The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-07-27
Sampson is Too Slow.
President Issued Orders That
Put 9 Stop to All Foolish.
ness About Proper
Convoy Fer Trans
ports.

over the delay which occurred in the
star,ing OF Gen Miles and the expe-
dition under his command for Porto
Rico
For several days Gen Miles and
his troops were aboard their trans
ports at Playa del Este awaiting the
naval convoy which was to. be fur
aished BY Admiral Sampson. Tie
troops had been swel,ering in the
crowded ships under the broiiing heat
of tropical sun, while Gen Miles
had been chaing under what he be
Heved to be inexcusable delay aud
was bombarding the department
with dispatches urging in the strong
eat terms that the navy be buried IN
its preparation for the expedition
Instructions of the most positive
nature had been cabled to Admiral
Sampson to supply the necessary
conveys for Gen Miles transports.
but notwithstanding these instruc.
.,ions admiral Sampson proceeded
with hia preparations for the expedi
ton with q de:iberat;on that exas-
perstee the officials here
The President. who has been Civ
ing the Porto Ricsn expedition his
personal a,teEtion-as he has given,
indeed. all phases Of the war-fioal'y
became deeply concerned lest the
part of the Porto Rican expedition
that has already sailed from, ,his
country should arrive at the point of
rendezvous in advance of Gen Miles
and the navy 1t is feared that if
Gen. Wilson's command. which sail
ed yesterday from Charleston should
arrive in advance of Gen Miles aud
the naval conveys. serious danger
and possibly disaster might result. as
Gen. Wilson's ships are absolutely
without protection
Fnliy appreciating these facts and
realizing the necessity for prompt
action in getting Gen Miles and his
Cuban expedition started, President
Mckinley this merning issued per
senaI orders through the secretary OF
the navy to Admiral ampson that he
should proceed Immediately to Porto
Rico with Gen Miles. The P1esi
dents orders we're susceptible Of no
misconstruction They were impesa.
tive to degree seldom employed
except in cases of extreh.e emer-
geDcy They were of the sort that
will brook NO delay in their execu
sion
Concerning the naval conveys of
Gen Miles expedition the navy
department to night made public the
following statement, Admiral Samp
SOB -telegraphed this afternoon to the
secye,ery of the navy that there has
been no delay in furnishing ample
convoy to Gen Miles A day o, two
ago the Cincinnati and New Orleans
were both placed at his disposal.
The Columbia and Yale, carrying
troops. are both powerfully armed
says the Admirars telegram and
.tbis ia an ample convoy for his expe.
di,ion aud to effect his landing
TIE Annapolis. Wasp and Lyden
have been ordered from Key West.
Under these circumstances. there
certainly has been DO lack of naval
sssisrance If Gen Miles preferred
70 wait. the delay was his own.
However, in further answer TO his re-
quest, the Massachusetts, and Dixie
were also added this morning, and he
has probably started
This statement shows that Gen
Miles will be backe d in etfectiug his
landing on Porto Ricsn soil by a
strong squadron of the navy in
addition to the vessels named in The
statement, it is officially admitted for
the 6rst time that powerful monitors
Terror. Amphitrlte aud Uban at
Key West are under orders to pro
ceed to Porto Rico to assist in the
reelection OF the Spanish forces ,he'e-
1t is known also not to be unlikely
indeed. it is probsble-tha. still
other vessels of Admiral Sampson
feet will participate in the reduction
of tbe Notifications Of San Juan
This was indicated c'pa'iy by secre
tsry Longs statemen: this afternoon
concerning the sailing of Commodore
Wateon's eastern squadron to Spain
In the course of this statement the
secretary said the eastern squadron
would be "sent TO Spain later, when
the Porto Rican campaign permits
1t seems clear that some, at least, OF
the vessels will be employed in the
bombardment of the forti6casio"s of
Porto Rico's principal city