The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-22
And Sent Imperative Orders to the
Admiral to Furnish Necessary Con-
vOy at Once, Which Was Done.
ABOUT1O,OO0 MEN ON THE WAY
LANDING TO PIE MADE ON PORTO
RIOAN SOIL EARLY NEXT WEEK.
Authoritative Declaration that the
Island Is to BE Retained as an or
set for Expenses of the War.

WASHINGTON, July 21-GeneraI Miles
leading the military expedition against
Porto Rico, started at O'Clock this after
noon from Siboney, Cuba, for the point on
the ISLAND of Porto Rico where it is the in
tention that the troops shall land. 1t is ex-
pected that General Miles viii wait at some
appointed spot on the route for the expedi-
tions from Tampa, Newport News and New
York to fall into his column. These expedi-
tions are already under way, some of them
with two or three days start of General
Miles. so that the delay should not be very
great. After all the difficulty about the
naval convoy and the first conclusion of the
naval authorities that none was necessary
the strength of that now furnished is sur
prfsing. There is a battle ship of the first
class, the Massachusetts, an effective pro-
tected cruiser, the Cincinnati, a speedy and
well-armed gunboat, the Annapolis, and
four vessels of the auxiliary navy which
have already proved by their performance
in Cuban waters that they are fully equal
to ordinary gunboats in offensive power.
These ere the Gloucester, which dstin-
guished herself in the destruction of Ger
vera's squadron, the Wasp and the Dixie.
which have attained an enviable notoriety
as disturbers of Spanish blockhouses, and
the Leyden, which for time was the sole
representative of United States power in
Havana harbor.
Secretary Alger believes that General
Miles, on the Yale, will arrive at his destina-
tion Sundays morning with $500 men under
his immediate command. A day later will
come 1900 men on transports and the day
following that $500 more. Whether the
landing will be deferred until the arrival of
this entire force or whether General Miles
will take the initiative and hoist the flag
himself on Porto Rican soil is left to the
discretion of that officer. 1t is the depart
ments determination that he shall not lack
for troops or equipment and this first ex-
pedition may be followed by several others
as fast as the troops can be got ready until
word comes from the general that he needs
no more. General Schwan's brigade. COM
prising the Fifth, Eleventh and Nineteenth
United States Infantry splendid body of
trained soldiers, sailed from Tampa to-day
to join General Miles, and If the Porto
Rican expedition is not immediate suc-
cess it will not be for lack of disposition
in the War Department to supply every
requisite.
1t was stated here this morning that
President Mckinley was thoroughly aroused
over the delay which occurred in the start
ing of General Miles for Porto Rico. For
several days General Miles and his troops
were aboard their transports at Playa del
Este awaiting the naval convoy which was
to be furnished by Admiral Sampson. The
troops had been >sweltering in the crowded
ships under the broiling heat of a tropical
sun, while General Miles had been chatting
under what he believed to be inexcusable
delay, and was bombarding the War De-
partment with dispatches urging in the
strongest terms that the navy be hurried
in its preparations for the expedition. In
structions of the most positive nature were
cabled to Admiral Sampson to supply the
necessary conveys for General Miles's
transports, but Notwithstanding these in
structions Admiral Sampson proceeded with
his preparations for the expedition with
elaboration that was exasperating officials
here. The President, who had given the
Porto Rican expedition his personal atten-
tomas he has given, indeed, all phases of
the war-finally became deeply concerned
lest the part of the Porto Rican expedi-
tion that had already sailed from this coun-
try should arrive at the point of rendezvous
in advance Of General Miles and the navy
1t was feared that if General Wilson's COM
mand, which sailed yesterday from Charles
ton, should arrive in advance of General
Miles and the naval conveys, serious danger
and possibly disaster might result. as Gen
WILSON'S ships are absolutely without pro-
lection. The distance from Charleston To
Porto Rico is trifie over 800 miles. while
from Playa del Este TO Porto Rico II is
about 400 miles. The comparative distances
which General Wilson and General Miles
have to travel TO reach the point of rendez-
Nous are rendered the more nearly equal
however, by reason of the fact that the
former has full days start. Appreeiatinp
this and realizing the necessity for promnt
action in getting General Miles and his On
ban expedition started, President Mckinley
this morning issued personal orders through
the secretary of the navy to Admiral Samn-
son that he should proceed Immediately To
Porto Rico with General Miles The Presi
dents orders were susceptible of no mis-
construction; they We're imperative to A de-
gree seldom employed except in cases of
extreme emergency. They were OF the SORT
that would brook no delay in their execu-
ton Admiral Sampson was ordered n
start at once or the President himself
would know the reason why No excuse of
an ordinary nature. 1t was stated. would be
accepted by the President for further delay.
This action had the desired effect and the
conveys were furnished General Miles.
1t is stated here that the navy was dis
posed TO regard II as unnecessary to senl
a special convoy, on the ground that the
Columbia and Yale were both armed suf
nciently to serve as protection for the f,eet
Of transports. as. according to the informa-
ton at the Navy Department, there are
no Spanish war ships anywhere in the
reighborhood OF the West Indies that might