The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-19
ARTILLERY TO PLAY
AN IMPORTANT PAR I

The Expedition will be Particularly Strong in
Artillery as Some Of that at Santiago is to be
Drawn Upon. There will be no Conveys as
They are Now Deemed Unnecessary. Gen.
Brooke will be Gen. Miles Senior officer.
The First Troops will Go from Charleston,
Chekamauga andD Tampa, Shafler's Army
will be Left at..santiago and its March May
End at Havana.
Washington, D. C., July 1S.-After
three days consultations between the
President, Secretary Ager and General
Brooke. during which there was frequent
communication with General Miles ut
SiEoney, the details of the Porto Rican
expedition were perfected and the eX
petition itself was gotten under way.
General Miles. with some artillery and
troops sailed to-day for Porto Rico on
the converted cruiser Yale to be follow
ed quickly by an army of about 10000
in the plan for this expedition, and for
the stately naval pageant that sailed
away from Tampa under General Shaft
ers command to attack Santiago.
First, there will be practically no naval
conveys; the Navy Department has de-
clared that they are unnecessary; that
there is not Spanish warship in the
West Indies that dare trust its bow out
of port. In the second place, the eXpedi-
ton does not start from one point, but
will be divided among several ports,
thus preventing the tremendous conges-
tion that was encountered at Tampa in
the effort to start the big fleet together,
but the transports will be allowed to
find their own way to their destination
without concerted movements. General
Miles leads the way. He had been prom
sed by the President that he should go
to Porto Rico, and the promise was re-
deemed when the Yale headed to-day
from Siboney for Porto Rico, 800 miles
distant General Brooke will be the
senior officer i'm Miles command, and
upon him will fall the responsibility for
the execution of the details of his Su-
VfTloTS DldUS. II ID th.t Nfli-
eral Miles should arrive by Wednesday
night ut the point selected for the land
ing and will hoist the American flag at
once over Porto Rican soil. The point
chosen for his landing is kept Il secret
as the General will land before the full
body of the expedition is at hand, and il
is consequently not desirable that the
enemy should be able to assemble Il SUI
perior force to meet him. The distance
from Charleston. where the first body
of troops for Miles expedition was to
start from to-day, is more than
double the distance from San
tjago to Porto Rico so that
the transports which sail from the former
CITY can scarcely reach General Miles
before the early part of next week
These Charleston troops arc the First
brigade of the First division of the F'irs
Army Corps. and are commanded by
Brigadier General George T.. Ernst
The brigade comprises the Second WIS
consin. Third Wisconsin, and Sixteenth
Pennsylvania regiments.
The purpose of Secretary Alger is to
make the Porto Rican campaign shor
one. An overwhelming force will bt
thrown upon the island and it is possible
that bloodless victory will be achieved
when the Spanish become convinced tha
they have no reasonable chance to resls
successfully.
The expedition is to comprise 5000,
men at the start. and it will be sweliet
soon TO 1000 and if necessary to 'o,Oot
men. the equipment of the volunteer fore
es having now progressed SO well as tf
withstand the statement that that mum
ber can be ready for service in Porto
Rico within very short time. The body
of troops mt Tampa will be taken number
ing about 1900 men and including
lot of heavy and light artillery under