The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-28

st. Thomas July 27-Tho Spanish
t"Oops in Porto Rico nre being withdrawn
from the outlying towns, and are conccn-
trnting upon San Juan. The defences of
the capital are being strengthened.
Washing on, July 27.-rhe War Depart.
ment late Tonight received official infor-
NATION thet the transports Mohawk and
Mobile, carrying the commands under
General Wilson and General Ernest had
arrived at Guanica. The transports were
ordered to return Immediately to Tampa
Tor Siege guns.
MIS- successful and unexpected dash
AUTO Guanlca has changed tins whole front
OF the wa IL Porto Rico. His boldness,
vigor and independence have surprised tho
War Department. Last night ho informed
tho Secretary of War that he Intended to
concentrate tic transports now at sea at
Guanica
Tho Columbia has also been sent out to
look for any other transports or wandering
tugs, steam Lighters or snagbon:s that she
can find. Two tugs are Oh the way to
Fhjardo from New York, two snagbouts
were ordered away from Key West. two
tugs and four lignte!s are blund for Porto
Rico from Santiago, and half of cen
Slruciiun corps is about to sail from Jack
son'illo for Fajnldo, Barcelonita Ponce,
or Guanicn. The Yankee and Columbia
will cruise about and head them to Guam
ca.
IA,
ders from General Miles He has gwen in
structon5 for the ronrcntra ion OF "a big
amy at GManiCa ihG orders 10 General
Brooke t. proceed to his rendezvous have
been cancelled and his forces will &C to
Guanlcu. General Wilson and General
Ernest have already been conveyed to
Gunnica y ho Yankee, and ar. landing
this evening. These f1rc,s will increas o
Gnerul Miles command TO nearly 1000
mel
He will await perheps. number of mon
equal to That of tho Spaninrds before he
begins his northwarl march Of seventy
nSr"r eighty miles to san Juan. The
contemplated flank movement from tho
c0ast will n longer BIZ ncCr 'Snry, rs Gcu-
sral Miles before he reaches san Piedras
where the decisive battle will be fought,
Gan drploya brigade from his right, which
movement will DO more effective than the
advance Of a brigade from tho eastern
coast,
~ While General Miles is pushing the
Spaniards back to san Pie,lras with, say,
1900 mon, including his six batteries of
light artillery and one of heavy artillery,
the rest Of the army will be landed and
hurried on to tho front. This new plan
relieves the situation Of the necessity Of
several landings and conveyance to O
point en- tho rold from Yanco to San
Juan.
Tie info! nation today Is that thePresi-
dent gave Gen Miles private HINT to use
his own Judgment. General Miles used
his judgment and went around to Guani-
Ca on the advice Of General Antonio Mat.
tel Sluveras, whose presence in Washing
ton during the discussion OF the Porto
Rican expedition was stated exclusively in
the Journal on the day after his arrival
here
General Miles forces by next Tuesday
will be increased by $500 mon under Gem
oral Brooke, giving lin AZ least Is, 900 men
To this will be added, i'll order, General
Schwan's brigade from Tampa, a brigade
under General Snyder from Tampa
Haines's brigade from Chickamauga, and
Grants brigade from Chickamauga. These
three br'gades aggregate l., GOV mon.
BY saturday week, according to present
plans, Genera! Miles will Do In command
Of a. 900 men.
An official dispatch from Porto Rico to-.
night says:
'On Tuesday tho Americans advanced IN
the direction Of Yanco, fighting most Of
the way. Seven hundred Spanish regulars
and volunteers encountered them, and an
engagement ensued, which lasted the
whole night and only cea-od with dawn
on the following day. The Americans