The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-21
And the Bombardment of Sam Juan
and Invasion of the Island May
Begin I'm a Few Days.
MORE TROOPS ON THE WAY
DEPARTURE FROM CHARLESTON OF
PART of WILSON'S BRIGADE.
No Announcement by Gen. Brooke of
the Chiclamauga Regiments That
VIII BE Sent to Porto Rico.

WASHINGTON, July 2O--The War and
Navy Departments are now engaged in
making all Of the arrangements for the dis
patch of the Porto Rican expedition and
Watsons eastern squadron. There has oc-
Cured one of those natural pauseS in the
progress of the campaign incident to the
completion of one set of operations and the
initiation of another. There being no pos
sibiity of the receipt of news of a great bat
tie or of surrender, there was less excite
ment and less evidence of nervous strain
than for weeks past.
General Miles's expected departure was
again deferred. The explanation given was
that there was difficulty experienced at Sam
tiago in securing the naval convoy for the
expedition. 1t is known, however, in addi-
ton, that the President himself has re-
strained General Miles to the extent of ad-
Juring him, in earnest terms, not to commit
the folly of starting for Porto Rico without
the most complete preparation. The gov
ernment has profited by the lessons taught
by the Santiago expedition Aside from the
actual loss or life that might be expected to
result fror4 & badly calculated start, it is
realized lat our relations with some of the
European powers would be in a small meas
ure, at least, impaired by the adverse moral
cffect created by anything approaching a
defeat for the American arms at this stage
Of the war Therefore it is certain that so
far as the department can prevent it, Gen
eral Miless soldiers will not run. short of
food nor of tents to protect them from the
tropical rains, nor of the means of trarspor-
tation that were so deficient at the begin
ming of the Santiago movement.
General Miles reported this afternoon that
he had with him ten transports which, it is
assumed have aboard several thousand SOL
diers, although at least two of them are
filled with equipment. He announced the
arrival from Tampa of the transports Tam
pasas and Neuces last night, with about six
hundred men on board. These are supposed
to include the District of Columbia engi-
neers and an artillery battery. The general
complains that the men are very tired wait
ing for their naval convoy, and says some
of the horses have died from the effects of
being taken on board ships and kept there
The men aboard were suffering from delay
precisely as did the soldiers who lay in
Tampa bay before the departure of the
Shafter expedition. Inquiry made at the
Navy Department to ascertain where the
delay had arisen in securing conveys was
met with the statement that the orders to
Admiral Sampson in this matter were very
general He was simply directed by the de-
partment to furnish a convoy, and it was
assumed that he would confer with General
Miles as to the number and character of
vessels required for that purpose AS to the
campaign, from a naval standpoint it is
simply a land movement. and the naval Off
GERS do not believe very extensive convoy
is necessary.
The arrangements for the departure of
tho expedition continued to-day with vigor
The transports loading at Tampa are leav-
Ing as fast as practicable There is no
definite information at the department,
however, showing just what regiments have
sailed. A representative of the Florida
Central Railroad was in conference with
the quartermaster officials to-day in regard
to the transfer of the troops not assigned
for Porto Rico from Tampa to Fernandina.
The recommendations of General Brooke
indicating what regiments he prefers for
Porto Rico other than those whose selec
t1ons have already been definitely an
nounced have not been made public at the
War Department
word has come to the department that
the Spaniards in Porto Rico have succeeded
in landing from the wreck of the steamer
Antonio Lopez nearly all of the cargo car
ried by that ship when she was run ashore
and set on fire by one of the American
cruisers. The Lopez was loaded with sun
plies and was about to run the blockade
into San Juan when she was cornered II
was hoped the fire had destroyed her cargo.