The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-26
Hains's Brigade to Embark This
Morning and Proceed at Once to
the Porto Rican Rendezvous.
BUSTLE At NEWPORT NEWS
WHERE CAVALRY, INFANTRY AND
ARTILLERY ARE ARRIVING.
Indianapolis battery Boys to Finish
Their Rail Journey This Morning
and Prepare TO Embark.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-The War De-
partment was busted to-day hurrying the
dispatch of the remainder of General Miless
expedition against Porto Rico. Such progress
has been made that it is hoped all of the
troops will be on Porto Rican soil within
week at latest. General Miles is not ex-
pected to defer his landing until that time,
but presumably will pick out a suitable
place for encamping his troops and estab-
Iish himself ashore awaiting the arrival of
the other detachments now on their way.
War Department officials expect that the
first news received from General Miles will
come through the press dispatches, as the
general has rot with him, so far as is
known, any dispatch boats. 1t will be at
least Saturday before direct cable communi-
cation can be established with him and in
the meantime reliance must be had on the
dispatch boats running across to st.
Thomas, distant about four hours run.
1t was expected at the department that
General Brooke and General Hams would
sail to-day from Newport News to join
Miles and that most of General Brookes
command would be embarked by Wednes-
day. The work of embarkation at Hampton
roads Is being conducted with much less
difficulty and delay than was expected. Col.
Hecker, in charge Of the transportation
division Of the War Department, who has
just returned from that place, has reported
to Secretary Alger til It it is eminently
suited TO the shpmen' Il the troops. Con-
sequently the secretary to-day ordered all
of Gen al Grants brigade, three thousand
men, f IN Chckamauga to Newport News.
1t Is not expected that all of the transports
required for their accommodation will have
arrived there by the time the soldiers get
in, butt they will be encamped on suitable
ground there and it is believed will be
benefited by the change from Chicka-
mauga.
Batteries A and c, of Pennsylvania, now
at Newport News. have been ordered to
Porto Rico. There was some doubt about
the destination of these batteries, and it
was not until to-day that the decision was
reached to send them to join General Miles.
TO be used in the attack on the defenses of
Porto Rico. The Fifth. United States Caval-
ry. the First Florida, Second Georgia and
Fifth Maryland Regiments, now at Tampa,
have also been ordered to Porto Rico. The
remainder of the troops at chickamauga,
which have been ordered to Porto Rico, will
be embarked at Hampton Roads as rapidly
as possible. and it is expected that the last
of them viii be aboard ship by Wednesday.
The reported boarding of a German
steamer of San Juan, Porto Rico, by a
launch from American naval vessel, is
taken al the War Department to confirm its
belief that General Miles has arrived there
1t is recalled. however, that some of the
vessels of the auxiliary fleet have been
blockading San Juan, and it may be it was
a launch from one of these vessels instead
of from Miles's fleet that was seen ty the
German vessel. However. the department
has no manner of doubt that Miles is off
Porto Rico, and as all of the details OF the
expedition are moving with precision, there
is every reason to believe the troops will
be all ashore by the end of the week.