Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-07-23
rs AGAIN DELAYED.
&c n. Miles Still Waiting for tho
Naval Convoy to Porto Rico.
Men ON Transports oetting Tlrcd-some Of
tho Horses Have Also Died Through
Being Kept Aboard ship-Or- .
dcrs to sampson.

Washington, July 2L-The war and
navy departments are now engaged In
making all OF the arrangements for
the dispatch Of the Porto Rican expe-
dition and Watson's eastern So uadron.
There has occurred one OF those nat
ural pauses in the progress Of the cam
paign, incident TO the completion OF
one set of operations and the initia-
ton Of another. There being no pos
sibility Of the receipt Of news OF q
great battle or ofsurrendcr, there was
less excitement and less evidence OF q
nervous strain than for weeks past.
Gen. Miles expected departure was
again deferred. The explanation given
was that there was difficulty expert
enced Mt Santiago In securing the naval
convoy for the expedition. tits known,
however, In addition that the presi-
dent himself has restrained Gen. Miles
to the extent of adjuring him in ear.
nest terms not to commit tho folly OF
starting for Porto Rico without tho
most complete preparation.
The government has profited by the
lessons taught by the Santiago cxpedi-
ton. Aside from the actual loss Of
life that might have been expected TO
result from n badly calculated start,
II is realized that our relations with
some OF the European powers would
be. in small measure Mt least, inn
paired by the adverse moral effect
created by anything approaching a
defeat for tho American arms ut this
stage of the war. Therefore, 1t Is GER
tain that so far as the department can
prevent, Gen. Miles soldiers will not
run short of food, nor Of tents to pro-
tect them from the tropical rains, nor
OF the means Of transportation, that
were so deficient Mt the beginning OF
the Santiago movement
Gen. Miles reported yesterday after.
noon that he had with him ten trans
ports, which II is presumed have
aboard several thousand soldiers, al
though ut least two of thcm are filed
with equipment. The men aboard ship
arc suffering from delay, precisely as
did the soldiers who lay in Tampa bay
before the departure OF the Shafter
expedition. Inquiry made ut the navy
department to ascertain where the
delay had arisen In securing conveys
was met with the statement that the
orders to Admiral Sampson in this
matter were very general. He was
simply directed by the department to
furnish convoy, and 1t was assumed
that he would confer with Gen. Miles
rs to the number and character OF
vessels required for that purpose. As
the campaign, from a naval point OF
view, is to be principally land move
mcnt, the naval officers do not believe
q very extensive convoy is necessary.
Gen. Miles telegraphed the war de-
partment yesterday afternoon, an
nouncing the arrival there from Tampa
Of the transports Lampasas and Nueces
with about 600 men on board. These
are supposed to include the District OF
Columbia engineers and artillery bat
terry. Gen. Miles states that he has
now ten transports with him and II Is
supposed they are .aden with troops.
lie complains the men are very tired
waiting for their naval convoy and
says some OF the horses have died from
the effects OF being taken aboard ship
and kept there.
Secretary Alger said last night that
he expected Gen. Miles, one brigade
of infantry and some artillery would
leave Cuba Immediately, under convoy
OF strong naval squadron, for the in.
vasion of Porto Rico. He expressed
the hope and belief that the troops
were already en- route to Porto Rico.
Most OF them had been on board the
transports for several days, and the
situation was becoming trying for
them. Secretary Alger said there had
been no delay in the embarkation OF
the troops, and that, so far Us the war
department and Gen. Miles were con-
cerned, the expedition had been In
readiness to proceed to Porto Rico for
several days. Orders were sent yes
terday to Admiral Sampson to start
ut once with his fleet for the landing
place in Porto Rico, which has been
determined upon by the war author
tiles. No information could be OBJ
tanned at the war department last
night as to whether the fleet actually
had Gailed