The herald., 1898-07-22

General Miles saying that he will sail fol
Porto Rico at p. m. today. The war
ships accompanying him are the Mass
achusetts, Dixie. Gloucester, Cincinnati
Annapolis, Lyndon and Wasp.
Wants to Take No Chances
WASHINGTON. July 21.-Admiral samp-
SON having been instructed at very early
hour this morning to furnish a convoy for
General Miles expedition to Porto Rico, II
il again assumed by the War Department
oflcials that q start will be made some
time today. Sampson was told to send a
battleship and cruiser as q convoy, but It
was left to him to select these from among
the vessels Of his fleet.
The navy was disposed to regard It as
unnecessary to send a special convoy on
the ground that the Columbia and the
Yale were both armed sufficiently to serve
az protection for the fleet Of transports, as,
according to the Information In possession
Of the Navy Department there are no Span
ish warships anywhere In the neighbor-
hood Of the West indies that might be ex-
pected to modest the expedition.
However, acting on the Presidents re-
solve to run no unnecessary risk of disaster
last night to send the convoy requested
by the War Department. 1t is said at the
War Department that some Of the soldiers,
including Garretson's brigade, have been
eighteen days aboard ship, since they emf
barked at Newport News. most Of the time
lying OF Santiago In sight Of shore, but
unable to land.
They arrived just before the surrender
Of Santiago, but 1t having been decided to
use them in the Porto Rican expedition,
they were kept aboard ship to prevent
exposure to yellow fever.
II Gen. Miles gets away today he may
still reach the base selected for operations
at Porto Rico before the other sections
of his expedition. though the latter have
been moving for a couple Of days past.
News came to the department today from
Charleston that Gen. Wilson'S brigade was
successfully embarked yesterday and
sailed. That Is. all but one Of the trans
ports. and as told in the official report,
this was detained over night and until the
next high tide owing to the obstinacy Of
the army mules, as It was necessary to
embark on her. This was transport No. q.
Unless unforeseen obstacles occur It is,
therefore, regarded by the War Department
officials as probable that by the early part
of next week landing will have been
made on Porto Rican soil and the invasion
of that island begun.
1t Is not contemplated that the navy
shall initiate the attack on the island
further than will be necessary to protect
the landing of United States troops. Its
part will begin when the American forces
draw near the town of San Juan from the
rear.
Will Hold Porto Rico
WASHINGTON, July N.-The authori-
tative statement was made today that the
Island Of Porto Rico was to be held as a
price Of the war. The subjoined practic-
Associated Press today:
porto Rico will be kept by the United
States. That Is settled and has been the
plan from the first. Once taken 1t will
never be released. It will pass forever into
the hands Of the United States, and there
never has been any other thought. Its
possession will go toward making up the
heavy expense Of the war to the United
States. Our flag once raised there will
loat over the island permanently"
The same authority says the future Of
the Philippines lie a matter of development.
and that so far there Is no certain policy
finally adopted regarding these islands.
They are subject to developments IN the
war situation in the Pacific.
It 10 intimated, however, though not def
nitely settled that the Ladrones might fol-
low the fate of Porto Rico and become our
permanent possession, being valuable as