Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-22
M'KINLEY AROUSED
,fILEyS DELAY Nv GETTING OFF
yETTLED THE PRESIDENT.
He Did All That Could Be Expected,
IL seems. i'm Providing Conveys for
the Expedifion-Strong Backing for
the Army.

| WASHINGTON, July 2l.-President Nc
Kinley was thoroughly aroused over the
| delay which occurred In the starting Of
General Miles, and the expedition under
! his command. for Porto Rico.
| For several days General Miles and his
| troops were aboard their transports at
Playa del Este. awaiting the naval con-
voy. which was to be furnished by Admi-
, raj Sampson. The troops had been swell
tering in the crowded ships under the
broiling heat of tropical sun. while
General Miles had been chatting under
what he believed to be inexcusable delay.
and was bombarding the War Depart
ment with dispatches urging in the
strongest terms that tho navy be hurried
in It's preparations for the expedition.
Instructions of the most positive nature
had been cahled to Admiral Sampson to
supply the necessary conveys for Gene
raj MiIess transports. but notwithstand-
ing these instructions, Admiral Sampson
proceeded with bis preparations for the
expedition with deliberatior that exas-
peraied the officials here.
PRESIDENT DEEPLY CONCERNED.
The President. who has been givins the
Porto Rican expedition his personal at
tention, as he has given. indeed, all
phases Of the war, finally became deeply
concerned lest the part of the Porto Rican
expedition which has already sailed from
this country should arrive at the point OF
rendezvous In advance Of General Miles
and the navy
1t is feared that II General Wilson'S
command. which sailed yesterday from
Charleston, should arrive in advance of
General Miles and the naval conveys, Sc
rious danger and possibly disaster might
result, as General Wilson's ships are alb
solutely without protection.
IMPERATIVE ORDERS.
Fully approaching this fact. and really
ing the necessity for prompt action in
getting General Miles and his Cuban ex- |
petition started President Mckinley this |
morning issued personal orders, through i
the Secretary OF the Navy. 10 Admiral |
Sampson, that he should proceed immedi- |
ately to Porto Rico with General Miles. |
The Presidents orders were susceptible |
of no misconstruction. They were Inn /,
perative to a degree seldom employed |
except in cases of extreme emergency. |
They were or the sort that Will DroOk no |
delay in their execution.
Concerning the naval conveys for Gene
raj Miles's expedition, the Navy Depart
ment tonight made public the following
statement
SAMPSON ENTERS DENIAL.
admiral Sampson telegraphed this eve
ming to the Secretary of the Navy that |
there had been no delay in furnishing |
ample conveys to General Miles. A day |
or two ago the Cincinnati and the New
Orleans were both placed at his disposal.
The Columbia and the Yale. carrying
troops. are both powerfully armed says
the Admirars telegram, and this is an
ample convoy for his expedition and to
effect his landing
1.-THE Annapolis and the Lyden had been
ordered from Nipe. the Gloucester also
added, and the three monitors ordered
from Key West Under these circum-
stances. there certainly had been no laca
Of naval assistance. If General Miles
preferred to wait, the delay was his own
However. in further answer to his re-
quest, the Massachusetts and the Dixie
were also added this morning. and he has
probably started"
STRONG NAVAL BACKING.
This statement shows that General
Miles VIII be packed In erecting MS land
ing on Porto Rican soil by strong squad
ron OF the navy In addition to the YES
sells named in the statement, IL is off,
cially admitted for the first time that
The powerful monitors Terror Amphi-
rite, and Puritan. which have been at
Key West, are under orders TO proceed
% Porto Rico, to assist in the reduction
IF the Spanish Notifications there.
II is known also to be not unlikely-in-
Iced. i; is probable-that still other YES
'es OF Admiral SIMPSONS feet will par
icipate in the reduction Of the fortifca-
ions Of San Juan.
WATSON'S SAILING POSTPONED.
This was indicated clearly by Secre-
airy Longs statement this evening con-
erning the sailing of Commodore Wat
on's eastern squadron 10 Spain. In the +,
curse Of that statement, the Secretary
aid the eastern squadron would be
ent to Spain later. when the Porto Rican
ampaign permits
1t seems clear that some. at least, OF s
he vessels will be employed In the bonn
ardment of the Notifications Of Porto Y
Iico's principal city. I
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