Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-07-28
NO NERVOUS STRAIN.
The Country Enjoying a Rest Be-
tween Exciting Events.
But The DEPARTMENTS ARE BUSY.
Both War and Naval officials Engaged In
Making Preparations for the Dis
patch of the Porto Rican and
Eastern Expeditions.

patch OF the Porto Rican ana
Eastern Expeditions.
WASHINGTON, July 21.-The war and
navy departments are now engaged in
making all arrangements for the dis
patch of the Porto Rican expedition
and Watson's eastern squadron. There
has occurred one of those natural
pauses in the progress of the campaign
incident to the completion of one set
of operations and the initiation OF
another.
There being no possibility of the re-
ceipt of news of great battle or of a
surrender, there was less excitement
and less evidence of nervous strain
than for weeks past.
Gen. Miles Departure Again Deferred.
Gen. Miles expected departure was
again deferred. The explanation given
was that there was difficulty expe-
rienced at Santiago in securing the
naval convoy for the expedition. 1t is
known, however, in addition, that the
president himself has restrained Gen.
Miles to the extrnt of adjuring him in
earnest terms not to commit the folly
of starting for Porto Rico without the
most complete preparation.
The Government Has Profited by tho
Lessons Taught
BY the Santiago expedition. Aside
from the actual loss of life that might
be expected to result from a badly
calculated start, it is realized that our
relations with some of the eastern
powers would be in small measure,
OF OF hxrt he u1v
effect created by anything approaching
defeat for the American arms at this
stage of the war. Therefore it Is GER
tain that, SO far as the department can
prevent, Gen. Miles soldiers will not
run short of food, nor Of tents to pro-
tect them from the tropical rains, nor
of the means of transportation that
was SO deficient .at the beginning of
the Santiago movement.
Ten Transports with Gen. Miiss.
Gen. Miles reported yesterday after
noon that he had with him ten trans
ports, which, it is presumed, have
aboard several thousand soldiers, al.
though at least two of them are filed
with equipment.
The men aboard ship are suffering
from delay, precisely as did the SOL
diers who lay in Tampa bay before the
departure of the Shafter expedition.
Too Much Latitude Allowed sampson.
Inquiry made at the navy depart
ment to ascertain where the delay had
arisen in securing conveys, was met
with the statement that the orders to
ADMIRAL Sampson in this matter were
very general He was simply directed
by the department to furnish q convoy,
and it was assumed that he would con-
fer with Gen. Miles as to the number
and character of vessels required for
| that purpose. AS the campaign, from a
| naval point Of view, is to be principally
| a land movement, the naval officers do
not believe a very extensive convoy is
necessary.
Reinforcements Thought to Have Reached
Dewey.
According to the calculations at the
navy department, Admiral Dewey's
fleet at Cavite should now be rein
forced by the coast-defense vessel Mon
terey, which, with her tender and col
lier, the Brutus, has now been abont
30 days out from Honolulu. With the
addition of this fine and powerful
monitor. Dewey will be amply able to
to take care of himself as long as the
naval forces in the Philippines main
tain the relative proportion they now
occupy. However the disclosure by
the state department of the lack of
foundation for the sensational stories
of strained relations with Germany has
largely abated the anxiety entertained
at the navy department as to Dewey's
position at Manila.
An Agreeable Surprise.
The war department was agreesbly
surprised at the number of bids re.
ceived in answer to its proposals for
transporting the Spaniards now at
Santiago to Cadiz. The terms offered
by some of the companies were also
regarded as very reasonable, and as IT
is desirable to terminate the present
condition of affairs at Santiago at the
earliest possible moment, it is ex
pected the award will be made i'm
| mediately.
| The Bid from the Spanish Steamship Com
pany
| was a surprise to the department of.
| fcials, and at least one of them thought
that it might be good policy for the
| government to avail itself of this offer.
DIR. Greenleaf's last report to Secre.
| tary Alger from the American camp al
Santiago came yesterday afternoon,
| and was to the effect that while the
yellow fever was widely spreading
among the troops, it was very mild in
type.
Gen. Duffield, who has been suffer
| ing from the disease, was reported tC
be improving.
The Cuban Junta ID Satisfied.
The open statement from the Cuban
| legation here yesterday, made to the
| war department officials. that they
| were prepared to accept rs proper tbs
| programme laid down by Gen. Shaftel
| for the government of affairs at San
| tiago, is but the prelude, it is hoped
| to instructions from that body to the
Cuban generals in the field, Garcia
| Gomez and others, that will tend te
prevent a repetition of the conduct
that has jeopardized the relations be-
| tween the American and Cuban sol
diers.