The sun., 1898-06-16
PORTO RICO EXPEDITION.
THE PLANS ooNTEEPIATB an Army
OF 10000 EEM


with the President ana war sna HavAI
omciais - TIE Trssps VIII Ne Taken
fre5 the CaHps at Tampa, rEobils. jack
sonViIIe, ChiokasAuGn, ana washiuEton.
WAsHrNeToN, June 1B.-secretary AlRer telo-
Rraphed to Gen. Miles at Tampa this afternoon
to come to Washington Immediately, and ho
will be here within q day or two. The plan Of
the Porto Rico invasion has already been sub
mittod to tho Commanding General Of the
army, and hls advice, personally delivered. 10
now deemed essential by Secretary Alger and
tho President, who expect to profit by the sug-
gestions which Gen. Miles will be In position to
render in the light OF his experience at Tampa.
The President has been kept informed by
Gen. Miles OF numerous important matters
relating to tho preparations for tho Santiago ex-
pedition and the conditions prevailing at Tampa
and vicinity. The WaI Department has rs yet
formulated only general project for an expedl-
tlon to Porto Rico. There remain innumerable
details to bo developed. and these. for the most
part, must be intrusted to Gen. Miles, who will
probably again proceed South when he has
complished all that is possible in Washington.
The Porto Rico expedition will consist of at
least 10000 troops. gathered mostly from the
camps at Mobile. Jacksonville. Camp Alger,
Chickamauga and Tampa Troops now Mt the
ably be transferred to Fern nandina, although this
is q matter upon which Secretary Alger has not
yet acted. The report OF the Board Of Officers
OF which Col. G. r. Greeneaf of tho
Army Medical Department is President, has
presented tho necessities of the abandonment
OF Tampa In such urgent terms that It is
probably only a question of q few days when
Gen. CoppinRer will receive instructions to pro-
coed to another point. Jacksonville 10 hardly
likely to DO chosen. for tho reason that Gen.
Lees force of 5000 men is already concentrated
at that point, and the approaches to the port
may not have sufficient depth OF water to make
tho whRrves accessible to tho transports at all
times Mobile is destined to be retained as the
port Of departure for tho troops now under Gen.
Schwan, which may be selected to participate in
the expedition.
Tho determnatio to utilize some of the
troops now oncamped near Washington. at
Camp AlRer, Va, and at ChickRmauRa. has
been received with unstintod approval by the
officers in charge Of those camps. Tho latter,
during tho past day or two. have presented to
the War Department tho claims Of their com.
mands for service with the Porto Rico expedi-
ton. There has been much impatience among
the troops at Camp ARer and Chickamauga over
the poor prospects OF active campaign. The
promise that tho invasion of northern
and western Cuba would be postponed
until autumn was sufficient to depress
the spirits of officers and men, who had evil
IDENTITY counted upon an immediate occupation
OF tho western Cuban provinces and descent
upon Havana. A prominent official Of the War
Department said to Sun reporter to-day that
plans for a general Cuban invasion would be
deferred until all things possible have been ac-
complished In Santiago and until Porto Rico
has been occupied.
afoHv has NJ .lar ~ -
consideration tho reports about tho troops at
Chickamauga and Camp AlGer which possess
the requisite equipment and which have at
tanned the necessary standard OF efficiency and
discipline to warrant their assignment to the
Porto Rico expedition. Such troops as are
chosen for this duty will probably remain at
their present camps until everything is in
readiness at their port of departure. Tho e1-
periences at Tampa have shown tho War De-
partment officials that 1t Is useless and expen.
sivo to keep troops waiting for weeks while
supplies are either delayed in transit or hope-
leSsly and inextricably confused in the process
of delivery. Profiting. therefore. by tho annoy
ing incidents at Tampa. Secretary Alger will
not unduly hasten the departure OF troops from
northern camps and an effort will be made to
arrange dates OF departure and arrival OF troops
80 az to place them at once on board tho trans
ports
There are many questions remaining for de-
partment decision before the plans for tho Porto
Rico invasion can be perfected Ono important
feature ia the use of conveys with the feet Of
and this was the occasion OF a con-
sultation to-day between Major Hopkins of tho
army, who was . member of the board
detailed to select new stes for camps
and A'Sistant Secretary Allen of the
Navy Department Officials OF tho latter
branch are anxious that tho War Depart
mont scheme for the invasion of Porto Rico
shall bo deferred until tho naval vessels may be
safely withdrawn from Santiago waters. Tho
army officers do not favor delay. Those whose
advice has been solicited by Secretary Alger
have urged immediate action, pointing out that
delay only serves to strengthen the encmy's
power Of resistance and adds to the difficulties
Of occupation and attack. The Navy Department
officials are firm in their intention that 1t
would be unwise to withdraw naval vessels
from the blockading service or to weaken the
naval force in the vicinity of Santiago until
American success in that province Is assured.
Should the naval view eventually prevail, the
army officers will be forced to relinquish their
hopes OF starting the Porto Rico expedition
within the two weeks which the most sanguine
of them expect will be necessary to equip the
force of 20. 900 men.
The plan which contemplates early a de-
parturo or the expedition does not take in ac-
count the use of any OF tho transports now on
route to Santiago. II this be the case. 1t will be
necessary to charter twelve fifteen additional
transports, q transaction which the military
authorities believe will consume much longer
time than two or three weeks. Secretary Alger
and officers OF his department have been in con-
sultation to-day with representatives OF railroads
having connection with the depots at Fernando
ma, Jacksonville and Mobile. 1t is the intention
of the department to have these roads lay
many miles of sidings at these terminal points
for tho reception of army supply trains. Ger
tain sidlnRs will be used only for particular
supplies, so that the officers of the Ordnance.
Quartermaster- Generals. and Subsistence do
partments can readily ascertain exactly where
their consignmentS are. For example. one
group of sidings will be used exclusively
for mules. and the Depot Quartermaster
at that point will BIO able to find them henever
they needed without searching through
miles of cars for tho animals. One difficulty at
Tampa was that there was no systematic ar
in disposing OF supply trains, This
was duo to the Incompetence of certain officers,
whose services at that point have been dis
nanaad with