The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-04

dent Secretary Alger brought the Shat
ter dispatch with him and also maps and
other data for the important meeting
about 20 take place. Gen. Ccrnin was
with the president and the secretary for a
few minutes and then hurried back 90 the
war department, where he made public
such portions OF Gen. Skaters dispatch az
was compatible with the public interest.
AS Assistant Secretary Meikeijohn. has
a thorough knowledge OF transport
service. he was also hastily summoned.
and reached the White House about !
o'clock The conference lasted for some
time. Gen. Miles. who also was al the
White House, said that reinforcenfents
would II. rushed 10 she assistance Of Gen
shaf.er and II necessary shese would ag-
xreuate 5000 men, though the general had
no idea that such number would by any
means, tie necessary
The combined American and Cuban
forces now under the command OF Gen.
shafted amounted approximately. he said.
20 q Oc men. while those available for the
STANDARDS were probably 3.eo soldiers
These included. however. the men at Ho.-
gum. presumably about 'e.oo ana the
force under another Spanish general
amounting to about 5000 men.
Gen. Miles did not say whether the two
bodies OF men last referred TO had ACTUALLY
joined Gen. I.insres. but the understand
ing here - that they have met. Col.
Humphreys Is In charge OF the transport
serv4ce with Skaters army, and he will
send back 20 Tampa The Yessels that can
&c spared as rapidly ~ possible. in fact.
word has been received that the transI orts
had started for the United States this
morning.
If possible the war department viii send
3 90 men from Tampa On these transports.
Six vessels have been recently loaded with
men. ammunition. arms supplies. etc, and
are now either at Key West or on their
way to reinforce Skaters army. Includ-
ed In this expedition are some batteries Of
artillery. In all these forces constitute
about 800 TO $3.50 men.
Gen. Miles. In the course OF a brief talk.
said today that Gen. Snafter might con-
template the withdrawal Of his forces to
the highlands OF Siboney. where they
would ne near the sea This. however
would he "A temporary expedient, enabling
the soldiers to rest and prepare fer the
work ahead.
The officials hope TO rush the reinforce
ments 10 Gen Shaf'er - that thsre viii
be from &c Gn 10 S5@o men under his com
mand within the next ten days. ard sooner
II this can b. arranged. There are about
l5.a1 men and officers in the expedition
that set out from Tampa less than a month
ago. These have been reinforced by the
troops OF Brig. Gen. Duffield's command
amounting TO 500 men and consisting Of
the Thrty-,hird and Thlr.v-fourth Mchi-
gan ana the Ninth Massachusetts, regi-
ment, The first 100 OF Gen DuffelI's
brigade have been with SAafter for a week
whGe the remainder have Just debarked
During the past eek. a second expedjtlon
of large proportions was schedule! % leave
Tampa. carrying i good portion os Gen.
reinforcements foe Gen. Shafter. Assist
ant Secretary Meiklcjohn said today that
eleven transports were available to carry
SGyders troops and while without official
Information on the subject be assumed
that probably 500 OF them were already
oIa thesc transports 20 ssaA for Santiago
province.
The other trooPs 10 be sent 10 the Al! #
Gen. Shaftsr Nil according to the Under