Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-26

" oohAhSIOAA, u Wy Hc' ~ w 81
Department was busted to-day
hurrying the dispatch of the re-
mainder of Miles expedition
against Porto Rico. Such progress
has been made that it is hoped all
Of the troops will be on Porto Rican
soil within week at latest. Gen.
Miles is not expected to defer his
landing until that time, but pre-
sumably will pick out a suitable
place for encamping his troops and
establish himself ashore awaiting
arrival of the other detachments
now on their way. War Depart
ment 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
before direct cable communication
can be established with him, and in
the meantime reliance must be had
on the despatch boats running
across to ST. Thomas, distant about
four hours run. 1t was expected
at the department that General
Brooke and General Haines would
sail to-day from Newport News to
join Miles, and that most of Gen.
Brooke's command would be en-
barked by Wednesday.
The work of embarkation at
Hampton Roads Is being conduct
ed with much less difficulty and
delay than was expected. Col.
Hecker, in charge of transporta-
ton division of the War Depart
ment, who has just returned from
that place, has reported to Secre-
tary Alger that it is eminently
suited to the shipment Of the troops.
Consequently, the Secretary to-day
ordered all Of Gen. Grants brigade,
5000 men, from Chickamauga to
Newport News. 1t is not expected
that all of the transports required
for their accommodation will have
arrived there by the time the sol
diers get in, but they will be en-
camped on suitable ground there,
and it is believed, will be benefit
ed by the change from Cnlcka-
manga. -,
Adjutant General Corbin, with
his faithful private secretary, MI.
Coursey, last night completed the
hundredth consecutive nights ser
vice at the department and stlil
there seems to be little dlm1nul-
tion in the number of kilograms
and letters and official papers pour
ing in upon this Office work.
The signal service has SUCCEEDED
IN retaining from the battleheio
of Santiago, the tubes which sup
plied 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
secharged Immediately and the
whole apparatus will be dispatched
at once to Porto Rico to assist
Gen. Miles in his campaign there.
The balloon is said to have proved
OF great value in the Santiago
campaign, and from the character
of the country In Porto Rico
where military operations must be
conducted it is believed that it also
can be used to advantage there.
1t was announced to-day at the
Navy Department that the long
expected report from Admiral
Sampson upon the destruction OF
Cervera's fleet, with the accompap
nying reports of the commodore
and captains of his squadron, had
reached the department. 1t is sup
posed to have been brought by
Captain Sigsbee on the st. Paul,
which arrived at New York last
Friday and to have been sent by
mail by Captain Sigsbee. 1t is the
intention of the Secretary of the
Navy to give these reports to the
public in their entirety.
Secretary Long to-day forwarded
to Admiral Dewey the joint reso-
luton of Congress extending the
thanks of Congress for the victory
achieved at Cavite. The resolution
was beautifully engrossed and pre-
faced by formal attestation OF it's
authenticity by Secretary of State
Day, the whole being enclosed in
richly gifted and ornamented Rus
sia leather covers. 1t Is to be re-
marked that Secretary Long, In
his letter of transmittal, makes
reference to letter from the
Secretary of State complimenting
Admiral Dewey upon his direction
Of affairs since the great naval vic
tory, formal evidence that the
State Department is thoroughly
well satisfied with the. diplomatic
qualities he has exhibited. The
letter OF Secretary Long is as fol-
lows:
Nav Department.
WASHINGTON, July Is, 1898.
''Sir:-
The Department has received from
the Secretary of State an engrossed
and certified copy Of a joint resolution
OF Congress, rendering the thanks Of
Congress to you and the Officers and