The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-20
GENERAL MILES SAILS AGAIN
SUPPOSED THAT HE STARTED
LAST NIGHT.
Navy Will Have Little to Do With
the Capture of Porto Rico-An
Army Movement.

Washington, July 19.-Because of the
failure on the part of General Miles to
receive the orders the president pre-
pared late yesterday to take command
of the military expedition against Porto
Rico, that officer did not depart as was
| expected from Siboney. The mistake
was corrected this morning, and as a
result of some short Geographic CORE
spondence that followed during the day
it was gathered a the department that
| the Yale would start tonight. Contrary
| to the first intention, and probably
without General Miles seeking, the Yale
is to be conveyed by naval vessel
! that Admiral Sampson has been in
structed to select from among the YES
sells of his fleet. This may result in
delaying General Miles programme
somewhat, as none of the vessels with
Sampson is able to keep pace with the
Yale. Nevertheless, there is no doubt
that the general will reach Porto Rico
before the detachment of troops from
Charleston.
The personnel of the Porto Rican ex-
petition had been left in a large meas
ure in the hands of General Brooke,
and it is not possible yet to give an
accurate roster of the organizations
that will enter into it.
The president announced privately
today that while no date of departure
of the troops to be sent from Chicka-
manga to Porto Rico had been fixed,
he expected that they would leave in
about one week from tomorrow. He Is
awaiting a detailed report from General
Brooke. recommending what troops and
supplies should be sent from Chicka-
manga. The present plan is stated to
be to embark them at Newport News or
Norfolk, and those at Tampa either
there or at Key West.
Admiral Sampson has received final
orders from the navy department as to
the part the American fleet is to take
in the campaign against Porto Rico.
They are based on the view that the
campaign is essentially an army move
ment, the duties of the navy being to
lend every support and assistance TO
the land operations. The admiral is in
structed to aid the army movements
by dispatching conveys when required,
and by covering the landing of troops.
AS there is no Spanish fleet in San
Juan harbor or other Porto Rican
ports, the navy has a limited field of
operation. The reduction of the har-
Dor Notifications will be the main work
but this and all other operations of the
fleet will be supplementary to the main
operations conducted by the army. The
military and naval, are /
agreed IN the view that the taking OF /
Porto Rico is primarily a military I'M !
dertaking, and Admiral SIMPSONS or /
ders are on these lines.
The following regiments, comprising |
Hams brigade. have been ordered to |
Newport News. whence they will en-
bark for Porto Rico; Third Illinois. !
Fourth Pennsylvania and Fourth Ohio,
from 5000 to 1000 men.
In addition four batteries of artillery,
making 200 men and !, Goo horses. a hos
Dital corps of 200 and a signal corps of
700 men, have been ordered to Newport
News. The First Illinois is the only
known here to have actually
gone to Porto Rico with General Miles.
1t is stated definitely that General
Niles has no intention to await the ar
'ival of the several parts of the ex-
)edition from the United States before
moving upon Porto Rico. 1t is, in fact.
lis purpose with such troops as he now
las to break ground on the island for
he forces that will arrive later from
his country. His landing will be eff
ected, If necessary, under the guns of
he vessels of the navy. 1t is not an
icipated that serious resistance will be
ncountered, as the Spanish force on
ne entire island is only a slightly
arger than the force which accom-
anies General Miles.