Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-07-20

| Way There Now-HOw the Operations
Against That Island NynlBe Conducted.
Not Likely That San Juan VIII BE
Stormed-secrecy Maintained Regard
ing the Port Which VIII BE Seized For
the Shelter of Our Warships and tho
Developing OF the Campaign.
Washington, July 20. - The war de-
partmtnt has devised a complete plan
for the esta blishment and maintenance
of military control in the province of
Santiago. 1t is intended that General
shafter shall remain in Santiago until
the Spanish prisoners have been de-
ported. Meanwhile an army officer will
be appointed to administer the military
government in each town Of the sur
rendered territory.
1t is possible that some Of the troops
now in Santiago will be engaged in the
operations around Havana. AS the sea-
son advances it is proposed to have the
troops gradually move to the westward,
changing their camps and keeping on
the high ground as much as possible.
1t is not deemed advisable to with
draw any Of the troops from Santiago
to bring them to the United States. BY
holding them on elevated ground in
Santiago it is expected that they will
become gradually Injured to the climate
and will be able to move westward and
nOrthWard.
Some port can be taken on the north
ern coast, which Will then become mil
itary base. BY the time the cooler sea-
son arrives the troops will be in a posi-
ton to push the active operations in
Havana province.
Major General Shafter has informed
the war department today that the ros-
ter Of Spanish troops, just completed,
showed that 227S9 prisoners are now in
his custody. This number is below the
estimate first made by General Shafter,
who notified the war department that
he would have $4,000 enlisted men and
1000 officers turned over to him for
transportation back to Spain.
1t is not known whether the roster in
cludes the Spanish troops in the SURF en-
dered parts of Santiago province outside
of the capital, but it probably does, as
General Shalter said it was handed him
by General Toral, whose agreement to
surrender contemplated the submission
Of all the forces under his command.
Secretary Alger says the military
governor Of Santiago had not yet been
definitely selected. Our army captured
100000 rounds of ammunition at San
tiago, so that it will not need much
supplies for some time.
The rorto Rican Invasion.
The reported departure of General
Miles for Porto Rico turns out to have
H..
that he is now on his way to the island.
1t was understood here that he had
started as announced, but word has
been received that the orders for his de-
parture We're delayed. AS soon as the
attention of the department was drawn
to the matter by the receipt of tele-
gram from General Miles he was very
promptly furnished the permission he
desired, and it is expected that he has
already sailed from Siboney for Porto
Rico. He has with him Captain Fred
Alger son of the secretary, who has
been transferred to General Miles staff
from the staff of General Duffield.
Secretary Ager declined today to
publish the list of troops that comprise
the Porto Rican expedition. He said
that it was still subject to change and
that this information will be withheld
for a few days. He added, however,
that the plans for the expedition were
proceeding rapidly and without a single |
hitch. General Miles message regard |
ing his failure to leave was read in the |
cabinet. and the secretary of war an
nOunced to the cabinet that the landing |
of the first force would be effected UNI
der cover of the big guns of the navy |
and that re-enfofcements would follow |
the first landing and make up a fully |
adequate force for the assault.
The army hospital ship Relief is to b. |
fitted out at once for the Porto Rico |
expedition. Orders have been sent TO
her commander at Santiago direc ting
him to return Immediately to New York |
with the wounded men aboard. These
will be put ashore. presumably at New
York, and the vessel will take on fresh
supplies and make ready for Porto Rico
There is no yellow fever aboard the
vessel, and she is in no way infected.
Plan of the Campaign,
1t is expected that the monitors Puri-
tan, Amphitrite and Miantonomoh
whose arrival in Porto Rican waters is
known to the department, will materi-
ally aid in making successful the de-
barkation of the first body of troops
The occupation of the port will be of the
greatest possible value to the navy, in
asmuch as 1T will provide them with
port in which to coal from Golfers and
10 seek shelter in case of storm.
Administration officials are naturally
lisinclined to make public the name of
he port selected for occupation, but it
S understood that it is not far from Fa-
ardo and is connected with San Juan
oy an excellent macadam road, over
which the artillery and troops can be
with comparative ease
There has been some talk of occupying
Arecibo, but the anchorage at that point
S not good, and, furthermore San Juan,
which is on an island, can best be at
acked from the east.
Coming to San Juan from the east,
he travel is tocrahly good to Rio Pie
iras, two leagues distant from the CAPT.
al, where begins the best carriage road
IN the island. 1t is said that it is the
purpose of the government not to at
empt to storm San Juan. The fortifi-
atons are too strong to permit such an
ttempt being successful, EXCEPT at
treat cost of life.
The city will be surrounded and
tarVed into submission, the monotony
u waiting being relieved by lombard
hents OF the Notifications, which will
re made from both sea and land. 1t
WI be extremely difficult for the navy
I'ps To enter the harbor the channel
eng considered one of the most dam
efouS in the world, ana it is doubtful
hear Admiral Sampson will be given
ny instructions to do so. This will be
matter left entirely to his Judgment
nd discretion
inc jaiEoat "ntico plantation i'll bfa-