The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-29

WASHINGTON, July 25.-The war de-
partment was busted today hurrying
the dispatch of the remainder of the
Miles expedition against Porto Rico.
Such progress has been made that it
is hoped tina all of the troops will
be on the Porto Rican soil within a
week at the latest. General Miles is
not expected to defer his landing un-
til hat time. but presumably will pick
out a suitable place for encamping his
troops and establish himself ashore,
awaiting the arrival of the other de-
tachments now on their a Wal
department officials expect that the
first news received from General Miles
will come through the press dispatches
as the general has not with him, so far
as known, any dispatch boats. 1t will
be at least Saturday before direct ca
BILE communication can be established
with him, and, in the meantime, re-
lance must be had on the dispatch
boats running across to st. Thomas,
distant about four hours run. 1t was
expected at the department that Gen
eral Brooke and enera HaineS would
sail today from Newport News to join
Miles and that most of Genera
Brooke's command would be embarked
by Wednesday.
h work of embarkation at Newport
News 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 returned
from that place, has reported to Sec
rotary Alger that it is eminently suit
ed to the shipment of troops. Conse-
ouently, the secretary today ordered
all OF Genera Grants brigade, 5000
men, from Chickamauga to Newport
News. 1t is not expected hat all of
the transports required for their ac-
commodation will nave arrived there
by the time the soldiers get in, but
they will encamp on suitable ground
there, and it is believed will be bene-
fitted by the change from Chicka-
mauga.
BALLOONS FOR GENERAL MILES.
The signal service has succeeded in
retaining from the battlefield of San
tiago 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 stamer Adria. The tubes will be
recharged Immediately and the whole
apparatus will 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 conducted it is believed that it
also can be used to advantage there.
SIMPSONS REPORT RECEIVED.
1t was announced today at the ma
Wy department that the long expected
report 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 Sigsbee, on the ST. Paul., which
arrived at New York last Friday, and
to have been sent by mail by Captain
Sigsbee. 1t is the intention of the sec
rotary of the navy to give these re-
ports to the public in their entirety.
They will be given out for publication
Wednesday morning.
Secretary Long oday forwarded to
Admiral Dewey the joint resolution Of
congress extending the thanks of con-
gress for the victory achieved at Ca
Vite. The resolution was beautifully
engrossed and prefaced by a formal
a~ttestation of it's authenticity by Sec
rotary of State Day, the whole being
enclosed in a highly gilt Russia leath-
er case. 1t is to be remarked that Sec
rotary Long in his letter of tarnsnnittal
makes reference to a letter from the
secretary of state c~omplimenting Adj
miral Dewey upon his direction of at
fairs since the great naval victory, a
formal evidence that the state depart
ment is thoroughly we'll satisfied with
the displomatic qualities he has ex-
hibited. The letter of Secretary Long
is as follows:
Navy Department,
washington, D.. c., July 20, 1898.
"Sir-The department has received