The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-22
PS|INRAIYERG0N
President Irritated by Delay
Caused Miles.
M'KINLEY SENDS MANDATE.
Takes Selection Of Convoy Out Of
Admlral'S Hands.

starts for Porto Rico Speedily FOf-
lows Presidents Action-story
That Plan to Send Squadron to
lombard the Coast of Spain Had
Been Abandoned Gives Rise to Ru-
NOR That Peace Was in Sight.
Prompt Denial by Secretary Long
Knocks the story Out-start for
spain Delayed Only on Account %
the Porto Rican Expedition.
Washington, July 2.-Presldent McKin-
ley was thoroughly aroused over the delay
which occurred in the starting Of Gen.
Miles and the expedition under his COM
mand for Porto Rico.
For several days Gen. Miles and hls
troops were aboard their transports at
Playa del Este, awaiting the naval con-
voy which was TO be furnished by Admiral
Sampson.
The troops have been sweltering in the
crowded ships under the broiiing heat Of
the tropical sun. while Gen. Miles has been
chafng under what he believed to be mex
cusable delay, and was bombardlng ths
war department with dispatches urging IN
The strongest terms that The navy be hur-
fod in his preparations for the expedi-
ton.
Instructions Of the most positive nature
had been cabled TO Admiral Sampson to
supply the necessary convoy for Gen.
Miles transports, but. Notwithstanding
these instructions Admiral Sampson pro-
ceeded with preparations for the expedition
with a. deliberation that exasperated the
officials here.
The President who has given the Porto
Rioan expedition his personal attention
as he has given, indeed. all phases Of tho
war-hpally became deeply concerned lest
the part OF the Porto Rican expedition
that has already sailed from this country
should arrive at the point of rendezvous
ia advance Of Gen. Miles and the navy.
1t Is feared that If Gen. Wilson's COM
mand, which sailed yesterday from
Charleston should arrive in advance Of
Gen. Miles and the naval conveys, serious
danger and possibly disaster might result,
as Gen Wilson'S ships are absolutely
without protection.
Fully appreciating these facts and real-
izing the necessity for prompt action in
getting Gen. Miles and his Porto Rican ex-
petition started. President Mckinley this
morning issued personal orders through
the Secretary of the Navy TO Admiral
Sampson that he should proceed immedi-
ately to Porto Rico with Gen Miles.
The Presidents orders were susceptible
of no misconstruetion. They were imper-
alive to a degree seldom employed except
In cases Of extreme emergency They were
OF the sort that Will brook no delay In their
| execution.
CONCERNING the naval. conveys of Gen.
Miles expedition, the navy department to-
night made public the following statements
Admiral Sampson telegraphed this after
noon to the Secretary OF the Navy that
there has been no delay in furnishing am
pie convoy to Gen Miles A day or two
ago the Cincinnati and New Orleans were
both placed at his disposal.
"The Columbia and Yale. carrying troops
are both powerfully armed. says the adj
rnirals telegram. and this is an ample
convoy for his expedition and to effect his
landing
"The Annapolis. Wasp and Ieyden had
been ordered from Nipe, the Gloucester
also added, and The three monitors ordered
from Key West. Under these cIrcum-
Stances there certainly has been no lack
Of naval assistance.
III Gen. Niles preferred to wait, the de-
lay was his own. However, In further an
swer to his request, the Massachusetts and
Dixie were also added this morning, and he
has probably started"
This statement shows that Gen. Miles
will be backed in effecting his landing on
Porto Riean soll BY strong squadron Of
the navy.
in addition TO the vessels named, It is
officially stated that for the first time
the powerful monitors Terror AmphItrlte
and Puritan which have been at Key
West, are under orders to proceed to
Porto Rico to assist in the reduction OF
the Spanish Notifications there.
1t Is also known to be not unlkely--in-
deed. It Is probable-that still other ves-
sells Of Admiral SIMPSONS feet will par
tieipate in the reduction Of the fortifica-
tons Of san Juan.
This was indicated clearly by Secretary
Longs statement this afternoon concern
ing the sailing Of Commodore Watsons
eastern squadron to spain.
la the course of that statement the Sec
retary said the eastern squadron would be
sent "to spain later, when the Porto
Riean campaign permits" 1t seems clear
that some at least of the vessels viii
he employed in the bombardment Of the
fortihcahons Of Porto Rlcos principal
city
Washington was given a small sensation
to-day in the shape Of a rumor that the
eastern squadron had been disbanded. It
was a startling rumor but its verihcation
xf-ontinnod m feffth r3as~a