The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-25
MILES,
MOVEMENTS
NOW Probably at tho RendeZ-
vOus Off Porto Rico.
THE LAND|NG OF TROOPS DELAYED.
A Scarcity Of Lighters Will Pre-
" vent Immediate Action.
RUSHING THE REINFORcEMENTs.

They Will Be Hurried to Miles' Aid With
the Greatest Possible Dispatch Genera
shafter Sends Cheering Report Regard
Ing the Condition Of His Soldiars-Sh Shaf
ter Now Feeding Eleven Thousand Span.
ish Prisoners of War.
Washington. July 25--It Is said at
the war department that no news can
be expected from any official source as
to General Niles movements until this
evening at the earliest. 1t is calcu-
lated that he arrived last night at the
point on the coast of Porto Rico se-
lected as the rendezvous for all the
vessels of the expedition. Whether or
not he will undertake to make a land
Ing In advance Of the arrival of the
whole expedition will probably depend
entirely upon conditions as he finds
them. Should there be no Spanish
Force, or at least an inconsiderable one
on the coast. the troops will be landed
TO relieve them in the disastrous effects
OF being confined closely on shpboard
Unoer the tropical sun.
The general has with him sufficient
artillery to hold any position he may
occupy. supplemented as this artillery
Mill be by the guns of his naval con-
N0y. Meanwhile the department Is
making every effort to hurry along the
remainder Of the expedition. Some
troops are now on their way from
Tampa and Charleston, and should
reach Porto Rico by the middle of the
week. Naval officials are assisting ac-
dvely In getting the troops off, and
were engaged yesterday in sending the
necessary orders to that end to the
commanders of the naval auxiliary ves-
Bels which have been placed at the
service Of the war department In the
course of a day or two the troops
brought from Chickamauga by General
Brooke will sail from Hampton Roads,
where they have been arriving oil day
and are ready for the transports.
There Is a probability that General
Miles may be delayed for several days
In his landing operations for lack Of
lighters, but several Of these are now
on their way and others will be hurried
forward as rapidly as possible How
ever 1t may be as to his speedy land
ing on Porto Rico SOIL 1t will be we'll
along towards the end of this week
before the active land campaign can
be begun In Porto Rico.
! General Shafter reported by cable
yesterday that the condition OF the
troops at Santiago was rapidly improv-
ing. and said he hoped in the course
Of day or two to have them all To-
Gated in comfortable camps, where
they my rest and recuperate and where
the sick may recover. He Is feeding
A.oO0 of the Spanish prisoners of war,
and although he has not yet been able
70 furnish them with tents, yet this
deficiency Is being made good. and
meanwhile their present condition Is
no worse in this respect than was their
condition before the surrender. The
general makes no mention Of the al
legged letter from Garcia to himself,
nor does he speak of any friction be-
tween them, whence the department
has come to doubt the authenticity Of
published stories on these subjects
In his report to the war department
relative to the conditions at Santiago
General Shafter has thrown some light
hpUIl Tie ulliCuttleS Ill WHICH certain |
II the newspaper correspondents there
have involved themselves. From his
'eport 1t would appear that, animated
3y an ambition to take a prominent
onrt in the important events follow
ng each other In rapid succession at
Santiago after the initiation Of the ne
,otiations for the surrender of the city,
! few of the correspondents were
.uilty Of grave breaches Of military
aw. nesessitating prompt corrective
Iction by General Shafter. Thus. for
Instance. one correspondent. in his cf-
orts to take part In the flag raising
ver the city hall, resisted the mill
ary officers in the execution of their
uty. and even attempted a personal
ssault upon the commanding general.
his made him subject to summary
nd severe punishment, even death,
ct General Shafter, probably realizing
hat ignorance of military law was the
xplanation Of the action, contcnted
imself with expelling the correspond !.
ent from Cuba.
A more serious offense, from the fact :,
,at it might easily have led to riotng
nd loss of life, was that of three other y
eneral Skaters report, by circulating !.
reports. stirred up the
'wn. They were likewise deported,
I'd as evidence that he has no personal Y
feeling towards the paper represent y
by them, but desires only to eXer- u
Sc such control as is imperatively :.
in the interest of safety of y
lr troops and protection of the people :,
lder their care, General Shafter has y
clared that these correspondents may Z.
Immediately replaced by others by " y,
e same newspaper who will observe u
e rules OF prudence. No mention Is
ade OF any other cases requiring at
ntton, and 1t Is indicated that the
lations between the newspaper men A
ID the army OF officers at Santiago are
nerally amicable and satisfactory.
In a very dignifled manner General
lafter takes notice of some Of the
verely critical newspaper articles that 4,
We appeared touching the condition M
the troops before Santiago while 4 II,
ey lay In trenches. He admits that III
ere was a shortage of tobacco for a IN
ne, but shows conclusively that there U,
ls no lack Of necessaries OF life and th
at the troops were adequately sup re
ed with hard bread, bacon, sugar su
d coffee. Sa
With the week just closed the United Ar
ates saw the end of the third month I'M
til
ua.-sss pr