Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-14
CEN. MILES LANDS.
The General Arrives at Santiago
and Confers with Sampson.
No WORD FROM ADMIRAL SAMPSON.
A Cable Message Resolved from COmmO-
dors schisy--Lsttrrs from spanish
Priaensrs-- Mules to BE Sent to
Cuba for Skaters Use.

WASHINGTON, July l9.-Gen. Nelson
A. Miles, commanding the United
States army, arrived off Santiago bay
shortly after noon yesterday. Upon
the arrival of the auxiliary cruiser
Yale, on which Gen. Miles was pas
senger, communication was opened
with Admiral Sampson and the two
commanders we're soon in conference.
During the early afternoon Gen. Miles
landed at Playa del Este and commu-
nicated with Gen. Shafter, command
ing the American forces before Santa
70, by telephone. What the nature
and result OF the two consultations
were is not disclosed at the war depart
ment, but Gen. Miles doubtless was
placed in possession Of all salient points
Of the situation from the view point Of
both the army and the navy. 1t is
understood to have been Gen. Miles
purpose to proceed Immediately to
Gen. Skaters headquarters at Siboney
and, after discussing with Shafter the
latter's plan Of campaign, to make a
personal examination Of the American
position 1t is not to be understood
that Gen. Miles Is to supersede Gen.
Shafter in command of the United
States forces before Santiago. Gen.
Shafter is operating there under writ
ten instructions from the secretary of
war, approved by the president, and, as
long as he is able physically to direct
the troops, he will retain his COM
mand. A prominent official of the
war department said late last night
that neither the administration nor
Gen. Miles had any desire to detract
an iota from the credit of Gen. Shafter
for the plans by which he hopes to
achieve victory at Santiago.
NO WORD FROM ADMIRAL SAMPSON.
WASHINGTON, July 12.-Secretary
Long had received no dispatches from
Admiral Sampson up to nine o'clock
last night. The secretary was not an
ticipating any important information
from the fleet. A cable message was
received at the navy department from
Commodore Schley, but Secretary
Long said it contained nothing Of pub.
lie Importance and would not be given
out. A very large package was
brought to the navy department yes
terday by Ensign Palmer, from the
St. Louis. 1t was supposed the pack.
age contained the report Of Admiral
Sampson of the recent naval engage.
ment off Santiago, but 1t was Q batch
Of letters written by the Spanish pris.
oners to be forwarded to their friends
in Spain. The letters will have to be
examined by the department to see
that they contain no information re.
garding the operations Of the war
which should not be communicated to
Spanish authorities
MULES TO BE SENT TO CUBA.
WASHINGTON, July 12.-Arrange-
ments are being made by the quarter
master generals office for the trans.
portation OF 500 mules from Charles.
ton, S. c., on the ships scheduled to
carry the troops of the First brigade
of Maj Gen. Wilson's division, which
is destined TO 60 to Santiago The
wagon transportation to be sent will
be provided from Chickamauga. The
question of land transportation for
the operations Of the army in San.
tiago is regarded as of the foremost
Importance, as the dispatches from the
front indicate that Gen. Shafter has
had considerable difficulty in trans
porting enough to keep the van of his
army supplied with any great amount
OF rations and other necessaries. 1t is
believed that the wagons and mules
which are TO be carried with Wilson's
brigade will answer all the immediate
purposes of Skaters army.