The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-22

leading the military expedition against
Porto Rico, started at o'clock this af-
ternoon 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
on the route for the expeditions from
Tampa, Newport News and New York
to fall into his column. These expedi-
tons are already under way, some OF
them within two or three days startA
of General Miles, so that the delay
should not be very great. After all,
the difficulty about the naval convoy
and the first conclusion of the naval
authorities that none was necessarily
the strength of that now furnished is !
surprising. There is a battleShip Of,
the first-class, the Massachusetts,. ans
effective protected cruiser, the Cincin-
natl, a speedy and we'll armed gunboat.
the Annapolis, and four vessels of the
auxiliary navy, which have already
proved by their performance in Cuban
waters that they are fully equal to the
ordinary gunbOat in offensive power.
These are the Gloucester, the Wasp,
the Leyden and the Dixie. Secretary
AIger 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 5000 more.
Whether the landing will be deferred
until the arrival of this entire force or
whether General Miles will take the
initiative and hoist the flag himself on
Porto Rican soil is left to the discre-
ton of that officer.
1t is the departments intention that
he shall not lack for troops or for food,
and this expedition may be followed by
several others as fast as the troops can
be gotten ready, until word from the
general says that he needs no more.
General Schwans brigade, comprising
the Fifth and Eleventh and Nineteenth
United States infantry, a splendid body
of trained soldiers, sailed from Tampa
today to join General Miles, and If the
Porto Rican expedition is not an i'm
mediate success it will not be for lack
of disposition in the war department.
to supply every requisite
MKINLEY TOOK ACTION.
President Mckinley is thoroughly
aroused over the delay which has oc-
Cured in the starting of General Miles
and the expedition under his command
for Porto Rico. For several days Cen
eral Miles and his troops have been
aboard their transports at Playa del
Este, awaiting the naval convoy to be
furnished by Admiral Sampson The
troops have been Sweltering in the
crowded ships, under the broiling heat
of tropical sun, while General Miles
has been chatting under what he be-
lieves to be inexcusable delay, and
bombarding the war department with
dispatches, urging in the strongest
terms that the navy be hurried in its
preparations for the expedition.
Instructions of the most positive ma
= Il SaVT
to supply the necessary conveys for
General Miles transports. but notwith-
standing these instructions, Admiral
Sampson has proceeded with his prep
arations for the expedition with a De
liberation that eXasDerated off1c1alS
here.
The president finally became deeply
concerned lest the part of the Porto
Rican expedition that has already sail
ed from this country should arrive at
the point of rendezvous in advance or
General Miles and the navy. 1t IS
feared. if General Wilson's command,
which sailed yesterday from Charles
ten. should arrive in advance Of Cen
eral Miles and the naval conveys, ser
ious danger and possibly disaster might
Il suit. as General Wilson's ships are
absolutely without protection.
President Mckinley this morning IS
sued personal orders through Secretary
of the Navy Long that Admiral Samp-
son should proceed Immediately 10
Porto Rico with General Miles. The
pre- sident's orders are susceptible OF no
misconstruction-
They are imperative to degree sell
dom employed except in cases OF ex-
IRENE emergency. They are of the sort
that will brook no delay in their exc
cution. Admiral Sampson must start
at once. or the president himself will
know the reason why
SAMPSON BLAMES MILES.
Concerning the naval conveys of Gen.
eral Miles expedition from Cuba 10
Porto Rico, the navy department to-
night made public the following state
ment: Admiral Sampson telegraDhs
this afternoon TO the secretary OF the
ravy that there has been no delay IN
furnishing ample convoy TO General
Miles. A day or two ago the Cincinnati
and New Orleans were both placed at
his disposal. The Columbia and Yale,
carrying troops. are both poWerIuuy
armed. saws the admiralS telegram, ana
this is an ample convoy FOR his. gXpe-
dition and TO effect his landing. The
Annapolis. Wasp and Leyden have been
ordered from Nipe. the Gloucester also
added, and the three monitors ordered
frCm Tampa Under these circum-
stances there certainly has Deen no
lack of naval assistance II General
Miles preferred to wait, the delay was
his own. However, in further answer
TO his request, the Massachusetts and
Dixie were also added this morning, and
he has probably started.
In addition to the vessels named IN
the statement. 1t is officially admitted
for the first time that the powerful
monitors Terror. Amphitrite and Puri-
tan. which have been at Key West, are
under orders to proceed to Porto Rico.
to assist in the reduction of the forts
there
1t is probable that gtill other vessels
Of sampson's fleet wi 4 participate in
the bombardment of S1a juan
1t is said at the war G--;artment that