The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-17
These viii Garry Twenty thousand
Men and Equipments.
EM6ARKATI0N POINT UNKNOWN.
Fcrnandina or savannah arc Prob
able Tampa VIII Not be Abandon
ed. hut VIII bc Continued as
Reserve Base for " oTk that
Can be Done Better
From There.

WASHINGTON. June i6.-The War De-
partment expects 20 utilize approximately
thirty-dye transports in the expedition
for the invasion OF Porto Rico. This
statement was made officially al the de-
partment to-day IL seems 20 indicate that
tho Porto Rico army will equal II not
exceed in numbers that which left for
Santiago.
The estimate Is made that the thirty
five vessels wiz carry between 1900 and
10000 men with their equipments and sub
sistence
Army officials say that reports which
have been received from reliable sources
show that tho number Of spanish sol
diers in that country is probably 10000
men. although other statements indicate
that there Is considerably less than that
number.
PORT NOT SELECTED
10 Is stated positively that the embark
alton point for the troops for Porto Rico
has not yet been finally determined and
will not be until Secretary Alger, and tho
President have had an opportunity TO
confer with MajOr-General Miles
There is no doubt. however. that this
cmbarkation viii take place from somo
point ON the Atlantic coast with prob
ability I'm favor OF Fernandina Fla, or
Savannah. Ga.
The merits of the hrst-named place have
been fully set out. and. as 10 tho latter
place favorable comment was made upon
it by the board of army officers which
RECENTLY conducted the examination Of
various points I'm tho South Jacksonville
also is considered by the board good
place for the assembling OF troops. al
though Il is not believed that the water
in the ST. Johns river IS Of satisfactory
depth 10 permit Of the easy movement
of a large number Of vessels 20 and from
the harbor.
Miami Fla. was examined by tho
board but their conclusions Is that IL Is
not big enough for the accommodation
of any great number OF men who might
De brought there prior 70 embarkation.
Charleston and Columbia, South Caro-
lima. We're examined. but for good rea-
sons. Secretary Alger says they will not
Dee used as localities for the rendezvous
of troops.
TRANSPORTS AVAILABLE.
For the purposes of the Porto Rlcan ex-
pediti0n. Assistant Secretary NcikleIOhn
said to-day that the Department had
now available eleven transports. some OF
which are already az Southern points,
aud these will carry about 500 men with
their equipments. The War Department
is now in communication with tho vari-
GUS coastWise steamship companies on
the Atl8nuc and Gulf with a view 10 Sc
curing the additional vessels needed.
Dir. Meiklejohn said it had not yet been
determined whether any Of the vessels
soon no reach Santiago would he utilized
in the Porto Rican expedition. That was
d matter entirely contingent upon the
military aspect Of affairs as they might
develOpe I'm Eastern Cuba
~ is stated not 10 be- the intention or
the government at this time 10 abandon
Tampa as a base Of military operations.
as has been reported. The War Depart
mCnt has "a vast quantity Of ratious be-
side 70 large number OF men az that
place. While II is possible that future
large military movements may not be en-
barked from that point yet IL is believed
that 10 win be continued 70 be used as
q reserve base for such work as may be
more conveniently done from there.