Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-22

washington July Z1.-PreSldent
Mckinley is thoroughly aroused
over the delay which has occurred
in the starting of Gen. Miles and
the expedition under his command
for Porto Rico.
For several days Gen. Miles and
his troops have been aboard their
transports at Playa del Este await
ing the naval convoy which is to be
furnished by Admiral Sampson.
The troops have been sweltering
in the crowded ships under the
broiling heat of a tropical sun,
while Gen. Miles has been chatting
under what he believes to be mex
cusable delay and is bombarding
the war department with dispatches
urging in the strongest terms that
the navy be hurried in its prepare
tions for the expedition. Instruc-
tions of the most positive nature
have been cabled to Admiral
Sampson to supply the necessary
conveys for Gen. Miles's trans
ports, but Notwithstanding these
instructions Admiral Sampson has
49,
l---.1,e expedition with deliber-
alton that is exasperating officials
here.
The President. who has been
giving the Porto Rican expedition
his personal attention-as he has
given, indeed, all phases of the
war, finally became deeply con-
cerned lest the part of the. Porto
Rican expedition that has already
sailed from this country should
arrive at the point of rendezvous
in advance of Gen. Miles and the
navy.
1t is feared that if Gen. Wilson's
command, which sailed yesterday
from Charleston, should arrive in
advance of Gen. Miles and the ma
val conveys serious danger and
possibly disaster might result, as
Gen. Wilson's ships are absolutely
without protection. The distance
from Charleston to Porto Rico is
trife over 1900 miles. while
from Playa del Este to Porto Rico
it Is about 700 miles. The COM
parative distances which Gen. Will
son and Gen. Miles have to travel
to reach the point of rendezvous
are rendered the more nearly equal,
however by reason of the fact that
the former has more than a full
days start.
Fully approaching these facts
and realizing the necessity for
prompt action in getting Gen.
Miles and his Cuban expedition
started, President Mckinley this
morning issued personal orders
through the Secretary Of the Navy
to Admiral Sampson that he should
proceed Immediately to Porto Rico
with Gen. Miles. The Presidents
orders are susceptible Of no mis-
construction. They are impera-
tive +o , dooraa caIdoy,o orpplpyad
except in cases of extreme emer-
gency. They are of the sort that
will brook no delay in their exc
cution. Admiral Sampson must
start at once, or the President
himself will know the reason why.
No excuses of an ordinary nature
will be accepted by the President
for further delay.
Admiral Sampson having been in
structed, II Is again assumed by the
War Department officials that a start
will be made some time to-day. Samp-
son was told to send a battleshfp and
cruiser. as a convoy, and It was left
" MIN W stittl THESE AAtN W.
sells Of his feet. The Navy was dis
posed 20 regard 1t as unnecessary 10
send a special convoy on the ground
that the Columbia and the Yale were
both armed sufficiently to serve as
protection for the fleet Of transports
as according TO the information In pos
session of the navy department. there
are no Spanish. warships anywhere in
the neighborhood of the West Indies
that might be expected to modest the
expedition. However. acting upon the
Presidents resolve TO run no unnec-
essary risk of disaster to this expedi-
tton, the decision was reached last
night to send the Apnvoy requested by
the War Department II IL said at the
War Department thft some Of the sol
diers. including G4rretson's brigade.
have been aboard.t - sIghfeen dow