The record-union., 1898-07-21
President Does Not Wish Him to
Start Until Well Prepared.
Cuban Legation Prepared TO Accept Shat.
ter's Program, and II Is Hoped II
viii Instruct Cuban Generals
to That Effect.

w WASHINGTON, july 2U.-Ine w at
and Navy Departments are now en-
gagged in making all of the arrange
ments for the dispatch of the Porto
Rican expedition and Watson's East
ern squadron. There has occurred one
of those natural pauses in the progress
of the campaign incident to the COM
pletion of one set of operations. There
being no possibility of the receipt of
news of a great battle or of surrender,
there was less excitement and less evil
dence of nervous strain than for weeks
past.
General Miles expected departure
was again deferred. The explanation
given was that there was difficulty eX-
pected at Santiago in securing the ma
val convoy for the expedition. 1t is
known. however, in addition, that the
President himself has restrained Gen
eral Miles to the extent of adjuring him
in earnest tones not to commit the folly
OF starting for Porto Rico without the
most complete preparation. The Gov
ernment has profted by the lessons
taught by the Santiago expedition.
Aside from the actual loss of life that
might be expected as the result OF a
badly calculated start. it is realized
that our relations with some of the
European Powers would be, in small
measure at least, impaired by the ad-
verse moral effect created by anything
approaching defeat for the American
at STA of h0
fore. it is certain that so far as the
department can prevent, General Miles
forces will not be short of food or of
tents TO protect them from the trop-
ical rains, nor of the means for trans
portation that We're so deficient at the
beginning Of the Santiago movement
General Miles reported this afternoon
that he had with him ten transports,
which it is presumed have aboard sew
eral thousand soldiers, although at
least two Of them are fitted with equip
ments. The men aboard ship are suf-
fering from delay, precisely as did the
soldiers who lay in Tampa Bay before
the departure of the Shafter expedi-
ton. Inquiry made at the Navy De-
partment to ascertain where the delay
had arisen in regard to the naval con-
voy was met with the statement that
the orders to Admiral Sampson in this
matter were very general. He was
simply directed by the department 10
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 the campaign from a naval point
of view is to be principally a land
movement. the naval officers do not
believe very extensive convoy is nee
essary.
According to the calculations at the
Navy Department, Admiral Dewey s
fleet at Cavite should now be rein
forced by the coast defense vessel Mon
terey, which, with the collier Brutus,
has now been about twenty days out
from Honolulu. With the addition of
this fine and powerful monitor Dewey
Will be amply able to take care OF
himself 50 long as the naval forces in
the Philippines are maintaining the
relative proportions they now occupy.
However, the disclosure by the State
Department of the lack Of foundation
for the sensational stories of strained
relations with Germany has largely
aDated the anxiety entertained AT lne
Navy Department as to Deweys posi-
tion at Manila.
The War Department was agreeably
surprised at the number of bids re-
ceived in answer to it's proposals for
TRANSPORTING the Spaniards now al
Santiago to Cadiz. The terms offered
by some of the companies were alst
regarded as very reasonable, and as
n i desirable to terminate the present
condition of affairs at Santiago at the
earliest possible moment, it is expecteG
the award will be made Immediately
The bid from the Spanish steamship
company was a surprise TO the depart
ment officials, and at last one OF then
Thought il might be good policy fol
the Government to avail of its offer
DR.. Greenleafs last report to Secre-
tary Alger from the American cafnI
at Santiago came this afternoon aho
was to the effect that while the yelio"
fever was widely spread among 'ie
troops. it was very mild in form
General Duffield, who was suneflns
from the disease. was reported 10 p'
improving yesterday.
The open statement from the Cupai
Legation here to-day, made to the " al
Department officials. that they Were
prepared to accept as proper the pro-
gram laid down by General Smarter
for the government of affairs at Santl-
ago. is but prelude, it is hoped, Z