Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-21
ON TO PORTO RICO.
Gen. Niles Leaves Cuba In Charge
Of an Expedition.
4 BIC ARMY IS TO FOLLOW Ely.



and ssa.
Washington. July l9.-After three
days consultation between the presi-
dent. Secretary Alger and Gen. Brooke,
during which there was frequent com
munication with in. Niles ut Sibo-
ney, the details oil the Porto R.can ex.
petition were perfected and the expe-
dition itself was gotten under way.
Gen. Miles with some artillery and
troops sailing yesterday for Porto Rico
on the converted cruiser Yale, TO be
followed quickly by an army OF about
30. 0OO men. There are some notable
differences in the plan, for this expe.
diton and for the stately naval pag.
cant that sailed away from Tampa
under Gen. Skaters command to at
tack Santiago First there will be
practically no naval conveys The
department has declared that they are
unnecessary, that there is not Span.
ish warship in the West Indies that
dare thrust its bow out of port In
the second place, the expedition does
not start from one point, but will be-
divided among several ports, thus pre-
venting the tremendous congestion
that was encountered at Tampa in the
effort to start the big feet. Lastly.
there will be no effort made to get the
ships away together, but the trans
ports will he allowed 10 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 90 to Porto Rico, and the
promise was redeemed when the Yale
headed yesterday from Siboney for
Porto Rico, 800 miles distant Gen.
Brooke will be the senior officer in
Miles command, and upon him will
fall the responsibility for the execu.
ton Of the details Of his superior's
plans 1t Is estimated that Gen. Miles
should arrive by Wednesday night at
the point selected for the land.
Ing, and will hoist the Ameri.
can flag at once over Porto 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 II is consequently not
desirable that the enemy should be
able to assemble superior force to
meet him. The distance from Charles.
ton, where the first body Of troops for
Miles expedition started yesterday, is
more than double the distance from
Santiago to Porto Rico, so that the
transports which sail from the former
city can scarcely reach Gen. Miles be-
fore the early part Of next week.
The purpose Of Secretary Alger is TO
make the Porto Rican campaign a
short one. An overwhelming force
will be thrown upon the island, and IT
Is possible that bloodless victory
will be achieved when the Spanish be.
come convinced that they have no rea.
sonable chance to resist successfully.
The expedition Is to comprise 10000
men at the start. and 1t will be swelled
soon to 10000 men, and, II necessary,
to 10000 men, the equipment Of the
volunteer forces having now prog.
ressed so we'll as to warrant the state
ment that that number Of men can be
ready for service in Porto Rico within
very short time.
The entire body Of troops at Tampa
will be taken. numbering about $4,000
men, and including a lot Of heavy and
light artillery under command of Gen.
Rodgers. The expedition will be par
ticularly strong with artillery, as some
Of that at Santiago commanded by
Gen. Randolph is to be drawn upon.
The part which the navy is to take
in the assault against Porto Rico has
been fully matured. The several
transport fleets will have with them
one or two auxiliary craft carrying
strong secondary batteries Of six or
eight.pounders. Secretary Long said
yesterday afternoon 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 cooper
ate in every way with the movements
of the army. The movement Of the
ships from Santiago to their new fields
OF action will begin at once. and 1t Is
probable that some of Admiral Samp-
sons ships were detached yesterday
and proceeded with Gen. Miles first
expedition toward Porto Rico They
will be needed to cover the debarka.
ton of the troops ON Porto Rican soil.
The others will follow as soon as the
full army expedition is ready to make
landing, when the attack will begin
simultaneously from land and sea.
-
Havana Hears OF n Bombardment.
Tnplnu Tu1y 10 A enaa,al J;pOo a.