Evening star., 1898-05-31
Details Of the Expeditions Discussed
by the Cabinet.
NO CHANGE IN PORTO RICO PLAN
Admiral Sampson VIII Escort the
Transports.
DEPENDENCE ON CUBANS

| leave Key West were discussed at the ses-
sion of the cabinet today. All the arrange
| ments were made yesterday afternoon at
| conference participated in by the Pres
| ident, Secretary Alger and General Miles.
| The latter talked over the whole situation
| with the President and left for the front
| last night with the fullest conception of
| the Presidents desires and intentions. 1t
| is known that the President has great con-
| fdenoe in General Miles and has intrusted
everything at the other end of the line to
! him.
1t is also known that large bodies of
| troops at points outside of Tampa have re-
| ceived instructions to get ready to leave
| for Florida by tomorrow. 1t Is the impress
| sion Of cabinet officers who are not con-
| cerned in the direction Of war movements
| that the expedition getting away from
Tampa is a formidable one, and that it is
not the intention of the government to land
anywhere with a mere handful Of men who
! will be unable to take good care of them
| selves. Nobody proposes that there shall be
! a reverse of American arms at the outset.
Heading for Porto Rico.
The information from the best source
| available is that the expedition is primarily
heading for Porto Rico.' There has been
1
since the exclusive announcement in The
| Star early last week. The talk today how
ever, Is that there may be a diversion for
the invading force before Sampson thun-
| derS in front of San Juan and American
soldiers land on Porto Rican soil. The idea
| Is that portion of the invading force will
| be detached when near the Windward Pas
sage and sent to Schley for the purposes of
| making combined and land attack
| on Santiago. If this is the correct idea
| American troops will land simultaneously
in Cuba and Porto Rico, and the roar of
! battle will fill the air for hundreds of miles
| in the West Indies.
| There is excellent authority for saying
| that the major part Of the expedition about
25,0oO men, will be taken to Porto Rico,
and will probably be landed by the end of
the week. Admiral Sampson will escort the
| transports and turn over to Commodore
| Schley the portion he desires. Then Samp-
| son will go on to San Juan and will turn
his guns loose. While he is doing this a
! few of the smaller ships of the navy will
| protect the landing OF United States troops
at place some distance from San Juan.
| 1t is said to be known that there are not
over 1900 Spanish soldiers. including vol
| unteers, on the island A large number of
NAA~'S "iii NC Sh6dSSd III lIc ASut At San
| Juan, which will be to the finish unless the
Spaniards surrender. They will find a big
difference between this attack and the one
before, now known to have been simply a
feeler.
The army of Garcia, strong in numbers
and patriotism, holds the rear of Santiago.
Instructions have probably been sent to
| him as to the intentions of the United
states. He may work his way around to
the seashore, where he will join the Ameri-
can army, If such is the intention or he
may begin an attack from his present posi-
| ton simultaneously with attacks in all
directions by the naval and army forces of
the United States. Great dependence must
be placed on the CubanS in this matter
The government feels kindly to Gen. Garcia.
He has lived in this country many years.
and is an American in spirit and feeling
He can be depended on TO do what he
premises He is said to have better army
than Gomez, with his men in better fix and
knowing more Of the regulations of stand
ard warfare
Awaiting n Message From SchIey.
A cabinet officer said this afternoon that
| the actual starting of the expedition would
| be delayed short time, until another mes
| sage is had from Schey. This message is
expected to give the commodores ideas of
land attack and the number CT soldiers
needed, as well as the situation to the last
minute. This message may come at any
| time, instructions were wired Monday
morning to Schley. These probably gave
| the governments belief that it would be
well to send land forces to the aid of the
| navy, and asking for the opinion of the
commodore. The message from Schley will
| also determine definitely whether Il portion
| of the expedition will be sent TO Santiago.
but will have no effect on the expedition to
Porto Rico.
In General Wallace's Behalf.
The republicans of the Indiana delegation
| in Congress are exerting all their influence
| to have Gen. Lew Wallace made a major
general. They have put General Wallace's
claims before the President and Secretary
Aleer and hope to be successful. Gen. Wal
lace is an old and stanch friend of the
President. He was recently in the city and
had conference at the White House.
Senator Pritchard of North Carolina is
endeavoring to have Major Moody of his
state assigned to the staff of Major General
Butler.
Among the days callers at the White
House were Governor Atkinson Of Georgia,
senators InurSton, Platt OF New York
Platt Of Connecticut, Lodge and Foraker
No Communication From the Pope.
A report to the effect that the pope has
addressed himself to President Mckinley
oirectiy In an effort to bring about peace
between the United States and Spain proves
upon investigation to be groundless, and
1t is not expected that the pontif would be
led into the rather unusual course In ad-
dressing himself directly to our chief ex-
ecutive.