The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-26
Washington Expectant.

Washington, July 26.-The govern
ment is waiting to receive confirmation
of the reported debarkatiOn of General
Miles troops The war department
did not expect to hear of Miles land
ing near Ponce, but it is admitted that
General Miles is master of his own
movements, and it is entirely cOnceiV-
able that he acquired information since
the original plans We're formed for
the campaign against Porto Rico that
led him TO modify theem at the mo-
ment when they were to be put into
execution.
While the distance from Ponce to San
Juan is much greater than from the
point originally selected for Miles
landing, there is, according to the mill
tary information charts a splendid IA
foot macadamized road leading directly
across the island to San Juan on the
north shore. Such a road, if it is
properly described in the archives of
the war department would be very lit
tie affected by the tOrrential rains of
In1S season, so that it might be posi-
Die for our troops, accompanied as they
Will be by field artillery to march
across the seventy miles between Ponce
and San Juan in less time than would
nave been required to cover the much
shorter distance between the capital
and some of the other points that have
been named as the landing place for
the troops.
Wherever the landing may have been
made, the war department expects to
hear from Gen. Miles very soon for
he has been long enough on the coast
OF Porto Rico to have established him
self somewhere ashore and to have for
Warded some communication to the
government There will be no diff
Cuily IN the prompt transmission of aOv
dispatches the general may file over
the cable from st. Thomas 1t is
prooabIe that in the beginning the
government at Madrid will be in ad-
vance with the news. This is because
there IS a cable running from Ponce
round through a group of the West
indian Islands to Kingston, where com
"a ~ 1Muuhlcatlon with the Transatlan-
nc cable can be had. Thus the condi-
tlons at Ponce, so far as cable connec-
IONS are concerned approximate those
eHIsIng at Santiago at the beginning
or the campaign when the Spanish gov /
efhInent was able to communicate di-
IectIy with the Spanish general in the
town while Gen. Shafter's communica-
tionS were subject to a deIav of about
p hours. However. all this will he 80
Lheo IN the course of a few davs ana
zen Miles viii be in quick communfca-
ton with Washington
Feint at Ponce.
Washington, July 26.-The session of
the @ cabinet today was practically with
ot ~ IncIoeht- There were no inportant
dispatches and what business I1-9e 49,
was of minor character
While without official advics of the
landing of the Miles expedition tbare
was some discussion of the press re-
ports 1t is believed that the Iar6jror
at point on the south coast of Tor+9
Rico near Ponce. if made at all va ~
designed as a feint. The discussion II
Is understood, brought out the fact tbat
Gen. Miles had considered the choice
OF three landing points for his forces
not one of which was Ponce Wbiie
not specifically stated, the three Doin+s
named are suggested as probably Fax-1
ardo, Guanica and Fuejes. Gen. Miles,
instructions were to debark at one of
these and if he landed at or near
Ponce it was in the opinion of mem
bers of the cabinet, either due to some
unforeseen circumstances, or as a feint
TO attract attention from the real point
of debarkation
Guanica.
Washington, July 26.-Guanica. the
DOint of deba RI tfo,1 ~f - IIiG