Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21
GEN. MILES HEADS THE ARMY TO AD-
VANCE ON THE ISLAND.
Hope to overawc the spaniarhs and Sc
cure n Bloodless yictory-3O,OOO AM
orleans Will start at Once for the
Island and the Number WILDE
Raised to 20, 200 If Needed.

ten undcr way. Gen. Miles with some ar
tillcry and troops sailed to-day for Porto
Rico on the converted cruiser Yale, to
he followed quiciily by an army of about
$4,000 men. There arc some notable diff
ferencos in the plans for this expedition
from the stately naval pageant that
sailed away from Tampa under Gen. SHAFT
ters command to attack Santiago
First, thurc will be practically no naval
the navy department has declHr-
ed that they are unnecessary, that there
is not a Spanish warshin in the West
Indies that dare thrust its bow out of
port.
In the second place the expedition docs
not start from ono point but will ne di-
Vidcd among several, thus preventing
the tremendous congestion that was en-
at Tampa in the effort to start
tho big feet,
Lastly. there will he no effort made to
got the ships away together but the tram
sports will he allowed to find their own
way to their destination without concert
cd movements Gen. Miles leads the way.
lie had been promised by the President
that he should go to Porto Rico, and the
promise was redeemed to-day. when the
Yale headed from Siboncy for Porto Rico.
500 miles distant.
Gen. Brooke will be senior officer in
Miles command and upon him will fall the
tails of his supcrior's plans.
1t Is estimated that Gen. Miles should
arrive Wednesday night M the point So
lectcd for the landing and will hoist the
American flag at once over Porto Rican
scil The point chosen for his landing IS
kept secret as the General will land before
the full body of the expedition Is at hand
and IT Is consequently not desirable that
the enemy should be able to assemble IA
superior force to meet him. The distance
from Charleston where the first body of
troops for Miles expedition was to start
to-day Is more than double the distance
from Santiago to Porto Rico, so that the
transports which sail from the former
city will scarcely reach Gen. Miles before
the carly part of next week. These Char
lesion troops are the first brigade of the
first division of the Erst army corps and
are commanded by Brighten. George w..
Ernst. The brigade comprises the second
Wisconsin, Third Wisconsin and 18th
Pennsylvania Regiments
The purpose OF Secretary Alger is to
make the Porto Rican campaign u short
ono. An Overwhelming force will h.
thrown upon the island and it is possible
that a bloodess victory will be achieved
when thc Spanish become convinced that
they have no reasonable chance to resist
successfully.
Tho expedition Is to comprise 5000 men
at the start and It will be soon snellrd 10
40 GN mon and if necessary to 70,W0 men
the equipment of the volunteer forces
having now progressed so we'll as to war
rant the statement that that number of
mon can be ready for service In Porto
Rico within n very short time. The entire
body Of troops at Tampa will be taken
about 1900 men and including
a lot of heavy and lirht artillery under
command of Gen. Rodgers. The oXpcdi-
. /
lcry as some of that at Santiago COM
by Gen. Randolph is to be drawn
upon.
'nc Tampa troops are known AS the
fourth corps under Major General CUppiu-
ger comprising the second division under
Diigad.er General simon snyder and msde
up a! the first brigade, Brigadier Gcnc~<l
ScNwan. 1lth and 18Th l.. $ infantry. scc-
ond brigade, BrigadiCr General Carpenter,
second Ncw York ana NTH Maryland; Sec
ond brigade, Brigadier General Lincoln,
GHlh New York, third Ohio and second
Georgia; the provisional brigade, col.
Nnycs NTH United States and drt1ch-
mouts of first, second and third sixth and
10th United States cavalry. ana eight
troops Of rough riders; artillery brigade,
Gen. Randolph, two lisht and ten heavy
batteries
II is possible thut none of the cavalry
will he called upon.
zen Hruoio VIII take with him from
ChiCllamauga Park most Of the first ana
second brigadcs of his army corps. the
first. These are in addition to Gen.
Itrnst's brigade at Charleston: Second
brigade, first division Gen. liaines, fourth
Ohio. third Illinois and fourth Pcnnsyl-
vania. third brigade, Col j. S. Culver.
first Kentucky third Kentucky. nth ILL.,
nols; second division, Col j. $. Poland,
commanding first brigade. Brigadicr GEN
tral &. 4. Poe, 3lst Michigan, first Geor-
Sla. lhOth Indiana: second brigade. Gen.
Mckee, sixth ohio. Eth Indiana. first
West virginia; third brigade, Brgadcr
General ROsser. second Ohio first Penn
sylvania, l4th Minnesota.
The part which the navy is to take in
the assault against Porto Rico has been
fully maturcd. The several TRANSPORT
fleets Will have with them one or two
auxiliary craft carrying strong scccndat y
batteries Of siA or eight six Founders.
Secretary Long said this afternoon that
II" time had been fixed for tho departure
of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet for san Juan.
As to the naval plans he would only say
tnat they would cooperate in every way
with the movements Of tn" army The re-
ports that three monitors were on their
way from Key West to San Juan was
characterized by the secretary as unau-
thorlHed. II Is the general understand.
'''-i Hph'Nfl, lldl lnf navy VIII Il ~
mainly on armG:ca ships for the bonn
bardment of San Juan, as the big battle
shlps ana monitors afford the best best
means OF offensive warfare, while their
armor belts protect them from such fire
as the san Juan batteries can bring &c
bear. The fortihcat tons there are much
like those Of Santiago, with a Moro Cas-.
tie at the entrance of the harbOr and n
number Of lesser Qualifications leading ur
To The CITY. TlGGp hpyaNnr
with less awe since an examination of tho
MORO batteries ut Santiago has shown
tnom to be ANTICIPATED ana capable of lit.
tie effective resistance
The movement of the ships from Santa.
go to their new fields of action will begIr
az once and it IL probable that some OF
Admiral SIMPSONS will be detached TODAY
and proceed with Gen, Miles first expn
dltlon towards Porto Rico. They will he
ncded to cover the debnrkatlon of thc
troops ON the Porto Rican territory. TIL,
others VIII follow as soon as the fun arm,
expedition Is ready to make a LANDING
when the attack will begin simultaneous
~ on land and sea.
Secretary Long said to-day that no an
prehension whatever existed over Tho
Spanish threat that the Camara suundror
would be divided, part of the ships comm.
to this side to attack American seapori
cities. This is looked upon as sheer blur
and II will not have the effect of changing
any or the navy plans or of withdrawing
any ships for service on the Atlantic
coast. Should the Spanish threat be made
good ships more than match for any o
Camara's vessels would be available a
any Atlantic port on short notice.
No time has been set for the departur,
HAVE YOU A SON, BROTHER,
Husband or Lover in the Army or Navy
Mail him to-day 25c package of Aliens