Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-06-23
FOR PORTO RICO.
A Preliminary Step in the Work
of Dispatching an Expedition
to the Island.
SHIPPING MTIONS TO MIAMI, FLA.
Command Under Brig. Gen. Schwan,
at Mobile, Ala, Ordered to
the Same Place.
Twenty Five British ships Have Been Of
fered to the War Department by Their
Owners Agents for Transport
Purposes VIII Re Inspected.

WASHINGTON, June o2.-Twenty-fve
| British bottoms have been offered to the
war department by their owners and
agents for transport purposes. All of
these, however, are not yet in United
States ports, but their arrivals have
| been anticipated with view to their
examination as soon as they reach
here. The officers of the quartermas-
ter's branch are inspecting the ships
as fast as practica BILE and the reports
which already have reached the war
department indicate that some of the
vessels will not be suitable for
transport purposes. The general situ-
alton regarding the transport ques-
ton is far from satisfactory to the de-
partment. as there is great desire to
obtain additional vessels at once.
Still the officials are hesitating about
taking steps to impress ships and re-
assert the statements heretofore made
that their preference is either to buy
vessels outright or as an alternative to
grant American registers to foreign
built vessels. The officials are
unable to say whether any of the
transports sent with Gen. Skaters ex.
pedition to Santiago will be available
for the expedition to Porto Rico. yet
if practicable this surely will be done.
In this event they will be utilized
either to ship troops directly from
United States ports or to carry such as
may be spared from Gen. Skaters
command after Santiago has been re-
duced. The latter probability how
ever the officials believe it is too early
to discuss
The ordering of Brig. Gen. Sch vans
command at Mobile to Miami, Fla. is
preliminary step in the work of dis
patching the expedition to Porto Rico.
All the surplus rations at Mobile which
amount almost to million, will be
shipped to Miami. The fact that large
amounts of subsistence stores are gath
cred at Jacksonville and improvements
for camp purposes are being pushed at
Fernandina indicate the probability of
sending additional troops to the tor-
mer place and some commands 70 the
latter.
The statements coming from Chick
amauga that Gems Brooke, Wade and
others stationed there have recon-
mended to the war department that
no troops be removed from that place
until the date for the departure of an
invading expedition has been fixed,
is received with considerable satis-
faction by some of the officials
of the department They see many
advantages to be derived from such d
course and feel that especially if any
OF the commands are lacking in equip
ments they ought TO be supplied at
their mobilizing point before being
rushed to the embarkiug port to go
aboard the ships. 1t could not be
learned Tuesday whether any action
had been taken en- the recommends
tions of the generals or whether their
suggestions would be adopted.
The troops that so to Santiago on
the Yale and Harvard will take but
ten days rations with them. The
comnissary general believes that this
supply is more than sdequete, as the
trip is comparatively a short one,
which ought to be made by either of
the vessels in four days at the outside.
Maj Gen. Butler was at the war de-
partment Tuesday calling on Secre-
tary Alger. 1t was reported that the
general might accompany the rein
forcements that go to Gen. Shafter,
but the officials declined to say wheth-
er such was the case.
WASHINGTON, June 2a-The forward.
ing of re-enforcements to Gen. Shafter
at Santiago de Cuba has begun, and at
9 o'clock Wednesday morning the first
body of troops left Camp Alger for
Newport News, there to take trans
ports for Cuba This was in accord
ance with orders issued by Maj Gen.
Miles Tuesday night directing the
movement TO begin Thursday. The
order was to Maj. Gen. Graham. com
manding the I'd army corps, camped
at Falls Church, Va.