The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-25
IN A wise.
No Escape For the Spanish
Army in Porto Rico
If General Miles Plans Are
Carried Out.
ATTACK ON ALL SIDES
Landings to Be Made at Three
Separate Points
On as Many Sides of the Is
SAMPSON ON THE SEA
VIII Bombard the FOrtificatiOns
of San Juan
While the Army Surrounds II
on Land.
SAMPSON ON THE SEA
Will Bombard the FOrtificatiOns
of San Juan
While the Army Surrounds 1t
on Land.


washington, July 25-It is calculated
that Gen. Miles arrived last night at
the point on the coast of Porto RICO Sc
Iected as a rendezvous for all the yes
sels of the expedition Whether or not
he win undertake to make landing
in advance of the arrival of the whole
expeditfon probably will depend entire
" UpoD conditions as he finds them.
should there be no Spanish force, or an
inconsfderabIe one, on the coast, the
troops will be be landed to relieve them
from the disastrous effects of being
confined closely on shipboard under
tropical sun. The general has with
him sufficient artillery to hold any po-
sition he may choose to occupy, sup
plemented as this artillery will be by
the guns of his naval convoy.
Meanwhile the department is making
every effort to hurry along the remain
der of the expedition. Some troops
are now on their way from Tampa and
Charleston and should reach Porto Ri
CO by the middle of the week. Naval
officials are assisting actively in get
ting the troops off and were engaged
today in sending the necessary orders
to the commanders of the naval aux
iliary vessels which have been placed
at the service of the war department.
In the course Of a day or two the
troops brought from Chickamauga by
General Brooke will sail from Hamp-
ton Roads, where they have been arriv-
ing and are ready for the transports.
There is a probability that General
Miles may be delayed for several days
in his landing operations for lack of
lighters, but several of these are now
on their way and others will be hur-
ried forward as rapidly as possible.
However, it may be as to his speedy
landing on Porto Rico soil, it will be
well along toward the end of the week
before the active land campaign can be
begun in Porto Rico.
Spain's Title Ends.
Chicago, July 25.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Spain's exclusive right and title to
Porto Rico viii cease the moment Gen
eral Miles soldiers set foot on Porto
Rican soil
In rushing off the preliminary expe-
dition from Santiago to Porto Rico it
was President McKinley's object to
fOrestau the Spanish government in
any attempt to dispose of the island to
some European power under the cover
of peace negotiations. Hence General
Miles mission has a twOfOld object of
capturing Porto Rico and freeing it's
citizens from the yoke of Spain fOrev-
er Indeed, this is the most important
part of the attack upon Porto Rico
and the possibility of peace proposals
from Spain necessitated quick work on
away from Cuba SPANS claim upon
the island Will be invalid when the
Spanish soldiers in Porto Rico are out
numbered by American troops
General Miles, upon landing at
Guanica, will Immediately proceed to
organize his army for the advance to-
wards Ponce, the second city of Porto
Rico, which will be the first Spanish
stronghold in the island to fall beneath
the onslaught of the Americans. Cen
eral Miles will rendezvous his troops
in the spacious warehouses at Yauco
capable of accommodating 6 600 troops
Whlch nave been prepared for the occu-
pancy Of the Americans by Porto Ri
cans under the leadership of General
44luVeras- Pending the arrival of Cen
eraI Brooke, General Miles will busy
olTnselr organizing pack trains.
Plan of Campaign.
Immediately upon the arrival Of
General Brooke's expedition General
Niles soldiers viii be moved 70 ~
eastward along the line of march -
make room for the most 80 - - -
walls, and when the force which ie Jas
tined for Guanica- which Is ~, a.
south coast, is reduced to rer.fact 80
nization, the advance upon P0Tco 3-i11
begin Ponce will perhaps be in nos
session Of General Miles and C[anoT31
1oHoOke DeIOre the troops under No iO,.
general Wilson and General CODninc5oY
effect landing at Fajardo. on the east
coast. 44oI IL
Ponce is the first objective poin+
however. in view of the fact that Miles;
force will be compelled to make a lang-
er march towards San Juan before
gaming the position on the Bayamon
which has been designated as the meet
ing place of the three expeditions The
Iharch from Barceloneta, on the north
and FajardO, on the east, will be ac-
COhplshed in much quicker order than
Lne advance through the interior from
1auco and hence if the troops at Tam
pa ana Chickamauga under COppinger
aH4 @ w llson delay for two weeks they
@ @Wln reach Porto Rico in time to form
ne ne Junction with Miles and Brooke on
SIiS Ssyafnon mountain. In their
ILlaTen ma IRON from Yauco it is possible Miles
S Snu brooke will be compelled to per
LorLn some extensive reconnoftering in
pursuit OF the Spanish garrisons Of
4taie olice ana. ana G.uayama, for. in view of
.I Il1s1r inIerlor1ty, it is believed by ex-
perts that the enemy viii not resist,