The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-24
GEN. SCHWAN LEFT
TAMPA YESTERDAY
His Departure was Unavoidably Delayed. Gen.
eraI Brooke will not be Able to Clear from
Newport News Before Monday. The Garcia
Letter Proves to be Fake. The Philippine
Question. To Create Reserve Camps. Shat
ter TO Send Officers to Receive Surrender Of
Guantanamo, Sagua and Baracca.


Guantanamo, Sagua and Baracca.
Washington, ID. c., July 23.-General
Miles expedition in all probability, IS
now in the Mona Passage between Hay
ii and Porto Rico and will be in sight OF
the landing point in the morning. While
this is the expectation of Secretary Al
ger for prudential reasons the War De
partment declines to make any comment
as to the accuracy of the various guesstS
that have been made in the effort to as
certain exactly what point has been Sc
lected for the landing place. There IS
likely to be Il lapse of day or two be-
tween the arrival of the expedition ami
the notification of the fact to the Depart
ment unless some merchant vessel cross
ing to st. Thomas should sight the
American fiotilla. After that, however,
the Department will be in the closest
communication with General Miles, for it
will possess itself Of cable connecting
General Miles headquarters directly
with the Department Some part of
the Porto Rico expedition has been de-
layed for few days beyond the dates
fixed for their departure. but in view of
the difficulties of handling large bodies
is not surprising Thus Schwan's troops
got away only today from Tampa though
it was believed they started yesterday,
while the most numerous detachment of
the whole expedition, the First division
under General Brooke. will not be able
to clear from Newport News before Mon
day. Still it is believed that they will
arrive at Porto Rico III good season and
it will certainly facilitate an orderly and
comfortable landing of the troops to
have them land in detachments instead
OF in one vast army rs in the case of
Shafter's army at Santiago.
Doubt is cast upon reports of recent
existing events among the Cubans at or
near Santiago owing to the failure Of
General Shafter to make any report
upon them and inasmuch as he has made
less important subjects matter for dis
patches it is hard to understand why he
should fail to mention an event of such
Importance as the reported attack by
General Garcia upon Spanish troops on
their way to surrender to General Shat
ter. There was no health report received
from Shafter today, but SO far from be-
ing discouraging this is believed to ndi
cate the continuance Of the improved
conditions reported yesterday and the
day before as to the health of the camp.
Ihe War Department is now while
Keeping close eye upon General Miles
expedition. looking with interest for de-
tailed mail reports from General Shafter
telling Of the engagement preceding and
leading up to the surrender of Santiago.
1t was reported today that Colonel J. !.
Astor. Of Shafter's staff. was due in
Washington bringing with him the full
capitulatiOns signed by commissioners.
and it was expected that Shafter's pre-
ceding reports would accompany them.
However, up to the close of office hours
today which. to the relief of the hard
worked clerks was 3 O'Clock, for the first
time in months, the officer had not APP
peared and the Department does not
know where he is.
Some official papers have come from
Sampson but to the great disappoint-
ment of Navy Department officials the
reports closed on the day before the
famous naval battle. Some points OF
interest contained in them will be given
to the public in the course of a day
or two, but they will relate only to
several fights between the squadron and
the shore batteries.
1t is the purpose of the War Depart
ment to begin at once the execution of
the plans devised by Secretary Alger
Tor the creation of reserve camps, and
boards of staff officers are now engaged
IN various localities looking after suita-
bic camp sites and making the pre-.
limlnary arrangements for acquiring the
right to use these places and arranging
FOR water supplies. The intention is not
10 he caught through any contingency
with large numbers of troops at centra
points in the midst Of an epidemic OF
any kind, with no place to move them
III was FOR this reason that Fernandin;