The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-07-21

Washington, July 20. - After three
days consultation between the presi-
dent, Secretary Algcr and Gen. Brooke,
during which there was frequent COM
mun;cation with Gen. Miles at Siboney,
the details of the Puerto Rican expedi-
lion were perfected and the expedition
itself was gotten under way, Gen.
Miles, with some infantry and regular
troops, sailing yesterday for Puerto
Rico on the converted cruiser Yale, to
be followed quickly by an army Of
about 10000 men. There are some
notable difference in the plan for this
expedition and for the stately naval
pageant that sailed away from Tampa
under Gen. Skaters command to at
tack Santiago. First, there practically
no navy conveys, the navy department
has declared that they are unnecessary,
that there is not a Spanish warship in
the West Indies that dare thrust it's
bow out of port. In the second place
the expedition does not start from one
point, but will be divided among sew
eral ports, thus preventing the ire
nendous congestion that was encoun-
tered at Tampa in the effort to
Start the Big Fleet.
Lastly, there will be no effort made to
get the ships away together, but the
transports will be allowed to find their
own way to their destination without
concerted movements. Gen. Miles
leads the way. He had been promised
by the president that he should go to
Puerto Rico and the promise was re-
deemed when the Yale headed from
S;boney for Puerto Rico, 800 miles dis
tant. Gen. Brooke will be the senior
officer in Miles command, and upon
him will fall the responsibility for the
execution Of the details Of the cam
paign. 1t is expected that Gen. Miles
will arrive by Wednesday night at the
point set for the landing and will hoist
the American flag at once over Puerto
Rican soil. The point chosen for his
landing is kept secret, as the general
will land before the full body of the
expedition is at hand and it is conse-
quently not desirable that the enemy
should be able to assemble a superior
force to oppose him. The distance
from Charleston, where the first body
of troops of the Miles expedition was
to start, is more than double the dis
>tance from Santa go -. 2
To Puerto Rico, ~,
SO that the transports which sail from,
the former city can scarcely reach
Gen. Miles before the early part Of
next week. These Charleston troops
are the FIRST brigade of the First di-
vision of the First army corps, and are
commanded by Brig. Gen. George H.
Ernest. The brigade comprises the
Second and Third Wisconsin and Six
teenth Pennsylvania regiments. The
purpose Of Secretary Alger is to make
the Puerto Rican campaign a short
one. An overwhelming force will be
thrown upon the island and it is pos
sible that bloodless victory will be
achieved when the Spanish become
convinced that they have no reasonable
chance to resist successfully. The eX-
petition is to comprise 10000 men at
the start, and it will be swelled soon to
10000 men, and if necessary, to $4,000
men, the equipment of the volunteer
force having now promised so well as
to warrant the statement that that
number Of men can be ready for SER
vice in Puerto Rico within a very
short time. The entire body of troops
at Tampa will be taken, numbering
about $4,000 men, and including a num-
Der of H.. ,. s.
s Heavy and Light Artillery
under command of Gen. Rogers. The
expedition will be particularly strong
with artillery, as some of that at Santi-
ago, commanded by Gen. Randolph, is
to be drawn upon. The Tampa troops
are known as the Fourth corps, under
Maj. Gen. Coppinger. Gen. Brooke
will take with him from Chickamauga
Park most of the First and Second
brigades of his army corps. The Four
tenth Minnesota is included in this
command. The part which the navy is
to take in the assault against Puerto
Rico has been fully matured. The sew
eral transport fleets will have with
them one or more auxiliary craft, car
rying strong secondary batteries Of six
or eight six-pounders. Secretary Long
/ said that no time had been fixed for
the departure of Admiral SIMPSONS
feet for San Juan. AS to the naval
plans he would only say that they
would cooperate in every way with
the movements of the army. The re-
moval Of the ships from Santiago to
I their new field Of operations will be-
gin to-day, and it is probable that
some of Admiral Simpsons ships were
detached and proceeded with Gen.
Miles first expedition toward Puerto
Rico. They will be needed to cover the
debarkation of the troops on Puerto
Rican soil The others will follow as
soon as the full army expedition is
ready to make a landing, when the at
tack will begin simultaneously from
land and sea.
Fall Killed Him. 5s#
i Washington, July 20. ~ The war de
partment has been Informed of the