The Mena star., 1898-07-20
OFF FOR PORTO RICO.
Gen. Miles Heads an Expedition to
 Capture the Island.
A Big Army Under Gen. Brooke to Follow Point Chosen for Landing Kept Secret Campaign to He
 short One.

a snort One.
 Washington, July 1o.--After three days consultation between the presi- dent, Secretary Alger and Gen. Brooke, during which there was frequent com munication with Gen. Miles, at Sibo- ney, the details of the Porto Rican ex- petition were perfected and the expe- dition itself was gotten under way, Gen. Miles with some artillery and troops sailing yesterday for Porto Rico on the converted cruiser Yale. to be followed quickly by an army of about 30,000 men. There are some notable differences in the plans for this expe- dition and for the stately naval pag- cant that sailed away from Tampa under Gen. Shafter's command to att tack San tiago. First, there will be practically no naval conveys. The department has declared that they are unnecessary, that there is not Span- ish warship in the West Indies that dare thrust its bow out of port. In the second place, the expedition does not start from one point, but will be divided among several ports, thus pre- venting the tremendous congestion that was encountered at Tampa in the effort to start the big fleet. Lastly, there will be no effort made to get the ships away together. but the trans ports will be allowed to find their own way to their destination, without concerted movements.
 Gen. Miles leads the way. He had been promised by the president that he should go to Porto Rico, and the promise was redeemed when the Yale headed yesterday from Siboney for Porto Rico, 800 miles distant. Gen. Brooke will be the senior officer in Miles command, and upon him will fall the responsibility for the execu- tion of the details of his superior's plans It is estimated that Gen. Miles should arrive by Wednesday night at the point selected for the land ing, and will hoist the Ameri- can flag at once over Porto Rican soil. The point chosen for his landing is kept secret, as the general will land before the full body of the expedition is at hand and 1t Is consequently not desirable that the enemy should be able to assemble superior force to meet him. The distance from Charles ton, where the first body of troops for Miles expedition started yesterday, is more than double the distance from Santiago to Porte Rice, SC .i:ss that the the transports which sail from the former city can scarcely reach Gen. Miles be- fore the early part of next week.
 The purpose of Secretary Alger is to make the Porto Rican campaign . short one. An overwhelming force will be thrown upon the island, and 1t is possible that a bloodless victory will be achieved when the Spanish be- come convinced that they have no rea- sonable chance to resist successfully. The expedition is to comprise 30, 900 men at the start and it will be swelled soon to 40, 900 men, and, if necessary, to 70,0o0 men, tho equipment of the volunteer forces having now prog ressed so we'll as to warrant the state ment that that number of men can be ready for service in Porto Rico within Q very short time
 The entire body of troops at Tampa will be taken. numbering about 13, ,00U men, and including lot of heavy and light artillery under command of Gen. Rodgers The expedition will be par ticularly strong with artillery, as some of that at Santiago commanded by Gen. Randolph is to be drawn upon.
 The part which the navy is to take in the assault against Porto Rico has been fully matured. The several transport fleets will have with them one or two auxiliary craft carrying strong secondary batteries of six or eight-pounders. Secretary Long said yesterday afternoon that no time had been fixed for the departure of Admiral Sampson's fleet for San Juan. As to the naval plans, he would only say that they would cooper ate in every way with the movements of the army. The movement of the ships from Santiago to their new fields of action will begin at once, and it is probable that some of Admiral Samp- sons ships were detached yesterday and proceeded with Gen. Miles first expedition toward Porto Rico. They will be needed to cover the debarka- tion of the troops on Porto Rican soil. The others will follow as soon as the full army expedition is ready to make a landing. when the attack will begin simultaneously from land and sea.
 We win Now Censor BIanco.