The evening times., 1898-06-09

Lieut.. Henry c. Whitney. Of the Fourth
United States Artillery. who was sent. ny
Gen Miles to make a reconnaissance OF
the island OF Porto Rico and who Will
guide the Army In Porto Rico. is in Wash
ington. and he reported at the War De
partnent today.
Lieut.. Whitney Is q Washington lad and
he was given a hearty welcome by his
many friends.
He left Washington early in April, as
the bearer of important messages from
Major General Miles to General Gomez.
commander-in-chief Of the forces of the
insurgents in Cuba The letters carried
by Lieut.. Whitney contained full instruc-
tions as to the American military cam
pa:gn plan and arranged for a juncture
between the American and insurgent
forces in Cuba
Lieut.. Whitney, was landed in Cuba
from a torpedo boat on April g. After de-
ivering his messages he was furnished
with an armed escort by Gen. Gomez and
proceeded through the province Of San
tiago dc Cuba to a point where he could
secure safe passage to Porto Rico.
He succeeded in reaching st. Thomas,
and spent three days there in the guise
of 4 correspondent for New York news
paper. After he had been there that
length of time he learned that a steamer
was about to depart for San Juan. Porto
Rico. He became a stowaway. When the
ship had sailed out on the high seas his
presence was discovered and he offered
to work his passage to his desired desu-
nation and the captain OF the vessel. not
knowing his real character nor the ma
ture of his errand. consented and allowed
him to continue to Porto Rico In the ca
pacity Of a stoker.
When the steamer arrived at Ponce,
Porto Rico. Whitney. as one of the crew.
was sent ashore to make purchases of
provisions. The Spaniards were at first
wary, thinking him to be one of those
Yankee pigs" He threw them OF their
guard by disclaiming his American citi-
zenship. and paraded before them as an
Englishman.
In this manner he was enabled to OBJ
tain much valuable information. He OBJ
tanned a horse and trayersed every part
of the island picking UP information ev-
erywhere. He learned there are about
$500 Spanish soldiers. regulars and volun-
teers. all told. in Porto Rico. He acquir-
ed thorough and complete knowledge Of
Spain's military strength on the island
and studied the coast defenses and forti-
fications very carefully.
He found the natives ready TO revolt
against Spanish authority. and that there
was much discomfort in the army on ac-
count of nonpayment and bad treatment.
Lieut.. Whitney would not discuss his
mission when seen at the department to-
day. He said that it was secret one and
and being such It was improper and i'm
possible for him to discuss either its OBJ
ject or results, He was satisfied that he
had made a successful journey. and to
divulge anything that he had learned
would undo the whole business"
The impression prevails at the War De-
par;ment that Lieut.. Whitney will ac-
company the Porto Rican expedition
which will shortly leave Jacksonville. He
gained such Invaluable knowledge while
on his reconnaissance trip that the de-
psrtnent cannot afford to deprive itself
of his services.
1t was stated to a reporter for The
Times today that the War Department
is eAce edingly anxious that no newspaper
publish Lieut.. Whitney's picture for the
present, for the reason that If 1t should
pass into the hands of the enemy 1t would
considerably impair his efficiency as a
guide for the Army in the future. The
department does not believe any patri-
otic paper would commit such blunder.