The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-23
PUSHING arrangements.
Both War and Navy Departments
Actively Engaged in Preparing
for Important Movements.
NILES DEPARTURE AGAIN DEFERRED.
Ia Impetuoslty of the Old War Horse
Held in Check by President Mckinley,
who Desires that Ample Preparations
be Made Before the Forward Move
ment Begins.

ment Begins.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-The war and
navy departments are now engaged in
making all arrangements for the dis
patch of the Porto Rican expedition
and Watson's eastern squadron. There
has occurred one of those natural
pauses in the progress of the campaign
incident to the completion of ONE set
of operations and the initiation of
another.
There being no possibility of the re-
ceipt of news of a great battle or of a
surrender, there is less excitement
and less evidence of ervou strain
than for weeks past.
Gen. Miles Departure Again Deferred.
Gen. Miles expected departure was
again deferred. The explanation given
was hat there was difficulty expe-
rienced at Santiago in securing the
naval convoy for the expedition. 1t is
known, however, in addition, that the
president himself has restrained Gen.
Miles to the extent of adjuring him in
earnest terms not to commit the folly
of starting for Porto Rico without the
most complete preparation.
The Government Has Prohted by the
Lessons Taught
by the Santiago expedition. Aside
from the actual loss of life hat might
be expected to result from a badly
calculated start, it is realized that
relations with some of the eastern
powers would be, in a small measure,
at least, impaired by the adverse moral
effect created by anything approaching
a defeat for the American arms at this
stage of the war. Therefore it Is GER
tain that, so far as the department can
prevent, Gen.. Miles soldiers will not
run short of food, nor of tents to pro-
tect them from the tropical rains, o
of the means of transportation that
was so deficient at the beginning of
the Santiago movement.
Ten Transports with Gen. Miles.
Gen. Miles reported yesterday after
noon hat he had with him ten trans
ports, which, it is presumed, have
aboard several thousand soldiers, al.
though at least two of them are filed
with equipment.
The men aboard ship are suffering
from delay, precisely as did the sol.
diers who lay in Tampa bay before the
departure of the Shafter expedition to
Santiago.
Too Much Latitude Allowed sampson.
Inquiry made at the navy depart
ment to ascertain where the delay had
arisen in securing conveys, was met
with the statement that the orders to
Admiral Sampson in this matter were
very general. He was simply directed
by the department to furnish a convoy,
and it was assumed that he would con.
fer with Gen.. Miles as to the number
and character of vessels required for
that purpose. AS the campaign, from a
naval point of view, is to be principally
a land movement, the naval officers do
not believe a very extensive convoy is
necessary.
Reinforcements Thought to Have Reached
Dewey.
According to the calculations at the
lavy department, Admiral Dewey's
fleet at Cavite should now be rein
forced by the coast-defense vessel Mon
terey, which, with her tender and col
lier, the Brutus, has now been about
20 days out from Honolulu. With the
addition of this fine and powerful
monitor. Dewey will be amply able to
to take care of himself as long as the
naval forces in the Philippines main
tain the relative proportion they now
occupy. However, the disclosure by
the state department of the lack Of
foundation for the sensational stories
of strained relations with Germany has
largely abated the anxiety entertained
at the navy department as to DeweVs
position at Manila
An Agreeable Surprise.
The war department was agreeably
surprised at the number of bids re.
ceived in answer to its proposals for
transporting the S~paniards now at
Santiago to Cadiz. The terms offered
by some of the companies were also
regarded as very reasonable, and as it
is desirable to terminate the present
condition of affairs at Santiago at the
earliest possible moment, it is ex.
pected the award will be made i'm
m~ediately.
The sid from the Spanish Steamship Com
pany
was a surprise to the department of
fcials, and at least one of them thought
that it might be good policy for the
government to avail itself of this com
pany's offer.
DIR. Greenleafs last report to Secre-
tary Alger from the American camp at
Santiago came yesterday afternoon,
and was to the effect that while the
yellow fever was widely spreading
among the troops, it was very mild in
type.
Gen. Dufield, who has been suffer-
ing from the disease, was reported to
be improving.
The Cuban Junta Is Satisfied.
The open statement from the Cuban
legation here yesterday, made to the
war department officials, that they
were prepared to accept as proper the
programme laid down by Gen. Shafter
for the government of affairs at San
tiago, is but the prelude, it is hoped,