The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-18
\ GEN. NILES RETURN

10 Warrington Has Had an In,pirins
EGsct on Nyrr Preparntions-Tho Next
Expedition VIII be to Porto Rico-No
Fear OF the Cad!L Elect.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE return
fiof Gen. Miles to Washington from Tam
9palto-day had an inspiring effect upon
the war preparations. The general had
% busy day calling upon Secretary Al
|fgers consulting the chiefs of the staff
departments and giving the department
the benefit OF his observations at Tam
pa. Secretary Alger said that he was
entirely satisfied with the condition OF
the troops as reported by Gen. Miles,
and wished that he had the means to
provide every one OF the volunteer SOL
Giers q daily surf bath such as was
/ I1enjoyed by the men at Tampa. Gen.
Miles Is yet TO have conference with
| the President In the meantime the
plans are, moving forward steadily for
sending q further expeditions both TO
Porto Rico and Cuba. There Is little
stkeiihood that second expedition OF
1SE,000 men, to reinforce Gen. Shafter at
|iSautiago will leave within the next few
days, Us has been reported. The neces-
isity Of sending these additional forces
Us questioned by high military officials,
ind moreover the means OF transporting
euch o. force nre not available. The
|lmainj reconsideration just at present Is
the equipment OF an expedition OF
greater, dimensions than any heretofore
discussed, with Porto Rico as the OBJ
jectiye point. A month ago the military
RuthoritIes were satisfied that a small
force would be sufficient 10 occupy Porto
Rico, as the Spanish force there did not
exceed s, 900 or 5000. Now, however, the
Spanish garrison has been so reinforced
Sanf9the defenses strengthened that 1t
asSbelieved O much larger invading army
wSlEbe required.
u Moreover, the officials were satisfied
6ntlearning to-day that the Cad!z fleet
had sailed, that the ships would go TO
Porto Rico, rather than 10 Cuba. If they
CROSSED to this side 1t was pointed out
Sthat this move would be the natural
sstrategic one for the Spanish command
Srs to take, as there was still something
iteft for them 10 save In Porto Rico.
Prospective Army Movements.
- Gen. Miles would speak only In the
most general way as to the prospective
army movements. When asked as to
Tie recent reports that large bodies OF
troops ;H-ere about to be concentrated
tat Florida points with q view to start
Ing further armIas OF invasion to Cuba,
Porto Rico and elsewhere, he said:
3.Tll. military campaign Is proceeding
Steadily toward its complete execution.
tThet sending of one expedition or an
other IS but detail, single part OF q
Sseneral plan Of campaign. OF course,
His more or less right TO say that troops
2sre, about TO be forwarded and that eS-
ss5etitions VIII be equipped and sent,
That almost goes without saying, for
Swhentwe entered upon war. an aggres-
,,.siyes campaign was formulated and ap-
proved, which contemplated the send
ing Jof expeditions and their co-opera.
Zion toward the successful prosecution
Sbe the war. Just when these teNneds,
sttons will move and how many men VIII
4ceompanys them, 1t Is not desirable to
say, now, but 1t Is enough TO state that
rtie campaign now entered uron is to
ia prosecuted with the utmost rigor
Until the end Of the war.
giThe, naval officials are somewhat pnz-S
sied lat the failure of the efforts to eS-
I IStiauge3H Hobson and crew, Just announc-
Itfsfrom HavRna. OF course, this Is not
IstrmGnent, but simply means that Has
ystsa nuthtrities, as yet, have not been
-srl,t hofixed to Exchange prisoners The
spSrtt that 'camc from Madrid was that
eSexchunge Ind been authorized, so
st ssUrmised That the Spanish govern