The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-07-22
Gen. Miles Will Head An Army Of
Twenty-Five Thousand Men who
VIII Proceed Mt once to Capture
the Island of Puerto Rico-At San
Juan the Navy Will BE Of Greater
Assistance Than It was Mt sam
tiago-Plenty Of Transport. Are
Available for the Expedition
New Men Entirely Will Comprise
the Puerto Rico Expeditions.

Washington, July 16.-The first chap
ter in the land campaign of the Unit
ed States against Spain closed yester-
day when the Spanish colors gave
place over Santiago to the American
flag. Next will follow the transporta-
ton of the Spanish troops back to
their native land and the capture of
the island of Puerto Rico unless peace
soon intervenes. The siege of Santi-
ago had lasted two weeks and was re-
markable in many respects, and in
none more than the heavy percentage
of loss through death, wounds or sick
ness of the soldiers and sailors en-
gagged on both sides. Looking back
over the record of those two weeks it
is seen that a great ironclad squadron
has been destroyed. that nearly a
thousand Spanish sailors have been
drowned or killed by shell anu flame.
and that an untold number of Spanish
soldiers have died in the trenches of
Santiago. On the other hand about
$50 American soldiers have been killed
and. in round numbers, 1000 more
have been sent to hospitals from
wounds, fevers and other ailments.
Our fleet had a remarkable
Exemption From Disaster
SIN the many engagements it has had
with the forts Mt the entrance of the
harbor and with the Spanish squadron.
Next is Puerto Rico," said Secretary
Alser after receiving news Of Santi-
ago's formal surrender, land then, if
need be, Havana" The secretary said
that the Puerto Rican expedition
would go forward Immediately. 1t
will comprise new men entirely. The
warriors in the trenches before Santi-
ago have distinguished themselves and
it is not deemed prudent to bring them
in unnecessary contact With new trops
in view of the danger OF spreading
contagion. The sick soldiers will be
nursed back to health and brought to
the United States as soon as they can
be safely removed. Immune regi-
lnents will be ordered to Santiago to
garrison the town. Two Of these regi-
ments arc already under orders to pro-
coed.
The Puerto Rican Expedition.
The Puerto Rican expedition will be
commanded by Gen. Miles, though
Gen. Brooke, now in command at
Camp Thomas, is expected to be his
main dependence. The size of the ex-
petition will depend upon Gen. Miles
wishes. although it is believed that
25.OOO men will be sufficient for the
purpose. At San Juan the navy will
be of greater assistance than it was at
Santiago, owing to the possibility of
approaching the town more closely
without risSing contact with mines.
Gen. Brooke is now on his way to
Washington by direction of Secretary
Alger so that he will be in position
to make his views known to the de-
partment. The experience gained in
d!spatching Skaters expedition will.
it is expected, aid the officials in their
determination to make short work of
the Puerto Rican affair. There will be
plenty of transports available for the
expedition, as the government has de-
vised other means of removing them
on these transports. The territory sur
rendered to us by Gen. Toral makes
about 5000 square miles. The Span
ish soldiers to be sent to Spain are
estimated at 10000 men.