Evening journal., 1898-07-21
rAoRoue4 PREPARATION.
War Department Profits by Experlenee
at Santiago.

WhN ntNhFtmNnh EFoNth nN Experience
nt Santiago.
WASHINGTON. July 21.-The war
and navy departments are now engaged
IN making all OF the arrangements for
the dispatch OF the Porto Rlcan eXpeii-
tion and Watsons eastern squadron.
There has occurred one OF those natural
pauses In the progress OF the campaign
incident TO the completion OF one set OF
operations and the initiation Of an
other.
There being no possibility Of the re-
cept OF news OF great battle or OF a
surrender, there was less excitement
and less evidence OF nervous strain
than for weeks past. General Miles ex-
pected departure was again deferred.
The explanation given was that there
was difficulty experienced at Santiago
I'm securing the naval convoy for the
expedition. IL Is known. however. I'm
addition that the president himself has
restrained General Miles TO the extent
OF adjuring him in earnest terms not
20 commit the folly of starting for Porto
Rico without the most complete prep
arations. The government has profted
by the lesson taught by the Santiago
expedition.
Aside from the actual loss OF life that
might be expected to result from bad
Is calculated start. Il Is realized that
our relations with some OF the Euro
pean powers would be impaired In a
small measure at least by the adverse
moral effect created by anything APP
preaching a defeat for the American
arms at this stage of the war. There
fore II is certain that SO far as the de-
partment can prevent General Miles
soldiers will not run short OF food. nor
of tents to protect them from the trop-
zeal rains, nor OF the means OF trans
portation that were so deficient at the
beginning Of the Santiago movement
General Miles reported yesterday att
ernoon that he had with him ten trans
ports, which Il is presumed have aboard
several thousand soldiers. although at
least two OF them are filled with equip
ments. The men aboard ship are SUI
ferlng from delay precisely as did the
soldiers who lay In Eampa bay before
the departure Of the Shafter expedition.
Inquiry made at the navy department
TO ascertain where the delay had arisen
in securing conveys was met with the
statement that the orders TO Admiral
Sampson in this matter were very gem
eral. He was simply directed by the de-
partment TO furnish convoy. and II
was assumed that he would confer with
General Miles as TO the number ana
character OF vessels required for that
purpose.
AS the campaign from a naval point
OF view IS 20 be principally a land move
ment. the naval officers do not believe
a very extensive convoyeis necessary.
According TO the calculations at the
navy department Admiral Dewey's fleet
at Cavite should now be re-enforced by
the coast defense vessel Monterey.
which, with her tender and collier, the
Brutus, has now been about 20 DAYS out
from Honolulu. With The addition of
this fine and powerful monitor Dewey
will be amply able TO take care Of him
self so long as the naval forces IN the
Philippines are maintaining the relative
proportion they now occupy However,
the disclosure by the state department
of the lack of foundation for the sansa-
tional stories Of strained relations with
Germany has largely abated the ankle
~ entertained at the navy department
as to Dewey's position at Manila
DIR. Greenleafs last report to Secre-
tary Alger from the American camp al
Santiago came yesterday afternoon and
was TO the effect that while the yellow
fever was widely spread among the
hroops IL was very mild in type. General