The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-19


days consultation between Secretary
Alger and General Brooke, during
which there was frequent communica-
tion with General Miles at Siboney, the
details of the Porto Rican expedition
were perfected and the expedition itself
gotten under way. General Miles, with
some artillery and troops. Is sailing to-
day for Porto Rico on the Yale. to be
followed quickly by an army of about
10000 men. There are some notable
differences in the plans for this expedi-
ton and for the stately naval pageant
that sailed away from Tampa under
General Skaters command to attack
Santiago. First, there win be practi-
eally no naval convoy. The navy de-
partment has declared that they are
unnecessary; that there is not Span
ish warship in the West Indies that
dare thrust It's bow out of port. In
the second place, the expedition does
not start from one point. but will be
divided among several ports. thus pre-
venting the tremendous congestion that
was encountered at Tampa in the ef-
fort to start the big fleet. Lastly. there
will be no effort made to get the ships
away together. but the transports will
be allowed to find their own way to
their destination with concerted move
ments. General Miles leads the way.
He has been promised by the president
that he should go to Porto Rico. and
the promise was redeemed when the
Yale headed to-day from Siboney for
Porto Rico, 500 miles distant.
General Brooke will be the senior
officer in General Miles command and
upon him will fall the responsibility
for the execution of the details of his
superior's plans. 1t is estimated that
General Miles should arrive by wednes-
day night at the point selected for the
landing, and that he will hoist the
American flag at once over Porto Rican
soil. The point chosen for his landing
is kept secret. as the general will land
before the full body of the expedition
is at hand and 1t is consequently not
desirable that the news should enable
a superior force to meet him.
The distance from Charleston. where
the first body of troops for General
Miles expedition was to start to-day,
is more than double the distance from
Santiago to Porto Rico. so that the
transports which sail from the former
city can scarcely reach General Miles
before the early part of next week.
These Charleston troops are 10 be the
1st brigade of the first division OF the
1st army corps and are commanded by
Brigadier General George II. Ernst.
sin. Sd Wisconsin and 18th Pennsylva-
MIA regiments.
The purpose OF Secretary Alger is to
make the Porto Rican campaign a
short one. An overwhelming force VIII
be thrown up on the island, and 1t is
possible that a bloodless victory will
be achieved when the Spanish become
convinced that they have no reason
able chance to resist successfully. Tne
expedition is TO comprise 10000 men OF
the start, and IL Will be swelled soon TO
a., 900 men and II necessary to 10000
men, the equipment OF the volunteer
forces having now progressed SO we'll
as To warrant the statement that that
number OF men can be ready for service
in Porto Rico within a very short
time. The entire body OF troops at
Tampa Will be taken, numbering abOu.
1900 men, and including a lot OF light
and heavy artillery under command uf
General Rodgers. The expedition Will
be particularly strong with artillery,
and some Of that at Santiago COM
manded by General Randolph Is TO 5e
drawn upon. The Tampa troops are
known as the 4th corps under Major
General COppinger, comprising the "a
division under Brigadier General Simon
Snyder, and made up Of the LIST brig
ade-Brigadier General Schwan, 1lth
and 18th L. s. infantry; I'd brigade
Brigadier General Carpenter. I'd y. Y.
and 5th Maryland; Sd brigade-Briga-
der General Hale. Sd Pennsylvania.
18th Indiana and 1st Ohio; third di-
vision. Brigadier General Kline conn
mandlng, lSt brigade-COl0nel c l.