New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24

THE ST. LOUIS WILL CARRY THE FIRST
DETACHMENT TO PORTO RICO.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO 1mn rRIBrxE.l

tBY TELEGR,PH To TIE TRIBrNE.l
Newport News. Va. July 23.-The auxiliary
cruiser St Louis. the neetest vessel in tho
United States Navy. will sail from Newport
News for Porto Rico tomorrow evening. She
viii have on board General Brooke commando
ing the expedition his staff. fifteen hundred
troops and their supplies the superintendent OK
tho Porto Rico postal station ard assistants and
a large quantity Of postal supplies.
This statement is made officially. although tho
railway officials are not So positive about the
cruisers departure tomorrow everirg Gen.
eral Brooke his staff, and the hospital. ambu-
lance and signal corps did not leave Chicka-
n-auga to-day on the schedule arranged by the
Chesapeake and Ohio company.
The date f)r the departure Of the next expedi~
ton from Newpor, News is Tuesday afternoon.
ard from the present outlook there will be
nothing 70 delay the start. as the last Of tho
troops will have arrived here 10y Monday after
noon The first detachments Of troops from
Chckamauga. comprising the nucleus Of the ex-
pedltion, will not arrive here until tomorrow
morning the first train getting in about
o'clock.
This delay In the arrival OF the Sd Illinois,
the 4th Ohio and the 18th Pennsylvania is duo
10 the fact that twelve hours were lost through
the inability of the Army officials to put their
men aboard the trains in time 20 start on
schedule. The advance trains were due to ar
rive at clifton Forge Va. this morning at 3
o'clock. but alvices received here by the rails
road officials say the troops will not get TO that
point before o'clock tonight II is just twelve
hours run from clifton Forge TO Newport News.
THE SIZE OF THE EXPEDITION.
The first expedition 70 get away from this port
wiz comprise seven thousand officers and men
Of the infantry artillery. cavalry hospital am
hulance and signal branches Of the service;
eighteen hundred horses and mules. and a MILL
ion pounds Of personal and camp freight. and. in
addition between one hundred and fifty and
two hundred carloads II subsistence
The estimate IS made officially. including the
two squadrons Of New-Ycrk and Pennsylvania
Volunteer Cavalry which have been ordered tn
report here. and will arrive tomorrow after
noon. The decision Of secretary Alger TO send
cavalry with General Brooke viii make it neces-
sary to employ more transports-two, probably
which are said TO he on their way here now.
The Posto,flce is receiving official mail for
the auxiliary cruiser Yale from Washington, adj
dressed - Newport News and it is believed that
this fine ship will he used T. transport troops
from this port in the second expedition. Tho
Yale caanot form part of the first one as she
is now speeding TO Porto RICO with General
Miles ou board The Harvard Will arrive hera
on Monday morning from NewYork where she
is taking on coal and supplies.
The transport Massachusetts arrived from
New-York this morning. and is now loading
subsistence at the piers The Houmanian is also
taking on supplies. The City of Washington
will get I'm in the morning The 81. Louis did
not come up from old Point to-day. contrary
10 expectations. She will be here at daybreaks
however Forty-seyen carloads Of subsistencs
came on to-day from Philadelphia and New
York over the Chesapeake and ohio Eighteen
Of these ears are loaded with canned tomatoes
which are being put on board the Roumanian.
ARRANGING FOR \ PORTO RICO POST
OFFICE
Postofiice Inspector y. e. y. Smith. who has
been appointed superintendent in charge OF the
I 'uited states postal station No. |. at Porto
Rico. arrived in the city this morning and at
once took charge of The large quantity OF posta!
supplies which preceded MIN. This afternoon
another large consignment arrived. consisting oe
forms registered letter and pack-
age cards stamps OF all denominations. stamped
stationery. etc Later in the day, Inspector
Smith was joined by H. NJ Robinson. w. II.
Maher and J. II. Kemp of the railway mail SER
vice, and :. W. Kingsmore and Edward JifkinA
who have been appointed assistants TO the SUE
They came from Washington and
Atlanta.
The force was busy to-day getting the sup
plies ready for shipment. The staff will go to
Porto Rico on the 81. Louis. Inspector Smith
expected TO find the ships here TO receive his
material and disappointed 20 learn that
he would be delayed until morning in this
The men who have been selected TO conduct the
Porto Rico station are some or the most ex>
perenced In the service. Inspector Smith hin1
self Is one of the best-known postal attachea
in Washington. and Is acquainted with every
branch OF the work Captain Charles H. Wrg
lev of the Quartermsster's Department, ar,
rived In the city this morning and at once
entered upon his duties as assistant to MaJo1
Wilson.
WHERE THE TROOPS WILL BE UNLOADEDS
This evening Major Wilson and Captain
Wrgley held a conference with Superintendent
DOYLE and General Agent Parker. OF the Chesaa
peake and Ohio for the purpose OF determining
the best place to unload the troops and arrange
other details in connection with the embarked
ton. which must necessarily be attended to bea
fore the arrival Of the first detachment Il was
decided to put the men of above the city ard
let them march across the country half 4 mild