Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-17

| Miles-The Army to Invade Porto
Rico Will Be Larger Than That
Held There by Spain.
| Washington, June 16.-The War De-
| partment expects to utilize approxim-
ately thirty-five transports in the ex-
petition for the invasion of Porto Rico.
| This statement was made officially at
| the department to-day. 1t seems to in
dictate that the Porto Rico army will
| equal if not succeed in numbers that
which left for Santiago. The estimate
is made that the thirty-ive vessels will
carry between 5000 and 10000 men
with their equipments and subsistence.
Army officials say that reports which
have been received from reliable
sources show that the number Of Span
| ish soldiers in that country is probably
10000 men, although other statements
indicate that there are considerably less
| than that number. 1t is fair to assume,
| they say, that when the United States
! army commences active operations
against the city of San Juan every avail
able man in that place will be impress
ed into the military service and given
gun. Hence they feel that the army Of
invasion should be of such proportions
as to leave no doubt of it's ability and
capacity to cope successfully with tho
enemy. 1t is stated positively that the
| embarkation point for the troops for
Porto Rico has not yet been finally de-
termined and will not be until Secre-
tary Alger and the President have had
an opportunity TO confer with Major
| General Miles, who will return to the
city tomorrow. There is no doubt.
however, that this emparkation viii
| take place from some point on the Al
lantic coast with probability in favor
| Of Fernandina, Fla, or Savannah, Ga
The merits of the first place named
have been fully set out, and as to the
latter place favorable comment was
made upon it by the board of army Of
!
animation of various points in the
south.
Jacksonville is also considered by the
board good place for the assembling
of troops, although it is not believed
| that the water in the st. Johns river Ii
of satisfactory depth to permit Of the
easy movement of large number OF
vessels to and from the harbor. Miami,
Fla, was examined by the board, but
their conclusion is that it is not big
enough for the accommodation of any
| great number of men who might be
brought there prior to embarkation.
| Charleston and Columbia. s. C., were
! examined, but for good reasons Secre-
! tary Alger says they will not be used
as localities for the rendezvous OF
| troops.
| For the purposes of the Porto Rican
expedition, Assistant Secretary Nickel
| john said the department had now
| available eleven transports, some OF
| which are already at southern points,
and these will carry about six thous-
| and men with their equipments. The
| War Department is now in commune
| cation with the various coastwlse
steamship companies ON the Atlantic
and Gulf with view to securing the
| additional vessels needed. A large
| number, aggregating probably seventy
| five. have been submitted for the in
spection of the officers of the quarter
| masters department, from which they
| hope to obtain the needed ships. AS
sistant Secretary MeikeIjohn expressed
| the hope that the steamship compa-
MES would make point to favor the
| War Department with their transport
| tation facilities. He appreciated what
| they had already done in this line, but
| in view of the extra demands that
| have been made he hoped that they
would give the department an oppor-
tunity TO charter other ships, as the
government preferred to use Ameri-
can vessels in the work about to DO
undertaken rather than to ask Con-
gress to grant American registers to
foreign ships, which, after the war
was over, would prove strong COM
petition for the coastwise trade. Mr..
Meiklejohn said it had not yet been
determined whether any of the vessels
soon to reach Santiago would be util-
lied in the Porto Rican expedition.
! This was a matter entirely contingent
upon the military aspect of affairs as
they might develop in eastern Cuba.
1t is stated not to be the intention
Of the government at this time to
abandon Tampa as a base of military
operations, as has been reported The
War Department has vast quantity
OF rations, besides large number of
men at this place. While it is posi-
BILE that future large military move
| ments may not be embarked from that
point, yet it is believed that it wild
continue to be used as reserve bass