The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-23

structions. He was told specifically by
Gen. Miles in a cablegram sent yesterday,
not to embarrass Gen. Shafter by any
unnecessary suggestions Thus, it will
be seen that Gen. Shafter, like Admiral
Sampson, is not to be tied by exact orders
the widest liberty of action in the belief
that he, being on the ground, is capable
OF judging best the propriety of projected
movements.
The heutenant-colonel, however, who
Is member of Gen. Miles's staff, and in
charge of the signal work in Santiago
province, communicated briefly with
Gen. Miles in ciphsr the fact that the de-
barkation of the troops had begun and
that plan of attack had been arran ged.
The reinforcement of Gen. Shafter act
uaIly began today in the departure of a
regiment and battalion of the troops
at Camp Alger for Santiago. They go
to Newport News and then by steamer to
Santiago. If expectations are realized
these troops are likely to occupy less
tingent which left Tampa, notwithstand-
ing the distance Is twice as long, Formal
orders were Issued placing Gen. Guy V.
Henry in charge of the new division Of
troops composed of Duffield,s and Gar
retson's brigades. Probably. soma of the
troops now at Tampa will be attached
also, in which case they will be- despatched
in separate transports. 1t is evident from
the nature of Gen. Miles's advices that
in addition to the troops now landing as
it is supposed, not far from Playa del
Este to the east of Santiago bay, the sec
ond landing is going on about the same
distance west of the harbor entrance.
The two divisions probably will be
nushed forward to take the town OF San
flo nE WI 10 n Garcia and
Rabi's insurgents may be lett the task
of bringing on the attack in the rear.
The distance on the west side is slightly
greater than on the east, but 1t probably
IL NOT greater by either route than Is or
1s miles. The country is mountainous,
but there Is no reason to believe it may
NOT be traversed by the United States
trooos within a week, even if it should
be necessary to construct entrenchments
and abattis every few miles in order to
beat back the Spaniards. With the begin
ming of the military movement, the navy
will draw close inshore to pound away
at the forts at the entrance and to draw
the Gordon of warships around the mouth
as to make it impossible for Cervera's S
vessels to escape even if they are disposed
to take the most desperate chances.
News has reached her that 112, GOO tons
of coal is being loaded on ship-board at
VALPARAISO. Chilli. AS coal is worth about
S18 q ton there the purchase excites great
curiosity here and it has been suspected
that it was being made on Spanish ac-
count. If this should prove true. it would
seem to indicate purpose on the part OF
the Suanish naval commander, Camara,
to carry the Cadiz feet into the Pacific
and use these colliers to supply the fleet
with coal. In this case the o. ject OF at
tack probably would be the west coast of
the United States, instead of the Philip
pines However. the whole thing is still
q matter of conjecture.
The secretary of the navy today speak
,n, To an Associated Press reporter of the
ga1erai satisfaction that had been ex-
nressed with the navy department, said
that in Justice, it should be borne in
mind that the navy is always in state
mobiiization, although the coming of the
war had necessitated o vast amount of
snecial preparation and large increase
Of vessels and naval force. The secretary
added: ),
of nraise and sometimes MIR. Roosevelt
who was my assistant secretary, and who
certainly deserved il. as does his successor.
hut let me tell you that there are men
entitled to special gratitude ana recognize
ion who never will get half the nraise
they deserve. These are the chiefs of the
various bureaus. They have borne the
real burden OF preparation. When war
became imminent they were given large
power and were told they would be held
responsible for having the work Of their