The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-17
BIG ARMY FOR PORTO RICO.
WILL PROBABLY EQUAL THAT
SENT TO SANTIAGO.

Point of Embnrlation Not Yet FL
naIIy Determined UpOn-Sure to BE
Fernandina or Snvannah-Thirt.f-
Five Transports TO BE Used for the
Purposes of the ExpeditiOn-An
the Vessels Needed Not Yet Sc
cured.
Washington, June 1e.-The war depart
ment expects to utilize approximately
thirty-five transports in the expedition for
the invasion of Porto Rico. This state
ment was made officially at the depart
ment to-day.
1t seems to indicate that the Porto Rico
army Will equal If not exceed in number
that which left for Santiago. The esti-
mate is made that thirty-hve vessels will
carry between 5000 and 10000 men with
their equipments and subsistence.
Army officials say that reports which
have been received from reliable sources
show that the number of Spanish soldiers
in that country is probably 10000 men, al
though other statements indicate that
there Is considerably less than that num-
Der.
1t is stated positively that the embarka-
tion point for the troops for Porto Rico
has not yet been finally determined and
will not be until Secretary Alger and the
President have had an opportunity to con-
fer with Maj. Gen. Niles. There is no
doubt, however that this embarkation will
take place from some point on the ATTAIN
tic coast. with a probability in favor of
Fernandina. Fla, or Savannah, Ga.
The merits of the first named place have
been fully set out, and as to the latter
place favorable comment was made upon
it by the board of army officers which re-
Gently conducted the examination of varl-
Gus points in the South.
Jacksonville also is considered by the
board a good place for the assembling of
troops, although it is not believed that
the water in the st. Johns river is of sat
isfactory depth to permit of the easy
movement of a large number of vessels
to and from the harbor.
Miami, Fla, was examined by the board
but their conclusion is that it is not big
enough for the accommodation of any great
number of men who might be brought
there prior to embarkation.
Charleston and Columbia, S. c., were
examined, but for good reasons Secretary
calities for the rendezvous Of troops.
For the purposes of the Porto Rico expe-
dition, Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn
said that there was now available eleven
transports, some of which are already at
southern points, and these will carry about
GOO men with their equipments
The war department Is now in communi-
cation with the various eoastwise steam
ship companies on the Atlantic and Gulf
with view TO securing the additional YES
sells needed.
Mr. Meikeljohn said it had not yet been
determined whether any of the vessels soon
to reach Santiago would be utilized in the
Porto Rlcan expedition. That was matter
entirely contingent upon the military as
pect of affairs as they might develop in
Eastern Cuba.
It is stated not to be the intention of the
government at this time to abandon Tam
pa as a base of military operations, as has
been reported. The war department. has a
vast quantity of rations, beside a large
number of men at that place. While it
Is possible that future large military move
ments may not be embarked from that
point yet 1t is believed that it will con-
tinue to be used as reserve base for such
work as may be more conveniently done
from there.