The Springfield herald., 1898-07-01
MILES WILL GO NEXT
EIGHTEEN THOUSAND MEN
WITH HIM.
They Will Help shatfer II Needed and
Then Go to Porto Rico.

Chicago, June 25.-A special from
washington to the Record says:
General Miles has made all arrange
ments to leave Washington tonight
Tor Tampa, to embark there as soon
as possible with General Coppinger
and the Fourth army corps of about
$4,000 men for Santiago. 1t is definite
ly announced that Santiago is to be
the chief outlying base of supplies for
subsequent military and naval opera
tions against the enemy in the West
Indies. General Miles expresses the
hope that General Shafter will have
succeeded in taking possession of San
tiago before he reaches there. In case
this achievement is delayed, the large
army of renforcements will undoubt-
edly be able to effect n speedy termin-
alton of the siege. The flower Of the
Spanish army in Cuba consists of 1O,-
600 men under General Pando, who is
known as their fighting general, and
Is now reported rs hastening to San
tiago overland from Holguin, seventy
miles away In an air line.
General Shafter was directed by ca
bic to-day to get all the supplies out of
his transports as quickly as possible
and hurry the boats back to Tampa
for General Coppinger's troops, who
are now ready to embark. Secretary
Long sent orders at the same time to
Admiral Sampson to furnish an effec-
tive convoy of warships for the eXpe-
dition. 1t is believed the big fleet can
start on it's return voyage not later
than Sunday, and can reach Tampa
as early as Thursday morning, their
empty condition being conducive to
the attainment of much higher speed
nn
age. With no troops aboard it will also
be unnecessary to exercise such strict
precaution against the possibility of
attack by small gunboatS or torpedo
cruisers. and perhaps the faster yes
sells will not have to wait for those of
slower speed.
According to the present arrange
ments, when General Miles arrives at
Tampa Monday morning he will i'm
mediately undertake the execution of
all necessary preliminaries to provide
for the prompt and systematic loading
of supplies on the transports. and none
of the eXasperatng delays which
marked the departure of the first eN-
pedition are anticipated to recur on
this occasion. General Coppinger' 5
force is composed almost altogether of
the brigadcs which were originally Sc
lttltu 10 IiiIii'ilhi'' Nih '''h''h AZ
Shafter 1t has the advantage of thor
ough and compact organization.
The total strength of this force
slightly exceeds $4,000 men. The
first division of the Fourth army
corps. under General Schwan. which
has been removed to Miami. will not
accompany the expedition. but Will
probably be attached to General Lees
corps.
In addition to the thirty-two trans
ports utilized by General Shafter the
War Department has chartered eleven
other vessels, which are available for
immediate use. and these will proba-
bly, be assembled at Tampa the first
of next week. The Atlantic transport
vessels are admirably adapted for
military purposes. The first hve
have an average tonnage of 300
tons, are fitted with twin screws
driven by triple-eNpansion engines
and attain n speed of twelve and one
half knots an hour when fully loaded
upon a coal consumption of sixty tons
a day. Each of these ships has re-
frigerating capacity of 1000 tons of
meat and additional space for 1000
head of cattle or horses. Their chief
utility will be in transporting cavalry
horses and heavy supplies, as well as
keeping the army at Santiago and
other bases of operations plentifully
supplied with good food and fresh
beef
While General Miles intends to ac-
company this expedition in support of
General Shafter. it is not contem-
plated that he will assume direct
command, although possibly another
major-general, If not two. will be at
tached to the corps as division COM
manders The detail of all additional
officers, including several brigadiers.
is now under consideration. and VIII
be announced tomorrow.
On the arrival of the force at San
tiago General Miles. by virtue of his
position. will assume active command
of all the forces in the field. and as
soon as the city falls he will under
take in person the leadership of sub
sequent campaigns, whether against
Porto Rico or various Cuban points.