Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1898 — TROOPS ON THE MOVE [ARTICLE]

TROOPS ON THE MOVE

Colored Infantry Ordered South from Chickamauga. ACTIOS BEGIRDED AS SIGSIFICAST, Indication* Are That an Early In* ration of Cuba and a Conjunction with the Army of the Inaurgenta I* Planned. Chattanooga, Tenn., April 29. —Order* for an extensive movement of troops were received here at ten o’clock Thursday night. The entire artillery brigade, the Ninth cavalry and the Twenty-fourth infantry are to move south to-day, and it is expected that the Tenth cavalry and Twenty-fifth infantry will follow Saturday. Cavalry and artillery trumpeters are marching about the streets of Chattanooga sounding the call which tells officers and men to report in camp at once. Soldiers in town are hurrying into all manner of conveyances and making for Chickajnauga. A special train is being made up in the yards of the Chattanooga, Borne & Southern railroad for the purpose of taking the officers to the camp. Every railroad man in this city has been ordered to report for immediate duty, and trains are being made up as rapidly a# possible for the transportation of the troops. It is the intention to start the trains south by noon to-day. Two companies of the Ninth (colored) cavalry which arrived in Chattanooga late Thursday afternoon were stopped after having started to Chickamauga and switched into the Western & Atlantic yards. Orders are said to have been received to have the troops proceed as rapidly as possible to Tampa, Fla., to which point troops from Mobile have also, been ordered and they will leave at once. It is currently reported that the companies of the Ninth regiment now in camp here will bo shipped at once to Tampa, as well as the Twen-ty-fourth infantry (colored). Officers of the Ninth have bidden hurried goodby to their wives and are making every preparation for departure. The movement of troops to Tampa is believed to embrace not only the colored troops but all the artillery stationed here as well. The shipment of the Ninth cavalry following the sudden departur* of two batteries of artillery for Tampa has produced a fever of excitement among the soldiers. This movement following the departure of light batteries E and K, of the First artillery, convinces army officers here that an early invasion of Cuba by land forces is contemplated. Batteries E and K, under command of Capt. Cupron, left the battlefield station at eight o’clock Thursday morning. When the batteries left they were under orders to proceed to and take station on Egmont Key, for the purpose of assisting in the defense of Tampa bay. Their light guns are to be used for coast defense, but the officers expect to be relieved by a heavy battery soon and take part in the Cuban campaign. These batteries were detailed because of their fine gunnery. At 4,100 yards they can send time shrapnel so that it will burst In a rectangle 54 by 4 yards, which with steel projectiles would practically destroy lightly armored vessels. Order* to the Troop*. Tampa, Fla., April 29.—The news of the bombardment of Matansas’ forts by Admiral Sampson reached here Thursday afternoon, and soon afterward Col. Melville A. Cochran, commanding the First provisional brigade of Tampa division, received a telegram from Washington instructing him to hold his command in readiness for immediate departure with rations for 30 days. This is the first authentic information regarding the future movements of the troops here. It is well known that the much-dread-ed rainy season on the island does not set In for several weeks, and officers believe that the purpose of the army nnd navy authorities in Washington is to effect a junction with the Cuban army before that time or else land 10,000 or 12.000 regular troops there and make a rush upon Havana. Shatter to Command Washington, April 150.—Final plans for the invasion of Cuba were ngreed upon at a conference Thursday between President McKinley. Secretary Alger, Gen. Miles nnd Gen. William It.'fihafter! who is to lead the invasion. Yielding to the arguments of his military advisers the president decided to increase the number of soldiers that he proposes to land In Cuba from 5,000 to 10,000. The plans are to be put into execution withiu a week. Sickness ns well ns bullets has to be guarded against, so the president Is trying to assemble from the volunteer nnd regular army forces, 10,000 yellow fever "immunn,” who are accustomed to the southern climate nnd who are not likely to succumb to the diseases peculiar to tropical nnd scjultmpical countries. Not Olllrtally Confirmed. Washington, April 29.—The shelling of the Matanzas batteries was the topic of absorbing interest throughout naval and official circles generally Thursday. It was discussed on the basis of the press reports from Key West, ns the navy deportment received no information whatever on the subject. Secretary Long said, ns he closed up his office work of the day, that no report "had been received from Admirnl Sampson nor was the navy department advised in any way of the shelling of Mntanus. Mr. LongmUied that ho felt no disposition to keep from the public any news concerning such an important event ns a naval engagement, or a battle. While it was essential that future strategic moves should be guard--«d with the greatest care, yet Mr. Long made it olenr that this did not apply to events after they had actually occurred, lor us to battles and their attendant casualties he recognized that the pub-

lie waß entitled to know what had occurred. The secretary said thdt in the absence of all information, he was inclined to believe that the shelling was confined to the exchange of a few shots and did not assume thtf proportions of a regular bombardment. When his attention was directed to reports that the shelling was the result of direct orders from the’president, the secretary said this was not so, as the president was giving no direct orders 6n any of these movements. Bis Transport* Chartered. A rather striking sign of the imminence of the invasion of Cuba was contained in the chartering by the war department of eight large steamers of an average capacity of about 2,000 tons and able to carry from 500 to 1,200 pas* sengera each. These’are to be used as transports for the conveyance of the first military expedition to Cuba. The* price paid for these vessels is from $lO,000 to $15,000 for the 30 days for which they are engaged. They will be taken charge of by the quartermaster’s department at the earliest possible moment. At the White Home. Secretary Alger and Senator Davis, chairman of the foreign relations committee, had long interviews with the president, the former’s relating to the movement of troops in the south and the matter of enlistment. The president said he had received no official advices of firing at Matanzas nor any news regarding it, other than what reached him through the newspapers. Senator Mason, of Illinois, called in the interests of a candidate for generalship. Representatives Lamb and Kixey, of Virginia, presented the name of William Nnlle, adjutant general of Virginia, for brigadier general, who is indorsed by Gov. Taylor. During the interview the president intimated that he had practically decided upon the appointment of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Gen. Wheeler, of Alabama, as major generals. To some of his congressional callers the president suggested the brigades should be made up of regiments from different states, a variety of states to be represented in each brigade, in order to indicate a closer unity and harmony of the people.