Evening star., 1898-07-16
The Porto Rico Expedition.

The POrfO RicO Expedition.
Major General Brooke, commanding at
Chickamauga, was one of the early arrivals
at the department today He was accom-
panied by one of the members of his staff.
General Brooke came TO Washington for
consultation with Secretary Alger and the
administration officials, presumably on the
question of the Porto Rico expedition,
which he is expected to command.
1t was some time before the general was
able to see Secretary Alger, and he spent
the time visiting some of his former friends
in the department and in long talk with
Quartermaster General Ludington. Under
that department comes in a large degree
the arrangements for fitting out the expe-
clifton and there are many questions of
details upon which General Brooke, from
his long experience at Chickamauga, will
be called upon for consultation and advice.
The new problem finds the officials much
better prepared for the work ahead than
they were when the Tampa expedition was
being prepared, and they have the benefit
of that experience. The soldiers are better
equipped and there need be no delay on
that point; subsistence stores are ready in
large quantities at the shipping points and
all the transports needed are available.
Conference With Gen. Brooke.
When Secretary Alger returned from the
White House conference lie was Joined by
Gen. Brooke. and the two remained to-
getter for about hour in the Secretarys
pri! ate Office. When the conference closed
Ger Brooke excused himself from all in
reviewers He left the building in COM
pany with several sWarthy-faced gentle
men, said to be Porto Ricans, who carried
many large rolls, maps, &c.
The calling of the meeting of the naval
war board at the White House this morn
ing is an open evidence o. the determina-
ton of the administration to push the
campaign according to the original plan.
Ths board is preparing for the Porto Rican
exp dition- There has been no abandon
met of the program laid iown for Commo-
dore Watsons ,icet. Touching the Porto
Rican expedition, 1t IS said that Gen. Miles
himself will command it, aided by Gen.
Brooke. The latter viii probably make all
the arrangements necessary at Washington
and at Chickama1ga, for it is not the pres
ent intention of Gen. Miles to return to
Washington before leaving for Porto Rico,
though, of course, there is always the pos
sibility that he will be summoned here by
the President for purposes of consultation.
1t is expected at the War Department
that the campaign in Porto Rico will be
short and decisive. The troops will be
landed at a point near San Juan. with an
ample supply Of field artillery to force their
way directly into the rear of the town.
while the fleet will dash into the harbor
and make the attack in front. Discourag-
ed as the SDaniards are by the surrender
at Santiago, it is not expected that they
will offer protracted resistance.
1t may be that when Gen. Brookes SOL
Giers leave Chickamauga Park their places
will be taken by some OF The troops now
lying at Tampa. The conditions at the
latter place are not satisfactory from
sanitary point of view, and the troops, If
not removed to ChtckamaGga. win proba-
bly, be taken to Fernandin:I and Charleston.