Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-28
PORTO RICAN ARMY.
A Belief That All the Troops Will
Be Landed in a Week.
NILES FORCE LANDING NEAR PONCE.
Simpsons Report ON the Destruction Of
Cervera's Fleet Reaches Warrington
Madrid Reports Miles' Attempt
to Land KepuIsed.

Washington, July @.-The war de-
psrtment was busy yesterday hurry.
ing the dispatch Of the remainder Of
Gen. Miles expedition against Porto
Rico. Such progress has been made
that 1t is hoped all Of the troops will
be on Porto Rican soil within a week
at the latest. Gen. Miles is not ex'
pected to defer his landing until that
time, but presumably will pick out a
suitable place for encamping his troops
and establish himself ashore, awaiting
the arrival Of the other d~etachmenta
now on their way. War department
officials expect that the first news re-
ceived from Gen. Miles will come
through the press dispatches, as the
general has not with him, so far a.
known. any dispatch boats. 1t will be
at least Saturday before direct cable
communication can be established
with him and in the meantime reliance
must be had on the dispatch boats
running across TO ST. Thomas, distant
about four hours run.
II was expected at the department
that Gen. Brooke and Gen. Haines
would sail yesterday from Newport
News to join Miles, and that most OF
Gen Brooke's command would be en-
barked by Wednesday. The work OF
embarkation at Hampton roads is be-
ing conducted with much less difficulty
and delay than was expected. Col.
Hecker, in charge Of the transporta-
ton division of the wal department,
who has just returned from that place,
has reported to Secretary Alger that
1t Is eminently suited to the shipment
Of the troops. Consequently, the Sec
rotary yesterday ordered all of Gen.
Ora nt's brigade, 5000 men, from Chick
amauga to Newport News. 1t is not
expected that all Of the transports re-
quired for their accommodation will
have arrived there by the time the SOL
diers get In, but they will be encamped
on suitable ground there and 1t Is be-
lieved will be benefited by the change
from Chickamauga.
The signal service has succeeded in
retaining from the battlefield Of
Santiago the tubes which supplied
the military balloon with pure hydro
gen gas and they, with the balloon IT.
self, have been brought over to Tampa
on the steamer Adria. Tho tubes will
be recharged Immediately and the
whole apparatus will be dispatched at
once to Porto Rico to assist Gen. 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 conducted, 1t is believed that it also
can be used to advantage there.
II was announced yesterday at the
navy department that the long ex,
pected report from Admiral Sampson
upon the destruction of Cervera's feet,
with the accompanying reports of the
commodore and captains of his squad
ron, had reached the department. |,
Is supposed to have been brought by
Capt. Sigsbee on the ST. Paul, which
arrived at New York last Friday, and
to have been sent by mail by Capt
Sigsbee. 1t Is the intention of the
secretary Of the navy to give these re
ports to the public in their entirety.
Secretary Long yesterday forwarded
to Admiral Dewey the joint resolution
OF congress extending the thanks O
congress for the victory achieved a
Cavite. The resolution was beauti
fully ~engrossed and prefaced by I
formal attestation Of its authenticity
by Secretary Of State Day, the whole
being inclosed in rich gilt and orna
mented Russia leather covers.
MADRID REPORTS A REpuLsE.
Madrid, July 20. "A private dispatcl
from San Juan de Porto Rico says
strong American squadron has up
peared before Bahia Honda, but tina
the American attempt to disembarl
was repulsed with considerable loss.
GEN. MILES ARMY is LANDING.
st. Thomas, D, w. L., July rs. TIL
United States troops We're landing yes
terday on the island Of Porto Rico
nanr ponrn ON the snnIh rnnSt