The Daily Texarkanian., 1898-07-21
PORTO RICAN TRIP DEFERRED
Miles Waiting For Proper
Convoy Ships TO Go
With the Army
THE MONTEREY DUE AT MANILA.
The War Department Receiving
Bids From Steamship Companies
to Transport the Prisoners.

Bids From Steamship Companies
to Transport the Prisoners.
Washington, July 2l.-The war
and navy departments are now eu-
| gagged in making all of the arrange
ments for the Porto Ricau expedi-
/ tion and Watson's eastern sqadron.
/ There has occurred one OF those
natural pauses m the progress Of
| the campaign incident TO the COM
/ p,etion of one set of operations and
the initiation of another
General Miles expected departure
was again deferred The expIana-
ton given was that there was diff
Guilty experienced at Santiago in
securing the naval convoy for the
expedition. 1t is known, however,
in addition, that the president him
self has restrained General Miles to
the extent of adjuring him in earn
est terms not to commit the folly
of starting for Porto Rico without
the most complete preparation.
The government has profted by
the lesson 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 rela-
tlons with some of the European
powers would be in a small measure
at least impaired by the adverse
moral effect created by anything
approaching a defeat for the
American arms at this stage of the
war. General Miles reported this
morning that he had with rim
transports which it is presumed
have aboard several thousand sold
iers, though at least two of them
are filed with equipment. The
men aboard ship are suffering from
delay precisely as did the soldiers
who lay in Tampa bay before the
departure of the Shafter expedi-
ton. Inquiry made at the navy
department to ascertain where the
delay had arisen in securing con-
voys was met with the statement
that the orders to Admiral Samp-
son in this matter were very gene
raj. He was simply directed by the
department to furnish convoy
and it was assumed that he would
confer with General Miles as to the
number and character of vessels re
quired for that purpose. AS the
campaign from a naval point of
view is to be principally a land
movement the navy officers do not
believe very extensive convoy is
needed.
According to the calculations at
the navy department Admiral
Dewey's fleet at Cavite should now
be reinforced by the coast defense
vessel, which, with her tender and
collier, the Brutus, has now been
about twenty days out from Hon
olulu. With the addition of this
fine monitor Dewey will be amply
able to take care of himself so long
as the naval forces in the Philip
pines are maintaining the relative
proportion they now occupy. How
eyer, the disclosure by the state
department of the lack of founda-
tion for the sensational stories Of
strained relations with the Ger
mans has largely abated the anxi-
ETY. hitherto entertained at the
navy department as to Dewey's po-
slton at Manila
The war department was agreea-
bly surprised at the number of bids
received in answer to its proposals
for transporting the Spaniards now
at Santiago to Cadiz. The terms
terms offered by some of the COM
panies 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 expected the
award will be made Immediately.
The bid from the Spanish steam
ship company was a surprise to the
department officials and at least
one of them thought it might be
good policy for the government to
avail itselfIof this offer.
DR.. Greenleafs last report to
Secretary Alger from the American
camp at Santiago came this after
noon and was to the effect that
while the yellow fever was widely
spread among the troops it was
very mild in type,
We have one hundred pairs of
ladies Oxford ties, chocolate, tan
and black-sizes 2, % and 3; widths
G. D and E--worth from two to
three dollars. The price this week
is from seYentY-fYe cents to one