The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-19
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WASHINGTON, July 1S.-After three
days consultation between Secretary
Alger and General Brooke, during
which there was a frequent commune
cation with General Miles at Siboney,
the details of the Porto Rican expedi-
ton were perfected and the expedition
itself gotten under way. General
Miles, with some military and troops,
are sailing to-day for Porto Rico on the
converted cruiser Yale, to be followed
quickly by an army Of about 10000 men.
There are some notable differences in
the plans for this expedition and for
the stately naval pageant that sailed
away from Tampa under General
Skaters command to attack Santiago.
First, there will be practically no naval
General Miles leads the way. He had
been promised by the President that he
should go to Porto Rico and the prom
ise was redeemed when the Yale headed
to-day from Siboney for Porto Rico,
800 miles distant. General Brooke will
be the senior officer in General Miles
command, and upon him will fall the
responsibility. for the execution of the
details of his superior's plans. 1t is
estimated that General Miles should ar
rive by Wednesday night at the point
selected for the landing, and that he
will hoist the American 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 it is
consequently not desirable that they
should be able to assemble a superior
fsrce to meet him.
The distance from Charleston. where
the first body of troops for General
Miles expedition was to start to-day,
is more than double the distance from
Santiago 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 are to be the
First Brigade Of the First Division of
the First Army Corps, and are COM
manded by Brigadier General George
H Ernst. The brigade comprises the
Second wisconsin, Third Wisconsin and
Sixteenth Pennsylvania Regiments.
The purpose of Secretary Alger is to
make the Porto Rican campaign a
short one. An overwhelming force will
| DS lLIOWH upOH lllC iSioiido, olo IL iS
possible that bloodless victory wiz
be achieved when the Spaniards become
| convinced that they have no reasona-
BILE chance to resist successfully. The
expedition is to comprise 10000 men AZ
the start, and it will be swelled soon
to 5000 men, and, if necessary, to 10,
900 men, the equipment of the volun-
teer forces having now progressed SC
we'll as to warrant the statement that
that number of men can be ready for
services in Porto Rico within a very
short time.
The entire body of troops at Tampa
will be taken. numbering about 1900
men, and including lot Of heavy and
light artillery under command of Gen
eral Rodgers. The expedition will be
| particularly strong with artillery and
some Of that at Santiago. commanded
! by General Randolph, is to be drawn
upon. The Tampa troops are knowr
as the Fourth Corps, under Major Gen
eral Coppinger, comprising the Second
Division, under Brigadier General ST.
mon Snyder and made up of the First
Brigade, Brigadier General Schwan
Eleventh and Nineteenth United States
Infantry. Second Brigade, Brigadiel
General Carpenter; Second New Yorl
and Fifth Maryland: Third Brigade