Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1898 — ARE OFF FOR TAMPA. [ARTICLE]

ARE OFF FOR TAMPA.

Troops Are Being Rushed to the Florida City. BUSY SCENES AT CHICKAMAUGA PARK Ultimate Destination of the Force la Not Made Public. Bat Little Doubt Exists That Cnba Is to Be Immediately Invaded. Chattanooga, Tenn., April 30.—The entire eight batteries of artillery besides the Twenty-fourth infantry and four companies of the Ninth cavalry, broke camp Friday under orders to proceed to Tampa, Fla., at once. As fast as possible men, guns, horses,, caissons, ammunition and camp paraphernalia were loaded on the long line of cars waiting for them at Battlefield station and started on their journey south. The trains will be given preference over everything between here and Tampa, and a speed of 25 miles or more is expected to be made. Though no intimation of the ultimate destination of the troops has been given out here, there is j no doubt in the minds of the officers and men that an immediate invasion of Cuba, or at least the capture and occupation of some Cuban seaport, is In contemplation, in order to open up a line of communication with the Cuban forces under Gens. Gomez and Garcia and act in cooperation with these forces in the immediate relief of the starving reconeentrados and the driving of the Spanish forces from the island. • | Two lleglmtnta Leave Mobile. Mobile, Ala., April 30. —The Tenth and Twenty-second regiments left camp here late Friday afternoon, bound for Tampa. They were all day getting off from camp, beginning after drill at ten o’clock. By 12 o’clock the Twenty- ( second, the famous Arizona Indian fight 4 !*, came marching down to the c.i up depot from their position about a mile west of the road. A large crowd of citizens and several soldiers were gathered there, and the members of the Tenth regiment were also on hand, ready for embarkation to Tampa. When the Twenty-second swung around the curve and came down upon the station, Col. Wickoff in the lead and the” band playing “Hot Time in the Old Town To-night,*’ there was such a yell of enthusiasm as has never before been heard here. Everybody joined in and flags were waved, while the soldiers and people shouted. Cheer followed cheer, hats flew in the air, and it was altogether a stirring scene. There was a long wait for the train to start, however, even after the baggage had been placed on hoard the cars, which "took a couple of hours. They' started nt last in four sections or trains by wav of Pensacola and with a good send-off from the troops who remained behind. The first train passed out at seven p. m., the others following in short order. Farewell to New Orleana. New Orleans, April 30.—The first regiment left here Friday night for Tainpa, waiting over for Gen. Shafter’s staff, who were also,ordered to meet the commander in Florida. The impression among army men is that the First army corps sent into Cuba will be for the purpose of cooperating with the insurgents. • | Rea.«ly for Invasion. Tampa, Fla., April 30,-<rhe soldiers are ready to leave on a moment’s notice and the order is expected every hour. The camp equipment, except what the men will strap on their backs, is ready to be sent back to the posts. It is believed in the camp that important information is expected from Gen. Gomez or Gen. Garcia, and that on it depends the time of departure of the troops. Gen. Emilio Nunez, the Cuban leader, arrived here Friday morning from Washington, where he went to confer with Secretary Alger and Gen. Miles. Gen. Wade met him at the station, and together they were immediately driven to the general’s headquarters, where n long conference took place. Gen. Nunez was the bearer of letters for Gen. Wade, supposed to be from Gen. Miles. After the conference Gen. Nunez met several Cuban leaders here, and as a result all of the Cubans of Tampa who are to go to Cuba were hastily and secretly inspected. When the army of regulars is ready to go to Cuba this body of Cuban j patriots, which numbers nearly 2,000 men. will be ready to go with them. I Finn of Cniniinltfit. Njew York, April 30.—A special to the World from Washington says: It is stated on the highest authority that ns the newly' formed preparations for actual hostilities stand, they contemplate these operathms: I J. The opening of Inyress to Tub* for the relief ship which Is to bear supplies to the reconeentrados In Cuba and the cooperation of the United States naval forces with those of the Insurgents. This Invasion, which IS to be conducted purely as a relief expedition, may land at Matanzas. The Sampson squadron is to be used to make 1 way for and to protect the relief expeditions. 2. The preventing of the Spanish fleet now at Manila, In the Philippines, from Joining foreeH with the Spanlßh fleets nt Cape Verde Islands and In Cuban waters. The Instructions to Commander Dewey are not to shell Manila unless the fortifications assail the American fleet. A rigid blockade, similar to that established at Havana, Is to be enforced against Manila. An engagement, If any occurs, will be precipitated by the Spanish fleet under command of Admiral ("Fighting") Montejo. 3. The flying squadron Is to be held at , Fort Monroe as a reserve fleet, but Is to be | drawn upon If necessary to protect unfortl- ' fled cities. The squadron may reenforce 1 the Sampson squadron. This is the original plan mapped out more than three weeks ago by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt. .4. The guarding of the approaches to elths on the north and middle Atlantic coasts by regular warships and auxiliary ‘cruisers. The original plan contemplated the performance of this duty by vessels manned by naval reserves, but • change was compelled by udvlces of the sailing of, a Spanish fleet from. Cadiz with instructions to bombard unprotected cities of the northern Atlantic coast. Hence the dispatching Friday of the auxiliary cruisers New Orleans and San Francisco to guard

the approaches to the Massachusetts and New York coasts. 5. Hurried preparations for the transportation of the land forces now at Chlckamauga to either Tampa or New Orleans for embarkation to Cuba. These orders are Immediate, and it Is expected that Gen. Miles will leave Washington on Sunday to assume actual command of the land forces. 6. The maintenance of the state militia forces which have reported “ready" In an advanced organized condition, with the view of calling them to follow the regular army forces now mobilized at Chlckamauga. Russia Charges Ingratitude. London, April 30. —The Moscow correspondent of the Standard says: Public opinion in Russia, so far as it is expressed, sympathizes with Spain. Apart from admiration of the courage that ventures upon a conflict with an overwhelmingly superior antagonist, Russia has received a severe blow in the suspected friendly agreement between the United States and England. The Russians do not foqget placing their fleet at the disposal of the north in the war of secession in 1861, and they are bitterly aggrieved that the United States is not equhliy mindful of this service now. May Lead tu Trouble. The interest of Russia in the war is evidenced by her lending statesmen in starting the idea, which was soon taken up by their colleagues at Benin, Paris , and Vienna, that the first real naval [ battle must be used for ending the war, which practically means pressure on Spain to give up Cuba, because if the war lasts too long It is thought the , United States might create a powerful , navy. That Russia should allow the . United States to retain the Philippines without ample compensation to Russia and her allies appears as doubtful as that the islands should be allowed to full into the hands of England by ar- : rangement with the United Slates without such differences arising as might easily lead to war among the great powers. itlHiuarck Opposes Neutrality. ‘ London, April 30.—Prince Bismarck, according to a dispatch from Berlin, 1 says Germany ought not to bind her hands by a neutrality declaration. Prince Bismarck thinks that Germany must abstain from interference in the conflict of the United States with Spain as long os possible, bu t that she must interfere instantly and most energetically the moment her interests demand interference.