The times., 1898-06-17

No abatement of activity in the work of
preparing for the Porto Rico expedition
was manifest at the War Department
yesterday.
Every bureau was busily engaged along
the lines mapped out at the conference
of Wednesday afternoon.
The board appointed to select the point
of embarkation. while engaged in compil-
ing a formal report, has verbally ad-
vised the selection either of Fernandina
Savannah or Jacksonville Everything
tends towards the selection of Fern
andina.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn has sent
communications to all the Atlantic coast
wise steamship companies asking for fur
ther transports.
Adjt. Gen. Corbin and Secretary Alger
discussed the matter of troops for the
purpose Of deciding which organizations
should be sent.
Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn
late in the day said:
The intention is TO make the expedition
+ entirely separate and not dependent upon
any other movement
As many vessels will be required, prob
ably, as were used in the expedition from
Tampa; that is, about thirty-five.
There are now eleven available yes
sels chartered by the Government. They
are the UniOnist Specialist and Hudson
3 at New Orleans the Comanche Louisi-
ana, Gate City and City of Macon at
Fernandna, and the Lampasas Nueces,
Arkadia and Catania at New York.
Each OF these vessels have accommo-
daticrs for coo men and supplies. The
eleven vessels can carry about 5000 men.
or little less than one-third of the entire
expedition
Mr. Meikleiojhn said that while the
Government appreciates the fact that
many companies have gone to the ut
most extreme in favoring the Govern
ment- il was TO be hoped that charters
could be granted 10 other vessels of
American registry.
Mr. Meiklejohn said further that a num-
Der Of vessels Of British registry could be
obtained By asking Congress to grant
them American registry. If this were
done they would remain under the Amer
ican flag after the war and be in com
petition with home vessels Of American
registry. This is not the desire of the
Government and hence its anxiety about
caartering home vessels at the begin
ming
If the progress of military operations
around Santiago permits. transports will
return from that place for use in the
Porto Rlcan movement, but this is not
now being depended upon. An entirely
new fleet Of ,hirty-five vessels will be
chartered.
AIr. Meiklejohn hopes to have favorable
replies from some OF these steamship
companies today.
The city Of Fernandina, which viii be
the place Of embarkation. is just north
Of Jacksonville. The place is situated on
the Amelia River. which has a good depth
OF water and excellent harbor facilities.
There IS unlimited room for camp and
springs and wells capable of furnishing
surncienf water for all purposes
Secretary Alger stated TO a Times re-
porter late yesterday that the board had
not yet made its formal written report
Each member had. however. made verbal
recommendations.
Secretary Alger said that the board had
found most Of the places which We're
visited Were suitable with but few ex-
cepti5ns for camp sites.
Smallpox was discovered at Columbia
S. O.. and the water supply is not good
Charleston lacks wharfage and harbor
facilities. These places were for these
reasons. eliminated for the present from
the eligible list of camping sites
Secretary Alger said that the camping
grounds and the embarkation point would
therefore, be at either Savannah, Fernan-
dina or Jacksonville. Miami has no room
for a camp
Secretary Alger denied positively the
stories printed in q New York morning
paper 10 the effect that the camp al
IamGa would be abandoned, and thal
l5t-3 troops would be sent South from
Chicamauga and Camp Alger for use in
the Porto Rico expedition
He said that there are too many troops
ana too large an amount of supplies a
Tampa 10 admit of any such action.
In the event Of an outbreak Of yellow
fever ia the South. Secretary Alger said
the camps might be moved. 1t would
then DE an emergency move.
FeTrandina, Savannah. Miami and Jack
sonville are likewise within the yellow
fever belt and the same statement ap-
plies 10 them.