The Monte Vista journal., 1898-07-23
OFF FOR PORTO RICO.
o.nsnAL MILES HAS STARTED.
1ssey fhsasasA SssAlsss WIn - a.rsisA
Aieas as Fast - Possib,s-fAsy O.
From 0svosal Posts.


Warrington. July 1a-After three
days consultation between Secretary
Algef and General Brooke, during
which there, was frequent commanica.
tlou with General Miles nt Sibouey
the details of the Porto Rican expetii-
tiOn were perfected aud the expedition
itself wns gotten under way, General
Niles, with some artillery md troops
sailing to-day for Porto Rico on the
converted cruiser Yale, to be followed
quickly by an army Of about 10000
men. 4H
There nre some notable differences
in the plans for this expedition and
for the stately naval pageant that
sailed away from Tampa under Gen
cral shafter's command, to attack
Santiago. First, there will be practi-
cally no naval conveys. The Navy
Department has declared that they
are unnecessary. that there il not a
Spanish wnrship in the West Indies
that dare thrust It's bow out Of port.
In the second place. the expedition
does not stnrt from one point. but will
be divided among several ports, thus
preventing the tremendous congestion
that was encountered at Tampa In the
there will be no effort made to get the
ships away together, but the trans
ports will be allowed to find their own
way to their destination without con-
certed movements.
General Miles leads the way. He
has been promised by the President
that he should go to Porto Rico. and
the promise was redeemed when the
al 20
Porto Rico. 500 miles distant. General
Brooke will I've the senior officer In
General Miles command. and upon
him will fall the responsibility for the
execution OF the details Of his Supe-
rior's plans.
1t IL estimated TINT General Miles
should arrive by Wednesday night Mt
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 IL kept
secret. as the general will land be-
fore the full body OF the expedition Is
mt hand. and 1t is consequently not de
slrable that the enemy should be able
TO assemble a superior force 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.
The purpose OF Secretary Alger Is
to make the Porto Rican campaign n
short one. An overwhelming force will
1N.. h.. laln nd 4 %
possible that n bloodlcss victory will
he achieved when the Spanish become
convinced that they have no reason
able chance TO resist successfully. The
expedition IL To comprise 10000 men
nt the start. and II will he swelled
soon To 10000 men. and II necessary to
10000 men. the equipment OF the vol
untecr forces having now progressed
40 well ms TO warrant the statement
that that number Of men can be ready
for service In Porto Rico within a very
snort time. The entire body OF troops
nt Tampa Will be taken. numbering
about 1900 men. and including q lot
of heavy and light artillery. under
command OF General Rodgers. The
expedition will bc particularly strong
with artillery. ns sOmc Of that at San-
tingo. commanded by General Ran
dolph. is TO liz drawn upon. Tie
Tampa troops are known ns the Fourth
corps. under command OF Major Gen
crnl Coppingcr.
General Brooke will take with him
from Chickamnuga Park most Of the
First and Second brigadex Of his
army corps. the First.
The part which the navy is to take
In the assault ngn!nst Porto Rico has
been fully mnturcd. The several trans
port fleets will have with them one or
two auxiliary craft. carrying strong
secondary batteries Of six or eight
slx-poundcrx.
I'll. movement Of the ships from
Santingo TO their new fields Of action
will begin Mt once. and !, IL probable
that some Of Admiral Sampson's ships
were detached to-day and proceeded
with General Miles with the expedition
toward Porto Rico. They will be need.
cd To cover the debarkaticn cf the
troops ON Porto Rican soil. The others
Will follow ms soon nx the full army
expedition is ready 10 make Il landing,
when the attack will b,gin slmuian.
cously from lnud and scu.