Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-18

Rico Owing to the Reinforce
ment of Spanish Garrisons and
the Strengthening of Defonses.
That Cadiz Fleet Causes No
Alarm.
Washington, June 1.-THE return
of Gen. Miles to Washington from
Tampa to-day had an inspiring effect
upon the war preparations. The gem
eral had a busy day calling upon Sec
rotary Alger, consulting the chiefs of
the staff departments ard giving the
department the benefit of his observa-
tons at Tampa. Secretary Alger said
that he was entirely satisfied with the
condition of the troops as reported by
Gen. Miles, and wished that he had
the means to provide every one of the
volunteer soldiers a. daily surf bath
such as was enjoyed by the men at
Tampa. Gen. Miles is yet to have a
conference with the President. In the
meantime the plans are moving for
ward steadily for sending further ex-
petitions both to Porto Rico and Cuba.
There is little likelihood that second
expedition Of 5000 men, to reinforce
Gen. Shafter at Santiago, will leave
within the next few days, as has been
reported. The necessity of sending
these additional forces is questioned
by high military officials, and more
over the means Of transporting such
a force are not available. The main
consideration just at present is the
equipment of an expedition of greater
dimensions than any heretofore dis
cussed, with Porto Rico as the objec-
tive point. A month ago the military
authorities were satisfied that a small
force would be sufficient to occupy
Porto Rico as the Spanish force there
did not exceed 5000 or 5000. Now,
however, the Spanish garrisons have
been so reinforced and the defenses
| strengthened that it is believed
| much larger invading army will be re-
| quired. Moreover, the officials were
satisfied on learning to-day that the
| Cadiz fleet had sailed, that the ships
| would go to Porto Rico rather than to
| Cuba, if they crossed to this side. 1t
| was pointed out that this move would
| be the natural stretegic one for the
| Spanish commanders to take, as there
was still something left for them to
| save in Porto Rico.
Gen. Miles would speak only in the
| most general way as to the prospective
| army movements. When asked as to
/ the recent reports that large bodies OF
| troops were about to be concentrated
| at Florida points with view to start
| ing further armies of invasion to Cuba,
| Porto Rico and elsewhere, he said:
1.-The military campaign is proceeding
| steadily toward its complete execution.
| The sending of one expedition or another
| is but detail single part, of q general
| plan of campaign OF course, 1t is more
or less right to say that troops are about
| to be forwarded and that the expeditions
| will be equipped and sent. That almost
| goes without saying, for when we entered
| upon war, an aggressive campaign was
| formulated and approved. which contem-
| plated the sending of expeditions and
| their cooperation toward the successful
| prosecution of the war. Just when these
| expeditions will move and how many men
! will accompany them it Is not desirable
| to say now, but it is enough to state that
! the campaign now entered upon is to be
prosecuted with the utmost vigor until the
| end of the war
| The naval officials are somewhat puzzled
| at the failure to exchange Hobson and
| crew just announced from Havana. OF
| course, this is not permantnt. but simply
means that Havana authorities, as yet.
| have not been authorized to exchange
| prisoners. The report that came from
Madrid was that the exchange had been
| authorized, so it IS suTnised that the
| Spanish government has not yet FOUND
| means Of communicating its decision 10
| Gen. Blanco at Havana.
! Some of the naval officers are pulling
long faces over the projected promotion
of Hobson to the rank of lieutenant
| commander Not that they object to his
reward, but they feel that it is hard that
some means could not be found to do
| this without practically injuring the 20
| officers whom he will jump
| Dewey's report of June II from Cavite
was food for good deal of discussion to-
day at the Navy Department. Taken in
| connection with the press reports, IL
would seem to indicate that Manila prob
! ably has fallen by this time. One phrase
used by the admiral that they did not in
| tend to take the city at the present time,
warrants the belief that he has reached
| a perfect understanding with the insur-
| gent leader and that the town is mt to be
| attacked until his own troops arrive For
4 one reason it is extremely desirable that
| such should be the case, and that Dewey
| should receive the surrender of the town
in person rather than force the Spaniards
/ to surrender to the insurgents and there
| by afford possible pretext for the inter-
| ference of some of the foreign powers.
4 whose ships are gathering in suspiciously
l large numbers in Manila bay.
The Cadiz fleet is being narrowly watch
| ed, although the naval view is not similar
| to that taken by the army officers. The
/ former do not attach as much import
| ance to this fleet as the latter, and few
| of the officers can be found to believe that
| the ships will never venture far from the
| Spanish coast, much less attempt TO cross
| the Atlantic or go to the PhilippAes The
| list of vessels in this fleet is rather, for