The times., 1898-06-16

Gen Miles viii come to Washington i'm
mediately to confer with the Administra-
tion. Secretary Alger yesterday tele-
graphed Gen. Miles to come North
without delay 1t was stated at the War
Department last night to reporter for
The Times that Gen Miles will be in the
city tomorrow or Saturday.
Porto Rico is the Spanish possession to-
wards which the Government now is turn
ing its attention, the Santiago invasion
expedition having after many vexing de-
lays started and being now. it is thought,
well on its way.
The Administration. the War and the
Navy officials. all devoted considerable of
their time yesterday to the details of the
proposed movement Most Of the actiY-
ity was displayed at the War Department.
and late in the afternoon there were
many hurried conferences between Secre-
tary AIger, Adjt. Gen. Corbin. Assistant
Secretary of War MeikIejohn, and the
QuRrtermaster general
Shortly after o'clock Gen. Corbin slip
ped over to the White House and had a
conference with the President relative to
the progress made during the day.
1t Is learned that the President told
the Secretary that he was of the opinion
that the movement should not be deferred
any longer. With the drawbacks that
characterized the embarkation and sailing
OF the Santiago expedition as a burning
example Of the things that ought to be
avoided IN the proposed expedition, the
President said that there was apparently
no reason why the second movement
should be delayed.
Gen Miles viii have direct charge
of the work of arranging for the
departure Of the troops and viii, it is
asserted. go to the embarkation point
decided upon as a result of the recent
trip of a special commission TO several
Southern coast cities. The War Depart
ment, according TO the best obtainable
information, has not finally decided upon
the port of embarkatiOn. but il is believ-
ed that it viii be Fernandina, Fla. as
that point seemed the most favorable TO
the recent commission.
The intention Of the department is TO
assemble a large army at the camp thus
selected. An effort VIII be made to send
only the best equipped regiments there
BY doing this much time viii be gained
with less labor than would otherwise be
required to prepare an efficient army out
al mex ptIAcllGEu anu TESS AAeACu6sA sAAS
equipped soldiers. Tampa viii be called
upon 10 furnish the greater part of the
Porto Rican army. Several brigades will
be sent from Camp Alger. many of the
volunteers at that place being superior
to some Of the troops at Tampa
Gen. Miles. Gen. Coppinger. who viii
lead the army, and Gen. Lee, who. it is
persistently stated. wiz also go to Portc
Rico, IL only 10 be present and assist in
the assault of San Juan, viii get things
in readiness between the present time
and the day Of the departure Of the eX-
pedition, so that when the proper time
does come there viii be no unnecessary
delay.
Assistant Secretary Of War Meiklejohr
and the Quartermaster General Of the
Army viii have immediate charge of tbs
matter Of securing the necessary trans
ports. Judging from the number required
20 transport the Santiago eXpeditiOnary
forces about twenty or twenty-five yes
sells will probably be needed 10 convey
the troops to Porto Rico.
The hurried conferences between Mr.
Meiklejohn and Gen. Bird late yesterday
afternoon are believed to have been helC
for the purpose Of obtaining additiona
steamers. At present there are only nint
available vessels. The official list Of tn,
same furnished The Times after the con
forences follows:
Steamers at New Orleans. Unionist
and Specialist. chartered by the Govern.
ment They have been transferred from
the British to the American registry un.
der authority Of Congress.
At Fernandina, Fla. (the probabl
point Of departurel-Comanche. Louisiana
Gate City and the City Of Macon. The,
have been chartered and are being pre-
pared for service.
AT New YOrk-The Lampasas and tn,
Nueces, Of the Mallory zine chartere,
this week and ordered South Immediately
the Arcadia and the Catania, formerI,
flying the British flag
With only ten available vessels, at leas
ten additional steamers viii have to b
chartered by the Government for use i
the expedition The prompt return of tn
transports from Santiago would remov
the necessity for the purchase Of NOR
vessels. 1t is reliably stated. however
that the Government is fitting out tn
Porto Rican expedition entirely separat
and independent Of any other expedition
This is done to avoid any trouble in tn
future. and especially in the case of an
sudden emergency that might require tn
immediate dispatch of troops to Port
Rico.
The fall of Santiago. whether it be i'm
mediate or delayed, viii not be reckone
with in the making up Of the Porto Rica
army. If Santiago falls quickly. a por
tion Of the more experienced troops VIII
have become acclimated will be withdraw
from that place and sent TO San Juan
The expedition will, in tnat case, be di
minished by the number Of men with
drawn from Santiago, and the troops thu
Withdrawn and those that sail from Flor
ida will form a juncture preparatory t
the attack upon San Juan. This junctur
will be made at sea somewhere off IN
coast Of Haiti.
The work Of securing the transport
viii. therefore, have to be begun immed
ately. Gen. Miles is supposed to have tn
army ready for them inside of two week
time and the department does not wal