The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-19
MILES NOT IN DISFAvoR
NO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
GENERAL AND THE PRESIDENT.
Army 20 BE Put I'm Best Condition
Difficulty in Securing Transports
for the Porto Rican Expedition.

WASHINGTON. June 1s-The original
plans of campaign for the conduct of the
war against Spain will be adhered to and
will be pushed with vigor. That decision
was reached at a war council to-day, at
which were present President Mckinley,
Secretaries A1ger and Long, General Miles.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, Admiral
Sicard and Captain Mahan. OF course there
will be some Slight qualifications made
necessary by the changes that have oc-
Cured since the beginning of kostilities, but
these after all will not affect the general
plan of operations. General Miles returned
from Florida with a store of information
respecting the condition of the troops, the
difficulties to be expected in the progress of
the campaign, needs in the matter of trans
portation and ofsterminal facilities that will
be freely availed of to correct the defects
in the present system that experience has
developed. The general was present during
the war council The only reason the COM
manding general did not visit the White
House yesterday was because of a desire
on the Presidents part that his war coun-
cilors should have the benefit of General
Mies's recital of his observations at first
hand.
The stories that there has been friction
between General Miles and his official SUI
periors are pronounced to be absurd and to-
days proceedings gave ample evidence of
the fact that the utmost harmony charac-
terizes the relations between the chief exec
utive and the military branch of the gov
ernment. There were, of course, some diff
ferences of opinion among the persons pres
ent at the war council. but thepe has been
no disposition in any quarter to resist for an
instant any conclusion that has secured the
approval of the President
MAY SOON SEE ACTIVE SERVICE.
The official declaration that the campaign
is to be pushed with vigor does not neces-
sarily mean an immediate attack upon Ha-
vana, although such advice has been ten
dered. 1t does mean that the very best eff
forts are to be put forth to put the army in
condition where it can be used with over
whelming effect at any point at almost
moments notice. To this end, the troops
now in camp are to be thoroughly trained
and hardened. With such an army at COM
mand, numbering no less than 100000. the
fate of Havana cannot long remain in doubt
when once this army is hurled upon it.
Meanwhile the smaller expeditionary
movements are to go forward uninterrupt-
edly When Santiago is captured the
trained regulars who do the work there will
be pushed on to Porto Rico. If all or most
of them are needed for this expedition, then
the provisional force" referred to by Gen.
Shafter in his orders probably will be dis
patched Immediately from the United States
to garrison the town of Santiago and to re-
lieve the regulars. Probably knowledge of
some such intention had led to the rumor
which found currency that four thousand
men from General Graham's camp had been
ordered to proceed Immediately to reinforce
shafter at Santiago. AS a matter of fact.
Secretary Alger said this afternoon he had
as yet given no orders for the sending of
troops away from camp nor had he or
dered any extensive movements.
SHAFTERS INVADERS.
For the moment the landing of General
Skaters army of invasion on Cuban soil
is the subject of interest in army and navy
circles Despite conflicting reports it is
stated with defniteness by high officials
that the big transport procession has moved
eastward around Cape Maysi and not by the
western route. by Point Antonio The route
taken is expected to bring the troops to the
place Of debarkation by tomorrow unless
some unforeseen delay has occurred and the
arrival may be before that. The specific
instructions sent by General Miles to Garcia
covered in detail the landing of the Ameri-
can forces. Garcia was TO harass and en-
gage the Spanish bands and see that rein
forcements were not sent to Santiago and
the points where American troops will land.
The landing proper 1t is calculated. will
take at least ten or twelve hours after the
army engineers have done their work.. The
officials have not even omitted to calculate
a failure to work the pontoon pier, by
reason Of the fire of Spanish artillery and
they are prepared for landing through the
surf If need be. although this is not an
ticpated. The beach is low and sandy and
shallow far out and is, therefore, well cal
culated for such landing
Secretary Of War AIger had a brief con-
sultation with the President tonight on the
outlook for the landing Of the expedition to
Santiago. At its close he announced there