Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-28
Men FOR
NILES.
War Department Busy
Hurrying Off Addition
al Troops.
News From Scene of AC-
ton to Come Via
ST. Thomas.
nany New Cases of Fever
Reported at Sam
tiago.

Washington, July 26-The war de-
partment was busted Monday hurry
ing the dispatch of the remainder of
Miles expedition against Porto Rico.
Such progress has been made that it
is hoped that all of the troops will be
on Porto Rican soil within week at
the latest. General Miles is not ex-
pected to defer his landing till that
time. but presumably will pick out a
suitable place for encamping his
troops and establish himself ashore,
waiting the arrival of the other de-
detachments now on their way.
The war department officials expect
that the first news received from Gen.
Miles will come through the press
dispatches, as the general has not with
him, so far as is known, any dispatch
boats. 1t will be at least Saturday
be established with him and in the
meanwhile reliance must be had on
the dispatch boats running across to
ST. Thomas, a distance of about four
hours run.
1t is expected at the department that
Gen. Brooke and Gen. Haines will sail
today from Newport News to join
Miles and that the rest of Brooke's
morrow The work of embarkation
at Hampton Roads is being conducted
with much less difficulty and delay
than was expected. Col. Hecker, in
charge of the transportation division
of the war department, who has just
returned from that place, has reported
to Secretary Alger that it is eminently
suited to the shipment of troops.
Consequently the secretary thereupon
ordered all of Gen. Grants brigade,
5000 men, from Chickamauga to New
port News.
The signal service has succeeded in
retaining from the battlefield of
Santiago the tubes which supplied the
military balloon with pure hydrogen
gas and they, with the balloon itself,
have been brought over to Tampa on
the steamer Adria The tubes will be
re-charged Immediately and the whole
apparatus dispatched at once to Porto
Rico to assist Gen. Miles in his cam
psign there.
1t was announced Monday at the
navy department that the long expect
ed report from Admiral Sampson upon
the destruction Of Cerveras fleet, with
the accompanying reports Of the COM
modOre and captains OF his squadron.
has reached the department. It is
supposed to have been brought by
Captain Sigsbee of the ST. Paul, which
arrived at New York last Friday. 1t
is not the intention of the secretary
of the navy to give these reports TO
the public in their entirety.
Secretary Long Monday forwarded
to Admiral Dewey the joint resolution
of congress extending the thanks Of
congress for the victory achieved at
Cavite. The resolution was beauti-
fully engrossed and prefaced by a
formal attestation of it's authenticity
by Secretary Of State Day, the whole
being enclosed in richly gilt orna-
mented leather covers. 1t is to be
remarked that Secretary Long in his
letter of transmittal II axes reference
to a letter from the secretary Of state
complimenting Admiral Dewey upon
his direction of affairs since the great
naval victory, which is formal evil
dence that the state department is
thoroughly we'll satisfied with the dip
lomatic qualities he has exhibited
y
''Sir-The department has received
from the secretary of state an en-
crossed certified copy of the joint res
olution Of congress, rendering the
thanks of congress to you and the
officers and men of the squadron I'M
der your command, for transmission
to you and herewith encloses the same
Accompanying the copy Of the joint
resolution the department received a
letter from the secretary of state-re-
questing it be conveyed to you with
his high appreciation of your charac-
ter as naval officer and of the good
judgment and prudence that you have
shown in directing affairs since the
date Of your great achievement in de-
stroying the Spanish fleet This I take
great pleasure in doing and join most
heartily, on behalf of the navy de-
partme Mt, as well as personally, in the
commentator of the secretary OF
state.''
The war department at 9:15 Monday
night p sted the following:
Santiago, July 25.-Adjutant Gen
eral:-The number of new fever cases
on the oath instant were about 500.
At least $50 of the sick have returned
to duty. The actual figures will be