Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-20
PORTO RICAN ARMY
"
Troops to Sail from Newport
News f..
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY
United sss,tes May Have To Maintain a
NlilfArX
United Suates Mwy Have To Maintain "a
Military Government In Cuba for
Long Time. Bids for Trans
~ porting Spanish Prisoners. e
(Ry Telegrapll.l


OF u failure ON the part Of General
dent prepared late yesterday. to take
command of the military expeditiau
against Porto Rico that officer did not
depart as was expected from Sibonev
me mistake was soon corrected this
morning. however. and us L. result of
some short telegraph c correspondence
that followed during The day it WAS
gathered at the department that the
Yale would sart tonight. Contrary 10
the first intention ana probably with
OUT General Miles seeking the Yale is
to be conveyed by several vessels thar
Admiral Sampson has been instructed
TO select from among the vessels OF his
fleet. This may result in delaying Gen
eral Miles progress somewhat, as no:I /.
of the vessels with Sampson is able to
keep pace with the Yale. Nevertheless
there is no doubt that the general will
reach Porto Rico before the letachm mt
of troops from Charleston.
War Department officials feel that
they are fully justified in their decls-
ion to retain practically all of Shaft
er'S army at Santiago by the press re-
ports that reached them today :ndi-
eating the growth of serious friction
between the American forces and the
Cuhan troops. growing out of the lat
Aters exclusion from Santiago by Gem
er:,l Skaters orders. Ii is felt now
that the garrison originally proposed
two immune regiments. would have
been insufficient to meet an outside
Spanish force that might come from
Eolsuin or ManZanillo and also to re-
strain the l:,pacity OF the Cubans. 1t
is realized that the present situation
is full of difficulty and the future is
dark. owing to the disposition evidenc.
ed by the CubanS to ignore or refuse
to be bound by the amenities OF mod
ern warfare. This first symptom OF
friction has suggested to the officials
innumerable difficulties that viii arise
in the future. OF course 1t would seem
to be only polite to avoid any open
rupture With the Cubans, provided they
can be kept in leash and not involve
the United States in the disgrace that
would follow the sackng of helpless
communities. but it begins to appear
that for some time to come, and even
after the conquest of Cuba is complete,
the United States must maintain there
a. military government sin ord ere to
meet the responsibilities which it has
assumed to the civilized world. The
personnel of the Porto Rican eNpedi-
ton having been left in a large meas
ure in the hands of General Brooke, it
is not possible yet to give an accurate
roster of the organization that will en-
ter into it.
The President announced privately
today that while no date OF departure
of the Troops to be sent from Chiekl-
magua To Poto Rico had been fixed he
expected they would leave about one
week from tomorrow. He is awaitine
Il detailed report from General Brooke
recommending what troops and sup
plies should be Sent from Chickamau-
ga. The present plan is stated to bt. to
embark them at Newport News and
Norfolk and those at Tampa either
there or at Key West.
Admiral Sampson has received final
orders from the Navy Department as
to the part the American fleet is 10
take in the campaign against Porto
Rico. They are based on the view that
the campaign is essentially an army
movement. the duties of the navy be-
ing to lend every support and assist
ance to the land operations. The adj
miral is instructed to aid the army
movements by dispatching conveys
when required, and by recovering the
landing OF troops. AS there Is no
Spanish fleet in San Juan harbor or
other Porto iican ports. the navy has
a limited field of operation. The re-
duction of the harbor Qualifications will
be the main work. but this and all 9TH
Ell operations of the fleet will be sup
Elementary to the main operat ions con-
Quoted by the army. The strategists.
military and naval. are agreed in the
view that the taking of Porto Rico is
primarily military undertaking. aud
Admiral SIMPSONS orders are on these.
lines.
The Navy Department. is rapidly
moving the large fleet of auxiliary
craft. made up OF merchant ships.
large ocean going yachts. tugs, etc.
from Atlantic coast points to Cuban
waters. where they will be placed on
blockade duty. thus releasing the large
ships for more active duty at Porto
Rico and the coast of Spain. Three OF
these smaller craft We're sent south to-
daNand most all of them will be on~the
way within a week, stopping only long
enough at Norfolk to have their bat
teries strengthened.
When the war broke out Il large num-
Der of these auxiliary craft We're pur-
chased. They have been distributed
along the coast from Maine to Florida
at some forty or more points. making
an effective coast patrol. There is felt
TO be no further need of this patrol. so
that with the exception of a few i'm
portant points the auxiliary craft will
be withdrawn for service in Cuba.
Bids will be opened tomorrow in New
York in the presence Of Col. Hecker.
chief of the transportation bureau OF
the War Department, for the convey
ance home to Spain of the Spanish
army captured by General Shafte1.
Meanwhile. in advance OF the opening |
a bid has come to the department from
orc Of the big foreign steamship lines
proposing to carry $4,000 men from |
Santiago to Cadiz for the lump sum OF !
l25,00O pounds. Any increase or dmu- |
milton in the number will be charged |
for in the same proportion. This bid is |
being held up subject to the formal |
opening tomorrow.
SPANS BATTLESHIp DAMAGED. |
Accident to the Pelayo orr the Coast of
Tunis. c
(Ry Tlelegraph.>
MARSEILLES. July IA steamer
which has just. arrived here reports
having sighted on July 16. off the coast
of Tnnis. the Spanish fleet commanded
by Admiral Camara. AS the steamer
passed the battleship Pelayo column
of smoke suddenly issued from her.
he o6t s.,a9< t>,,x