The Mena star., 1898-08-10


 ments Into Which Porto Rico Is Divided
 Now Occupied by Americans and the
 End of the Campaign Is Near.
 New York, Aug. 9.-A dispatch to the Herald from Ponce via St. Thomas says: Gen. Miles invasion of Porto Rico is progressing in a highly satis- factory manner. Nothing has taken place to interfere with the plans finally decided upon by Gen. Miles and the American troops are gaining advanced ground every day. This plan of hav- ing the army march upon San Juan from four directions is regarded here as one of Gen. Miles shrewdest move ments. He has the Spanards in com i plete doubt and has assigned large enough force under each general to insure successful resistance against Spanish attacks. At the same time by this plan Gen. Miles speedily will have several thousand Spanish troops shut up in the vicinity of Aibonito unless the enemy suddenly changes plans and hastens to San Juan over the military road.
 There will be a formidable Ameri- can force ready to advance upon the Porto Rican capital when the troops under Gen. Henry form a junction with those under Gen. Schwan at Arecibo. It is probable that much of the artillery to be used in the siege of San Juan will be sent to Arecibo by transport and taken from there to San Juan by rail This will be work easy of accomplishment and Gen. Henry and Gen. Schwan un- doubtedly will be able to form junction with other troops as soon as they can march to the capital. No opposition is expected by the American troops in the execu- tion of this plan. All of our men are light-hearted and there is plenty of good food for all. The forage for the horses is superb. Gen. Miles is giving his personal attention to the manage ment of the details of the campaign. He intends to press forward to San Juan regardless of the peace negotia- tions unless orders come from Wash ington for hostilities to cease.
 skirmish Between Natives and Spanish.
 Ponce. Porto Rico, Aug. 9.-Gen. Henry. with the Sixth Illinois and the Sixth Massachusetts will move by way of Ad iunt tas on Arecibo. which ia about 20 miles north of Adjuntas, as the crow flies. A short stretch of the road that troops will have to follow is in very bad condition. Practically all our troops will then be in motion in four columns, towards the capital of this island, San Juan de Porto Rico Gen. Schwan is at Yauco, Gen. Wilson Guayama.
 The Porto Ricans enlisted by Gen. Stone have been engaged with 2 small Spanish outpost between Adjuntas lnd Utuado on the road to Arecibo 4 skirmish took place Sunday night snd during the exchange of shots one Spanish officer was killed.
 Mai. Gen. Miles, with several troops of cavalry, expects to follow Gen. Henry in a day or two If peace is promptly declared Gen. Miles will be the first to enter San Juan, going by the railroad from Arecibo to the Porto Rican capital. In view of the news received here about the progress of the peace negotiations all the army officers appear to believe that there will be no more fighting.
 The fleet is in the harbor of Ponce, and Capt. Rodgers. of the Puritan, who is in command, expects orders at any time to proceed to San Juan de Porto Rico.
 Five Departments Occupied by Americans.
 Ponce, Porto Rico, via St. Thomas. D. W. l., Aug. 9.-The advance of Gen. Miles army continues Five of the departments into which the island is divided are now occupied by the American army of invaders. These departments are Arecibo, with 124, S35 inhabitants; Mayaguez, with 1l6.9S2; Ponce, with ITO, 40; Guayama, with 9s,s14, and Humacao, with S2, 25i. The movement upon San Juan, the capital, has begun and the beginning of the end of this wonderful campaign is at hand. The American troops are head ed for Arecibo, which is on the north coast, to the east of San Juan. It is believed that within ten days the en- tire island will be in possession of the United States forces There may be one or two battles, but they will be of little importance.
 The navy department has published 8 telegram from Commodore Schley denying the report that he had said it would have been possible to force the Santiago harbor before the mines were removed. Schley says he and Samp- IL s~ T.