Evening star., 1898-06-11
MIGHT MEET THE WARSHlPS
Proposed That Transports Sail Before Escorts
Arrive.
In This Way Thirty-Six Hours Might
BE Saved-POrtO Rfcan Expedi-
tf0a to be Hastened.

| The greatest fmpatience is being mani
Tested by the War Department at the de-
lay OF the departure of the troop trans
ports. The authorities have been in con-
sultation today with the view of determin-
ing upon some plan by which the trans
ports may be permitted to sail before Mon
day, but 1t is said that no determination
has yet been reached. Admiral Sampson
is quite as impatient of the delay as are the
Secretary of War and the army officers,
and the Navy Department is chafing under
the imputatiOn of being responsible for the
delay. 1t was said this morning that a
! communication had been received from Ad-
miral Sampson stating that two vessels of
his fleet had been sent to join the conveys,
but Secretary Long said at noon that no
dispatches from Sampson had yet been
transmitted to him.
The plan under discussion at this MORN
ing's conferences was to start the trans
ports under the protection Of the Indiana
and the numerous smaller vessels available
as conveys. and that they be met and es-
corted by vessels from the blockade feet
ard scout cruisers. The departure of the
transports is TO be timed as to insure
their being Joined by the vessels sent from
Sampson's fleet, somewhere in the vicinity
or the Windward passage. 1t was urged
that the transports might be safely started
on their journey without waiting for the
vessels from SIMPSONS fleet to sail all the
way to Key West, and that by adopting
this plan thirty-six hours might be saved
The army is eager to go, not only on ac-
count Of the desire to hasten operations,
but also to save the troops from suffering
involved from lying at anchor for several
days under intense heat, crowded on the
conveys.
Apparently neither the officers of the
army nor the navy credit the reports of the
phantom feet lying in wait for the trans
ports. but as long as the Navy Department
Is unable to state positively that no Span
ish feet is there, or that a sufficient force
is available for the convoy to insure its
absolute safety, should a Spanish flee; ap-
pear the President is not willing that the
lives Of the troops. huddled together in a
defenseless condition on transports, shall
be risked. When the Navy Department is
ready to assume the responsibility for an
absolutely safe convoy the transports will
sail.
1t was said this morning that no definite
conclusion had yet been reached but that
If the plan to meet the vessels from Samp-
sons fleet part way were adopted the
transports might be able to start tomorrow.
If the Oregon and another fast battle ship
or armored cruiser started for Key West
yesterday Or the night before, as it Is un-
derstood they did, they are we'll on their
way by this time, and it may be decided to
be safe for the transports to start tomor-
row. Thirty-sx hours saved in this way
would relieve the troops on the transports
from great deal of suffering.
The Porto Rican Expedition.
The Porto Rican exl edition is to he has
tened III every way possible. Orders to
this effect have been sent to Generals Cop
pinger and Lee, who are charged with the
fo rmation of this command. 1t was the in
tention at fist to await the result of the
action az Santiago, but this plan has been
aba nsoned, and rush orders have been
Issued to all bureaus of the War Depart
ment connected with the formation Of the
EXP edition The order to hurry comes Gi-
rectly from the President. He is extremely
anxious 10 get pc ossession of this important
point, and has instructed Secretaries Alger
and Long TO use all energy to that end
The quartermaster general was today in
structed to obtain every available vessel
Tor transport purposes, and vessels used
In the Santiago expedition will be with
drawn from that as soon as their troors
are landed, and be hurried back to Flor
Ida, to be utilized for transporting troops
to Porto Rico.