The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-18

WASHINGTON D. C., Juiy H.-An
important conference was held at the
white house tonight, the participants
being besides President Mckinley, Sec
retary Long, Admiral slcard and Cap
tain AIahan. OF the War Board. Adj
jutant General Corbln was present dur
ing part OF the deliberations,
The happy conclusion of the cam
palgn against Santiago affords tho
President and his advisers intense sat
isfaction, but no disposition IS mani
tested to let the war rest for moment
Even before the details OF the Santiago
campaign have been cleared away, the
expedition against Porto Rico nbsorbs
the attention of the President. He fully
realizes that the.war can be prosecuted
to a speedy and successful issue onlE
by pressing the advantages already
gained; and. as one OF the officials ex-
pressed it tonight, "the President pro-
poses TO strike while the iron is hot"
Arrangements for the Porto Rico ex-
petition were under discussion By the
President and the war board Tonight.
1t may be two or three days before the
details Of the new invasion are worked
out, but It is probable that before the
end of the present week the military
forces OF the expedition Will have eff
fected landing not far from San Juan.
A Naval DemOnstrat on.
Prior to the landing, a naval demon
stratIon probably Will be made against
the San Juan fortlacatiuns The vessels
taking part in the bombnrdment win be
a part OF the feet Of Admiral Sampson,
but what vessels have been ordered TO
Porto Rico could not be ascertaiued. No
definite decision has been reached yet,
as TO the strength and personnel OF the
land forces 10 be sent to Porto Rico.
For a time It was supposed that few II
any Of the troops now under General
Skaters command at Santiago would
be sent to Porto Rico, but II is known
now that at least q part OF Skaters
command will be in the new expedition.
General Brooke, who is scheduled to
GO to Porto Rico, desired to take with
him the troops which constitute his
corps in It's entirety. It Is believed bg
the war officials that not SO many men
Will be needed In addition to the num-
ber to be sent from Cuba and only a
part OF General Brooke's corps Will
form there for that part Of the Porto
RIcan expedition which Is to be sent d.
rectIy from the United States.
sIIles VIII Command.
It is understood that General Miles,
who is to have general command of the
operations in Porto Rico, will not return
to the United States, but will proceed
directly to q point near San Juan with
such OF the military forces now at San
tIago as are 10 form part OF the eX-
petition against Porto Rico.
These and other details OF the new ex-
pedition were discussed by the Presi-
dent and his advisers tonight. General
Miles is In constant communication
with the administration and much re-
lance Is being placed upon him In the
matter OF the selection OF the land
forces for the Porto Rlcan expedition.
It Is expected that two or three days
and perhaps a longer time Will be re-
dulred to complete the turning over to
the United States forces Of the arms
and equipments OF the Spanish troops
at Santiago. General Shafter indicates
In his dispatch to-night that the dis
mament IS proceeding, probably as rap.
Idly as possible, and that the work VIII
continue tomorrow.
Direct communication with Santiago,
via playa del Este and HaVh has been
established, but It is likely In the opln-
ion OF General Greely, the chief signal
officer, that even better communication
will have been established In a day or