The record-union., 1898-07-20
United States Must Meet the Re-
sponsibilities She Has Assumed.
Expedition to Porto Rico Will Be Essen
TALLY an Army Movement, Which
the Navy Will
Assist.

WASHINGTON, July 19.-Because of
q failure on the part of General Miles
to receive the orders of the President
prepared yesterday, to take command
of the military expedition against Porto
Rico, that officer did not depart, as was
expected, from Siboney. The mistake
was corrected this morning, and as
result of some short telegraphic corre-
spondence that followed during the day,
it was gathered at the department that
the Yale would start tonight.
Contrary to the first intention, and
probably without General Miles seek
ing, the Yale is to be conveyed by
naval vessel that Admiral Sampson has
been instructed to select from among
the vessels of his fleet. This may re-
suit in delaying General Miles pro-
gram somewhat, as none of the vessels
with Sampson are able to keep pace with
the Yale Nevertheless, there is no
doubt that the General will reach Porto
Rico before the detachment of troops
from Charleston.
War Department officials feel that
they are fully justified in their decision
to retain practically all of Skaters
army at Santiago, by the press reports
that reached them to-day, indicating
the growth of serious friction between
the American forces and the Cuban
troops, growing out of the latter's ex-
Clusion from Santiago by General Shaf-
fol hat q
garrison originally proposed. two i'm
mune regiments, would have been quite
insufficient to meet an outside Spanish
force that might come from Holguin
or ManZanillo and also to restrain the
rapacity of the Cubans. 1t is realized
that the present situation is full of diff
ficulty, and the future is dark. owing
to the disposition evidenced by the Gu
bans to ignore or refuse to be bound
by the amenities of modern warfare.
This first symptom of friction has sug
gested to the officials innumerable diff
culties that Will arise in the future. OF
course it would seem to be only polite
now to avoid an open rupture with the
Cubans. provided that they can be kept
in leash and not involve the United
States in the disgrace that would follow
the sacking of helpless communities;
but it begins to appear that Tor some
time to come and even after the con-
Quest of Cuba is complete, the United
States must maintain there a military
Government, in order TO meet the re-
sponsibilities which il has assumed to
the civilized world.
The personnel of the Porto Rican ex-
pedition had been left in a large meas
ure in the hands of General Brooke; IL
is not possible yet to give an accurate
roster of the organizations that will en-
ter into 1t.
The President announced privately
to-day that while no date of departure
of the troops to be sent from Chicka-
rnauga to Porto Rico had been fixed,
he expected they would leave about one
week from Tomorrow He is awaiting
q detailed report from General Brooke,
recommending what troops and sup
plies should be sent from Chickamauga.
The present plan is stated 10 be 10
embark them at Newport News or Nor
fol-, and those at Tampa either there
or at Key West
Admiral Sampson has received final
orders from the Navy Department as
n the part the American fleet is to
take in the campaign against Porto
Rico. They are based on the view that
tho campaign is essentially an army
movement. the duties of the navy being
4o lend every support and assistance to
the land operations. The Admiral Is
Instructed to aid the army movements
nv dispatching conveys when required
and bv covering the landing Of troops
a there is no Spanish fleet in San Juan
barbor or other Porto T.scan ports, the
navy has limited field OF operation.
THE reduction of the harbor fortl1ca-
tions will be the main work, but this
and all other operations of the fleet VIII
be supplementary to the main opera
tions conducted by the army. Ihe
strategists. military and naval, are
agreed in the view that the taxing OF
Porto Rico is primarily military un
dertaking. and Admiral Simpsons ORD
ers are on these lines.
The Navy Department is rapidly NOV
ing the large fleet of auxiliary craft
made up Of merchant ships, large
ocean going yachts. tugs, etc, from At
lantic Coast points TO Cuban waters.
where they will be placed on blockade
duty, thus releasing the larger ships
for more active duty at Porto Rico and
the coast of Spain Three OF these
smaller craft were sent south to-day.
and most of them will be on the way
within q week, stopping only long