The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-22

be Taken and Held by the United States
DeWsy Master of the Situation at Manila.
Washington, y. c., July 21.-General
Miles, leading the military expedition
against Porto Rico started at o'clock
this afternoon from Siboney, Cuba, for
the point on the island of Porto Rico,
where it is the intention that the troops
shall land. 1t is expected that General
Miles will wait at some appointed spot
Tampa. Newport News and New York
to fall into column. These expeditions
are already under way. some of them
with two or three days start of General
Miles, so that the delay should not he
very great. After all the difficulty
about the naval convoy, and the first
conclusion of the naval authorities that
none was necessary, the strength of
that now furnished is surprising. There
Is Il battleship of the first-cass, the
Massachusetts, an effective protected
cruiser, the Cincinnati, Il speedy and
well armed gunboat, the Annapolis, and
four vessels of the auxiliary navy, which
have already proved by their perform
ance in Cuban waters that they are fully
equal to the ordinary gunboat in often
siye power. These are the Gloucester,
which distinguished herself in the de-
struction of Cerveras squadron, the
Wasp which has attained an enyiable
uotoriety as disturber of Spanish block
houses; the Leyden, which for a time
was the sole representative of United
States power in Havana harbor, and the
Dixie. Secretary Alger believes that
General Miles, on the Yale, will arrive
at his destination Sunday morning with
5000 men under his immediate command
A day later will come 1000 men on
Transports and the day following that
$500 more. Whether the landing will
be deferred until the arrival OF thAs en-
tire force or whether General Miles will
take the initiative and hoist the flag
himself on Porto Rican soil, is left to
the discretion of that officer 1t is the
departments determination that he shall
not lack for troops or equipment ana
this first expedition may be followed by
several others as fast as the troops can
be gotten ready until word come from
the General that he needs no more.
General Schwans brigade, comprising
the Fifth, Eleventh ana Nineteenth
United States infantry, splendid body
of trained soldiers, saiieG from Tampa
today to Join General Miles, and if
the Porto Rican expedition is not an inn
mediate success. it will not be for lack
of disposition in the War Department
to supply every requisite.
That Admiral Dewey has the situa-
tion in the Philippines well III mana IS
exhibited by his telegrams. the iatest
of which was received today, which
without boasting, simply reports IKE
the others that have gone before lhat
affairs are quiet and satisfactory Inc
State Department has come to nave
fully as great IL sense of appreciation OF
Dewey's diplomatic abilities as rhe
country has for his naval skill and colf-
age and the best evidence Of this is that
1t has not found it necessary up to TINS
point to interfere in any way either 20
protest or to amend his work. The
Navy Department has now discovered
that the big turreted monitor Monterey
will not arrive at Cavite until August
9th. that being the advices received at
the department from the captain Of the
vessel when she touched at Honolulu.
The admiraPs announcement Of the ar
rival of the second detachment of Uni
ted States troops at Cavite has given
great comfort to the War Department
which was not altogether at ease con.
corning the first small expedition lying
between Spaniards and the insurgents