The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-17

tHouRn otHer StaleucHts flulcdtc tIidl tueTe
is considerably less.
II Is fair to assume, they say, that when
the United States army commences active
operations against the cfty of San Juan
every available man in that place will be
impressed into the military service and
given a gun. Hence they feel that the
army of invasion should be of such proper
tlons as to leave no doubt of its ability and
capacity 10 cope with the enemy
1t is stated positively that the embarka-
ton point for the troops for Porto Rico has
not yet been finally determined and will
not be until Secretary Alger and the presi-
dent have had chance to confer with
Major General Miles, who will return to
the city tomorrow.
There is no doubt, however, that this EN-
barkation will take place from some point
on the Atlantic coast with probability in
favor OF Fernandina or Savannah.
For the purpose OF the Porto Rican ex-
petition Assistant Secretary Meikleiohn
said today the department had now avail
eble eleven transports, some OF which are
already at Southern points, and these will
carry about 5000 men and equipments
The war department is now In COMMUNE
cation with coastwise companies on the
Atlantic and gulf coasts to secure addi-
tional vessels needs a large number, ag-
gregating about seventy five have been
submitted for inspection from which they
hope to get the required number.
Mr.. Me!klejohn expressed the hope that
the steamship companies would make a i
point to favor the war department with
their transportation facilities. He appre-
ciated what they had already done In this
line, but In view Of tho extra demands tina. |
have been made he hoped they would give |
the department an opportunity to charter
other ships, as the government preferred to
use American vessels in the work about u
be undertaken rather than ask congress to |
grant American registry TO foreign vessels |
The war department has vast quantity |
Of ships and men at Tampa and 1t will con-
tlnue to be used as a reserve port.
Especial Dispatch to the New York Herald,
London Times and Tho Houston Post.
Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Ben
nett.)
Washington, June 16--President Nc
Kinley has given instructions that every
effort be made to have the army for Porto
Rico ready to start within two weeks Ma
lor General Miles is expected in Washing
ton tomorrow and conference between
the president, the secretary of war and the
commander of the army will be immed-
lately held to discuss the Porto Rican ex-
petition.
Fernandina, as previously stated In tho
New York Herald, will be the place of EN-.
barkation for this army.
Major General Copplnger, who will com
mand the Porto Rcan army has been in
slructed by the officials In Washington to
select for his army the best equipped and
organized volunteer regiments In the
United States. His army will comprise
about 900 volunteers and 5000 regulars
New York. June l6.-The World has a
special from Washington which saws:
1t Is learned tonight that General Mile.
is coming here for consultation regarding
the campaign in general and particularly
the expedition to Porto Rico. General
miles left Tampa tonight for Washington.
lie was informed today that II is Tho
earnest desire of the president th,. H.
fofto Rican expedition be sent on its
mission as soon as possible.
no president has been greatly annoved
py the delays 10 the Santiago exneai,io,
ana ae hopes there will not be a renetit,on
OF the case of Porto Rico. Orders have
oeeh given for the speedy organization =,
~, 's lhan 10000 men to occupy Porto
i'i0o' 1t Is expected that two weeks will
De required for preparation
me troops that are expected to take
part IN the invasion are far from holm,
EQUIPPED. General Copplnger has about
lo'ooo troops at Tampa. OF which ha,,.-,,
''s'' anu acVo are regulars. There are
ABOUT 1900 at Mobile, General Lee has
lorce at Jacksonville which he has been
ht''hs ior service as rapidly as he has hae,
N0"' win the view OF taking his corps.
me seventh, direct to Havana. Censrai
Miles instructions from the war denart
heht are such that any OF these troons
lay De pressed into service for Porto Riro
me htness OF the troops will guide the
y. uIncIais IN making the selections, but all
Ihe regulars available will be utilized and
y Ias been hoped that large number OF
rne regulars that are now on the way TO
naht'ago may be available for the porto
.lee service by the time the troops are
ready to sail for that point.
A., , lhere are a number of regiments at Camp
niser ana chickamauga that are in SPLEEN
, y S9na'uon' volunteer officers are
,iamoiing for assignment to the second
,Npisuit.n. They do not appreciate ths
ppnsy OF fayoring the regular army s tho
.Ateht that has been done Tho denarls
neht has promised to deal more. eeneronsiv
Man rnn .ne volunteer officers in future ope-