The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-22
THE MILES
EXPEDITION
Finally Sails From Sibo-
ney For Porto Rico.
A POWERFUL CONVOY FLEET
Accompanies the Commander Of the
Sss Army on His Mission. .,v-.

VdB Army on nls Mlssioh' "'r-',
AND THESE WILL BE ADDED TO.
Ehe War Department Determined That tho
General Shall Not Lack For Troops, and
Additional Regiments Will Be Forwarded
Until Miles Himself Calls Halt-The
State Department Pays Tribute to Ad-
miral Deweys Diplomatic Abilities by
Policy of Non-Interferencess- = Watson's
European Squadron Delayed Uatil After
Porto Rico Is Taken. =: !. - S'
Washington, July 22.-General Miles.
leading the military expedition against
Porto Rico. started at 3 O'Clock y. m.
yesterday from Sboney. Cuba. for the
point on the Island of Porto Rico whera
It is the intention that the troops shall
land. 1t is expected that General Miles
will waittat some appointed spot on the
route for the expeditions from Tampa.
Newport 7News and New York to fall
Into his column. These expeditions are
already under way. some of them with
two or three days start Of General
Miles, so that the delay should not be
very great.
After all the difficulty about the ma
val convoy, and the first conclusion of
the naval authorities that none was
necessary. the strength of that now
furnished Is surprising. There Is bat
ueship of the first class, the Massachu-
sets; an effective protected cruiser, the
Cincinnati; speedy and well armed
gunboat. the Annapolis, and four ves-
sells Of the auxiliary navy which have
already proved by their performance
In Cuban waters that they are fully
equal to the ordinary gunboat in Of
fensive power. These are the Glouces-
ter, which distinguished herself in the
destruction of Cerveras squadron; the
Wasp, which has attained an enviable
nOtoriety as disturber of Spanish
bsockhouses, and the Leyden, which for
time was the sole representative of
United States power in Havana harbor.
In addition to the above vessels 1t Is
officially admitted for the first time
that the powerful monitors Terror Am
phitrite and Puritan, which have been
at Key West, are under orders to pro-
coed to Porto Rico to assist in the re-
duction of the Spanish forces there.
1t is known also to be not unlikely
indeed it is probable-that still other
vessels of Admiral Simpsons fleet will
participate in the reduction of the for
tifications of San Juan. This was in
dicated clearly by Secretary Longs
statement last evening concerning the
sailing of Commodore Watson's east
ern squadron to Spain. In the course
Of that statement the secretary said
the eastern squadron would be sent TO
Spain later, who the Porto Rican cam
paign PERMITS 1t seems clear that
some. at least. of the vessels will be
employed in the e-bombardment of the
Qualifications of Porto Rico's principal
city.
Secretary Alger believes that Cen
eraG Miles, on the Yale. will arrive at
his destination Sunday morning, with
5000 men under his immediate COM
mand. day later will come 1900 men
on transports and the day following
chat $500 more Whether the landing
will be deferred until the arrival Of
these entire forces. or whether General
Miles will take the initiative and hoist
the flag himself on Porto Rican soil, Is
left to the discretion Of that officer.
1t Is the departments determination
that he shall not lack for troops or
equipment. and this first expedition may
be followed by several others as fast
as the troops can be gotten ready
until word comes from the general that
he needs no more. General Schwans
brigade. comprising the Fifth, the
Eleventh and Nineteenth United States
Infantry, a splendid body of trained
soldiers sailed from Tampa yesterday
to join General Miles, and If the Porto
Rtcau expedition Is not an immediate
success 1t will not be for lack of dis
position in the war department to sup
ply every requisite.
That Admiral Dewey has the stua-
tion in the Philippines well in hand Is
exhibited by his kilograms, the latest
" which was leceiVeu yesterday Willcn
without Boosting simply reports, like
the others that have gone before. that
ahairs are quiet and satisfactory. The
slate department has come to have
fully as great sense of apprehension
OF Dewey's diplomatic abilities as the
country has for his naval skill and
co4rase. and the best evidence of this is
that 1t has not found 1t necessary up
to this point to interfere In any way
either to protect or to amend his works.