The western recorder., 1898-07-21
IoFF FOR PORTO RICO.
GENERAL MILES HAS STARTED.
Forty Thoas.nd soIdIsn Will Ne Hurried
Along ~ Past as Possibis-rhey 90
From Several Povts.


washington, July ls.-After three
days' consultation between Secretary
Alcer and General Brooke. during
which there was frequent communica-
tion with General Miles ut slboney'
the details OF the Porto Rican expedi-
tlon were perfected and the expedition
itself was gotten under way, Generni
Miles, with come artillery and troops,
sailing To-day for Porto Rico on the
converted cruiser Yale, TO be Followed
quickly by an army OF about 3o'ooo
men.
There nre some notable differences
In the plans for this expedition and
for the stately naval pageant that
sailed away from Tampa under Cen
eral Shafter's command. to attack
Santiago. First, there will he pracfi-
caIly no naval conveys. The Navy
Department has declared that they
are unnecessary. that there IL not
spanish wnrship 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 VIII
be divided among several ports mus
preventing the tremendous congestion
that was encountered at Tampa In the
effort to start the big fleet Lately
there will be no effort made TO ger the
ships away together, but the trans
ports will be allowed TO find their own
way TO their destination without con-
certed movements. -
General Miles leads the way. He
has been promised by the iresiueh.
that he should go to Porto Rico, ana
the promise was redeemed when the
Yale headed to-day from Siboney to
Porto Rico. 800 miles distant. General
Brooke will be the senior officer In
General Miles command. and upon
him will fall the responsibility for the
execution of the details of his supe-
rlor's plans.
II Is estimated that General Miles
should arrive by Wednesday night nj
the point selected for the landing'
and that he will hoist the American
flag at once over Porto Rican SOIL. Ihe
point chosen for his landing is kept
secret. as the general will land be-
fore the full body of the expedition IL
at hand, and II is consequently not de-
slrnble that the enemy should be nbie
TO assemble superior force TO meet
him.
The distance from Charleston. where
the first body of troops for Generai
Miles expedition was TO start to-uny'
is more than double the distance from
Santiago to Porto Rico, 30 that the
transports which sail from the former
city can scarcely reach General Miles
before the early part Of next week.
The purpose OF Secretary Alger Is
TO make the Porto Rican campaign q
short one. An overwhelming force VIII
be thrown upon the Island. and 1t Il
possible that bloodless victory will
be achieved when the Spanish become
convinced that they have no reason
able chance to resist successfully. The
expedition is to comprise 10000 men
at the start. and II will be swelled
soon TO 10000 men, and II necessary to
10000 men. the equipment of the vol
unteer forces having now progressed
so well as to warrant the statement
that that number of men can be ready
for service In Porto Rico within a very
snort time. The entire body OF troops
at Tampa will be taken. numbering
about 1900 men. and including n LOT
OF heavy and light artillery. under
command of General Rodgers. The
| expedition will be particularly strong
with artillery. ms some of that nj san
tiago. commanded by General Ran
dolph. is to be drawn upon. The
Tampa troops are known as the Fourth
corps. under command OF Major Gen
eral Coppinger.
General Brooke will take with him
from Chickamauga Park most of the
First ana Second brigades of his
army corps. the First.
The part which the navy is to TAX,
In the assault against Porto Rico ha,
been fully matured. The several trans
port fleets will have with them one Ul
two auxiliary craft, carrying stront
secondary batteries of six or elgh
six-pounders.
The movement of the ships from
Santiago to their new fields of actloi
will begin at once. and i, is probabl,
that some of Admiral SIMPSONS ship
were detached to-day and procecde,
with General Miles with the expedition
toward Porto Rico. They will be need
| ed to cover the debarkation of tn,
troops on Porto Rican soil. The other
will follow as soon ms the full arm,
expedition Is ready to make a landing
when the attack will begin simultan
eously from land and sea.