The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-15
And Will Be Assisted by Gen. Brooke, Who
Is Preparing for the Expedition.
Plenty of Transports Available for the Army of Inva
sion-Campaign Against Havana to Be POST
poned Until Late in the Fall.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE first chap
ter in the land campaign of the United
States against Spain closed to-day when
to the American flag. Next will follow the
transportation of the Spanish troops back
to their native land and the capture of the
Island of Porto Rico, unless peace soon in
tervenes
The siege of Santiago had lasted two
weeks and was remarkable in many re-
spects and in none more than the heavy
percentage of loss through death, wounds
or sickness of the soldiers and sailors en-
gagged on both sides. Looking back over
the record of these two weeks. it is seen
that great ironclad squadron has been de-
stroyed, that nearly a thousand Spanish
sailors have been drowned or killed by she'll
Spanish soldiers have died in the trenches
of Santiago. On the other hand, about $50
American soldiers have been killed and in
round numbers two thousand more have
fevers and other ailments. Our fleet has a
remarkable exemption from disaster in the
many engagements it has had with the
forts at the entrance Of the harbor and with
the Spanish squadron.
Next is Porto Rico," said Secretary AL
ger after receiving news of Santiago's for
NAL surrender. "And then. if need be, Ha-
vana" The secretary was in excellent
spirits. He has been more anxious than he
dared to show as to the condition of our
sick soldiers, and looked with apprehension
upon the possibility of a prolongation of
the struggle in the unhealthy valley of San
tiago. The secretary said that the Porto
Rican expedition would go forward imme-
diately. 1t will comprise new men entirely.
tiago have distinguished themselves. and it
is not deemed prudent to bring them in un-
necessary contact with new troops in view
of the danger of spreading contagion. The
and brought to the United States as soon
as they can be safely removed. Immune
regiments will be ordered to Santiago to
garrison the town, and as stated in these
dispatches yesterday, two Of these regi-
ments are already under orders to proceed.
The Porto Rican expedition will be COM
manded by General Miles in person, though
General Brooke, now in command at Camp
Thomas is expected to be his main depend
ence The size of the expedition will depend
on. General Miles's wishes. although it is
the purpose. AT San Juan the navy will be
of greater assistance than it was at San
tiago, owing to the possibility of approach
ing the town more closely without risking
contact with mines. General Brooke is now
on his way to Washington by direction of
Secretary Alger. so that he will be in a
position to make his views known to the
department. The experience gained in dis
patching Skaters expedition, it is expected,
will aid the officials in their determination
to make short work of the Porto Rican af-
fair.
There will be plenty of transports avail
able for the expedition, as the government
has devised other means of removing the
Spaniards captured at Santiago to Spain
than by carrying them on these transports.
That the navy is ready to do it's share at
short notice goes without saying Porto
Rico is not expected to offer a very formid-
able resistance. 1t is believed that the moral
effect of to-day's surrender at Santiago will
be to discourage the defenders Of San Juan.
There is however, always the prospect that
peace may ensue before hostilities have
progressed against Spain's easternmost
West India island. Rumors were aAoat this
afternoon to the effect that the Spanish gov
ernment at last had made overtures in that
direction. but their basis probably was the
current belief that one more reverse to the
Spanish arms would be sufficient to comneI
the Spanish government to sue for neaca
and this reverse was furnished by the sur
render of Toral's army. The Navy Depart
ment has not been affected by these rumors
to the extent of relaxing any of it's precau-
tions or abandoning any Of it's plans. for
Secretary Long stated uneQuivocally to-day
that Commodore Watsons eastern SQUAD