as to the presence of the Spanish fleet at Santiago, Gen. Miles went to the War Department and issued telegraphic orders putting the troops in motion and thus starting the forward movement of the military arm of the service. At an early hour the trooira that have been gathered qt the gulf ports began to break camp and march aboard transports waiting to carry them to the enemy’s territory. About twentyire of these ships, the biggest and fast-

Mt that could be obtained suitable for the purpose, had been gathered ready to receive the troops. They accommodate about 30,000 men, for in a short voyage like that from one of the gulf ports to Cuba, it is possible with safety end comfort to carry a much larger number of men aboard ship thau would be admissible in the case for a cruise to the Philippines, for instance. How many troops started and where they were bound were questions which the directing spirits of the campaign refused positively to answer. They had no desire that the Spanish should have opportunity afforded them to gather forces to aftack our soldier* as thqy land. The

start was made from Tampa and Mobile and in each case the fleets of transports converge at Key West to pass under the convoy of the warships which Admiral Sampson provided to insure the safety of the troops during the passage across the Florida straits and to guard them against attack at the hands of some stray Spanish cruiser or gunboat. Arrangements have been made to utilise the services of the insurgents to the largest possible extent. The Government already sent expeditions to a number of points on the island and landed arms for the insurgents. Most of the parties succeeded perfectly in their object, and it was said at the War Department that a sufficient number of the insurgents have been armed to constitute an effective support for the troops as they land. It is understood to be the plan to have the troops at Chickamauga take the place •f those at Florida ports as fast as the latter leave for active service, thus keeping a large force always ready for embarkation from Florida. Aside from the troops already specified, there are 18,000 men at Camp Alger, near Washington, and lesser bodies of troops on Long Island and in various States. The 75,000 volunteers under the recently issued second call constitute still another reserve, which, however, is, yet to be organized and equipped. MORE MEN FOR PHILIPPINES. president Decides to Send 20.000, Instead of 12,000, Soldiers. Twenty thousand troops will be sent to tbe Philippines. The President has decided to increase the force originally intended for the occupation of the islands by 8,000 men. The commissary department and ordnance department have been ordered to provide equipments at once. The preparations for embarking these addttienat men will be made with the greatest possible speed, and nothing will be •Mowed to interfere

CUBAN ARMY A MYTH. Messengers from Gomez Bring Dis* cordant Reports. Gen. Shafter has been given a startling demonstration on the amount of reliance that can be placed on the statements of Cubans with regard to their position on the island. Two commissioners, both of them in possension of credentials from Maximo Gomez, arrived in .Tampa with “information” about the size of the chief’s army and like matters. One of these commissioners, Maj. Smith, reported that Gomez had 10,000 men trained and disciplined and that he needed an equal number of rifles with the same number of saddles. Emile Cardela, the other messenger, informed Gen. Shafter that Gomez had instructed him to say that he had 2,000 men in hand and 3,000 horses suitable for cavalry. Well-informed and trustworthy people who have penetrated to Gomez’ hiding place describe the old leader’s camp as the temporary dwelling place of a guerilla leader with probably 200 men at call. They have been told that Gomez’ army was stationed around the surrounding hills and valleys, to be summoned whenever it became necessary. But nobody on whose word anyone cares to rely has found a very easy way out of the perplexity caused by these conflicting reports. Gen. Shafter notified Washington that the great body of men supposed to bo with Gomez is a myth, and that the couriers who have been arriving from Cuba are thoroughly untrustworthy. CAPTAIN 18 SHOT. Fate of the Spaniard Who Failed to Fire at Dewey. News has reached Madrid of the execution at Manila of the captain of the Spanish revenue cutter Callao. He was shot on the order of Captain General Augusti. The Callao arrived at Manila a few days after Dewey’s great victory, and was at once surrendered. The vessel had been away from communication with its home Government for thirteen months, and ran into the bay of Manila, unaware that war between Spain and the United States had been declared. Having fallen into a hopeless net, surrounded by the American war vessels, after being fired upon and without the slightest chance of

escape, the captain of the Callao surrendered. For not returning the fire of the United States ships the captain was executed. Hawaii to Be Used as Base. The Hawaiian Islands will probably be used as a base by the expedition to the Philippines. Owing to the lack of transports, the ships which started the other day will be forced to return for another installment of troops. There are not sufficient vessels fitted for carrying men across the Pacific, but many coasting ships can be impressed to land soldiers at Honolulu and from that point they can be taken to Manila on the City of Peking, City of Sydney and City of Australia. Soldiers Get Free Postage. The introduction in Congress, and its reference to the Postoffice Department, of a bill to extend the privilege of franking letters to soldiers, brought to light a forgotten Statute allowing them to transmit their correspondence through the mails without affixing the customary stamps, the postage to be collected on delivery. Blanco Imitates Pingree. Gen. Blanco has adopted the Pingree plan to provide the starving people of Havana with food. Patches of yams and other vegetables are being planted near the city. Britian Seizes Supplies. Dispatches from Hongkong state that the British authorities seized supplies that were being transferred to the United States auxiliary cruiser Zafiro of Admiral Dewey’s fleet. Commends Men on Oregon. Secretary Long has congratulated the officers and crew of the battleship Oregon on their safe arrival and commended them for their good work. Placards have been posted about Manila inciting the populace against the British residents. « s. <« a.

fIES. NELSON A. MILES.