The record-union., 1898-07-26
Most of Brooke's Command Expect
cd to Sail Tomorrow.
Work Of Emharkation at Hampton Roads
Being Conducted With Much Less
Difficulty and Delay Than
Was Expected.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-The War
Department was busy to-day hurrying
the dispatch of the remainder of Miles
expedition against Porto Rico. Such
progress has been made that it is Hoped
that all of the troops will be on Porto
Rican soil within a week at the latest.
General Miles is not expected to de-
fer his landing until that time, but
presumably will pick out a suitable
place for encamping his troops and es-
tablish himself ashore, awaiting the ar
rival of the other attachments now on
their way.
Officials believe that the first official
news from General Miles will come
through the press dispatches, as the
General has not with him, so far as is
known, any dispatch boats. 1t will at
least be Saturday before direct cable
communication can be established with
him. and in the meantime reliance
must be had on the dispatch boats run
ming across to St. Thomas, distant
about four hours run.
1t was expected at the department
that General Brooke end General
Haines would sail to-day from New
port News to join Miles, and that most
of General Brooke's command would
be embarked by Wednesday morning.
The work of embarkation at Hampton
Roads is being conducted with much
less difficulty and delay than was ex-
pected Colonel Hecker, in charge of
the Transportation Division of the
War Department, who has just re-
turned from that place. has reported
to Secretary Alger that it is well suited
to the shipment of the troops. COnse
quently the Secretary to-day ordered all
of General Grants brigade, 5000 men,
from Chickamauga to Newport News.
1t is not expected that all the trans
ports required for their accommoda-
ton will have arrived there by the
time the soldiers get in, but they will
be encamped on suitable ground there.
and it is believed will be benefited by
the change from Chickamauga.
Adjutant General Corbin, with his
faithful Private Secretary, Mr.. Coursey,
last night completed the hundredth
consecutive days service at the de-
partment and there is still little
dimunition in the number of kilograms
and letters and official papers pouring
in on this office work
The signal service has succeeded in
retaining from the battlefield of
Santiago the tubes which supplied the
military balloon with pure hydrogen
gas, and they, with the balloon itself,
have been brought over to Tampa on
the steamer Adria The tubes will be
recharged Immediately. and the whole
apparatus viii be dispatched at once
to Porto Rico to assist General Miles
in his campaign there. The balloon is
said TO have proved of great value in
the Santiago campaign, and from the
character of the country in Porto Rico
where military operations must be con-
Quoted. it is believed that it also can
be used to advantage there
1t was announced at the Navy De-
partment that the long expected re-
port from Admiral Sampson upon the
destruction of Cervera's fleet, with the
accompanying reports of the Commo-
dore and Captains of his squadron, had
reached the department. 1t is sup
posed to have been brought by Cap
tain Sigbee on the st. Paul, which ar
rived at New York last Friday, and
10 have been sent by Captain Sigsbee.
III is the intention of the Secretary of
the Navy TO give these reports to the
public in their entirety.
Secretary Long to-day forwarded to
Admiral Dewey the joint resolution Of
he J., o,,Iy- 81
gress for the victory achieved at Ca
wife. The resolution was beautifully
engrossed. and prefaced by formal
attestation of its authenticity by Sec
rotary of State Day. The whole is
inclosed in rich gilt and ornamented
marked that Secretary Long in his let
ter of transmittal makes reference to
a letter from the Secretary of State
compimenting Admiral Dewey upon
his direction of affairs since the great
F.. naval victory, formal evidence that
the department is thoroughly well sat
isfed with the diplomatic qualities he
has exhibited. The letter of Secretary
Long is as follows:
Navy Department, Washington Cd.
CD, July %. 1898.
Sir: The department has received
from the Secretary of State an en-
crossed and certified copy of joint
resolution of Congress, rendering the
thanks Of Congress to you and the OFF,