Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-13

Miles has declared expressly that he
does not assume the conduct Of
these operations. He is there simp-
ly in his capacity as commanding
general of the army to look over
the field and ascertain whether the
operations are going along as they
should. But with his appearance
comes very substantial assistance
for Gen. Shafter With him on the
Yale were more than 1000 men and
considerable artillery, while the
the Columbia, which formed part
of his expedition, is expected to
report her arrival at any moment
with the remainder of the troops.
AS Gen. Shafter has referred to the
thinness of his lines it is expected
these reinforcements will be very
gratefully received
The naval officers regard their
part in the operations at Santiago
as at an end practically and are
looking around for new worlds to
conquer. Their eyes are turned
to the east and they are rushing
preparations for the dispatch of
Commodore Watson's eastern
squadron. This is decidedly more
attractive cruise from naval point
of view than the demonstration
proposed against San Juan de
Porto Rico, which is understood to
be the next number on the pro-
gramme, but which the naval au-
thorities believe will not amount to
much because of the easy reduction
of the defenses. Every ship in
Watson's squadron has been sup
piled the very latest charts, not only
of the coasts of Spain and of the
Mediterranean, but of track Courses
that will take them clear to the Phil
ippines. In addition to this the
few officers assigned to the vessels
of this squadron but not yet aboard,
have received orders from the de-
partment to go to their ships at
once. Notice of the departure of
some of the vessels therefore may
be looked for at any moment.
Secretary Long has been in re-
ceipt of kilograms of a personal
nature from Commodore Schley,
and. it is believed, from Admiral
Sampson as well. 1t is supposed
they have been called forth by
the newspaper controversy over
the credit for the victory over the
Spanish squadron, q. controversy
which is most earnestly deprecated
by the officials Of the Navy De-
partment. Secretary Long &C.
clines 10 make public these cable
grams, though it is believed that
they tend TO demonstrate the ex-
istence of good relations between
the two officers and a disposition
on the part of both to be judged
strictly according to the canons of
naval law.
Admiral Sampson has cabled to
the department that he believes
the wrecking plant, which is now
on its way down to Santiago TO
endeavor to save some of the
Spanish ships, is sufficient for the
purpose, so far as the question of
mere capacity is concerned. The
naval officers are particularly de-
sirous that the Cristobal Colon
shall be saved and placed on the
American naval list under the An
glicized name of Christopher Co
lumbus.
The cabinet meeting to-day de-
yeloped nothing of special import
ance. The kilograms from General
Shafter were read and discussed,
but no new plan of campaign was
considered or important orders
given. Gen. Skaters report that
he had the city of Santiago COM
pletely invested was received with
much satisfaction as there had been
some apprehension that the Span
iards were contemplating a hight
evacuation. Secretary Alger, on
leaving the cabinet meefng. said
that although Gen. Sha\ Prs line
on the west was thin In aces he
had no doubt that 1t wa mcient-
" strong TO repel any lck the
enemy was capable q ing at