The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-19

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will be known as the bureau Of trans
portation and will be directed by Col
onel Hecker, who has, in the snort
time he has been at the war depart
ment, proved his executive abilities,
His chief assistant will be Colonel
Bird, Of the Quartermasters depart
7nent, which was formerly charged
with all matters relating to transpor-
tation.
THE PORTO RICAN EXPEDITION.
The appearance of General Brooke
at the war department today gave
token Of the purpose of the admins
tration to begin Immediately prepara-
tions for the dispatch Of a military ex-
pedition against Porto Rico. The gen.
eral made what is, on the whole, sat
isfactOry report as to the sanitary con-
ditions existing at Camp Thomas and
showed that the troops were in con-
dition now to leave for Porto Rico II
called upon. 1t is understood that
two weeks time will be required to as
semble the transports, get the troops
and supplies aboard at one of the most
available seaports, which in this case
is likely to be Newport News, owing
to the successful outcome of the last
expedition from that port, and sail
away for Porto Rico.
TO STRENGTHEN THE BLOCKADE
Luckily for the navy Santiago has
capitulated just on the eve of the hur-
ricane season in the West Indies. The
big battleships are able to go through
this weather with discomfort, but the
smaller blockade boats will find the
task Of continuing the blocade fraught
with positive danger. 1t is, however,
/, the intention at any cost to tighten
the lines of blockade, particularly at
those ports connected with Havana by
rail. The surrender of the eastern end
of the island to the United States will
afford some ports Of refuge for our ma
val vessels in case Of absolute need.
TO PAROL ADMIRAL CERVERA.
Secretary Long has decided that Ad-
miral Cervera may secure parole II
certain details can be arranged and
he wishes to do so. The admiral is
expected with his fellow officers and
prisoners at Annapolis tonight.
AMMUNITION FOR WATSON'S
FLEET.
Commander BrOWnsOn, of the auXil-
iary cruiser Yankee, was in conference
with Secretary Long today arranging
for the trip of this ship with the large
cargo of ammunition for Commodore
Watsons squadron in it's attack on
the coast of Spain. The Yankee is at
Norfolk and will sail tomorrow for
Santiago. She will reach there about
munition will be placed aboard the
battleships and cruisers. This trans
ference of powder and shells is a deli
cate operation, requiring time, and it
is probable that the week will be we'll
along before this and the recoaling of
the Yankee will permit the squadron
to actually get under way for Spain.
Owing to the important mission of
Commodore Watson's squadron and it's
possibility of long absence from an
American port, every magazine on the
! ships will be full when the ships sail.
! Admiral Sampson recently made reQui-
| SitiOn for the ammunition supplies, as
| these had run low as a result of the
| engagement with Cervera's squadron
and the frequent shelling of Santiago.
One load already has been taken down
on a supply ship and the Yankee now
! fills up the full quota. Each battle
| ship will have about 200 tons of pow
| der, with fifty or seventy of the
| largest-12-inch or 13-inch-shells,
| according to the size of the big guns; ;
| seventy to eighty S-inch shells, 200 to
| 800 of the shells for 6-pounders and
| other medium sized guns, and 500 to
j 800 rounds for the small rapid-fire
I guns. The cruisers carry approximate
| ly the same allowance, without the
shells for the II and 13-inch guns.
Aside from this equipment Of shells,
| the squadron is we'll provided with SOL
| id armOr piecring steel shot. There
| has been no call for a renewal Of the
| supply of the armor piercing shot, as
| Admiral SIMPSONS fleet seems to have
used very few of them thus far, con-
| fning their work to the big explosive
| shells. The latter, although not made
| for armOr piercing are tested by the
navy department to pass through four
| inches of solid steel, not exploding un-
! til through the steel. They have done
hot 4 ,s,-ol
| has reserved almost his entire stock
| of armOr piercers.
| The navy department will not set a
| time for the departure of Commodore
| WatsOn's squadron, but with the de-
| livery of the Yankees supply of am
| munition very few days will be lost
| before this formidable squadron will be
| headed for Spain.
| TERMS OF SURRENDER.
The war department today issued
| the following bulletin:
playa, July Is, 1898.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
| THE conditions of capituIation in
| clude all forces and war material in
| described territory The United States
| agrees with as little delay as possible
to transport all Spanish troops in this
| district to the kingdom of Spain, the
| troops, as far as possible, to embark
| near the garrison they now occupy.
| Officers are to retain their side arms
! and officers and men to retain their
| personal property. The Spanish COM
| mander is authorized to take the mill
! tary archives belonging to the surren-
dered district. All Spanish forces
| known as volunteers, moirilizadves and
guerillas who wish to remain in Cuba
| may do so under parole during the
| present war, giving up their arms. The
! Spanish forces march out Of Santiago
/, with honors of war, depositing their
| arms at point mutually agreed upon
to await disposition of the United
states government, it being understood
the United States commissioners will
recommend that the Spanish soldiers
return to Spain with the arms they so
bravely defended. This leaves the
question OF return of arms entirely in
the hands Of the government. I invite
attention to the fact that several thou
sand surrendered. said by Cen
eral Toral to be about 12,e00, against
whom a shot has not been fired The