Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-19

Washington, July 1S.-After
three days consultation between
the President, Secretary Alger and
Gen. Brooke, during which there
was frequent communication with
Gen. Miles, at Siboney, the details
of the Porto Rican expedition were
perfected and the expedition itself
was gotten under way, Gen. Miles
with some artillery and troops sail
ing to-day for Porto Rico on the
converted cruiser Yale, to be FOL
lowed quickly by an army of about
10000 men.
There are some notable differen-
ces in the plans for this expedition
and for the stately naval pageant
that sailed away from Tampa I'M
der Gen. Skaters command to at
tack Santiago.
First. there will be practically no
naval conveys; the Navy Depart
ment has declared that they are un-
necessary; that there is not a Span
ish warship in the West Indies that
dare thrust its bow out of port.
In the second place, the expedl-
ton does not start from one point,
but will be divided among several
ports, thus preventing the tfemen-
dous congestion that was encoun-
tered at Tampa in the effort 10 start
the big fleet.
Lastly, there will be no effort
oh tOppfh-
er. but the transports will be al
lowed to find their own way 10
their destination without concerted
moves.
Gen. Miles leads the way. he
has been promised by the Presi-
dent that he should go to Porto
Rico, and the promise was re-
deemed when the Yale headed to-
day from Siboney for Porto Rico'
500 miles distant.
Gen. Brooke will be the senior
officer in Miles's command. ana
upon him will fall the responsible
ity for the execution of the detail
of his superior's plans.
II is estimated that Gen. Miles
should arrive by Wednesday night
AT the point selected for the land
ing. and will hoist the American
flag at once over Porto R1can
soil. The point chosen for his
landing is kept secret, as the gen
eral will land before the full body
of the expedition is at hand, and
II Is consequently not desirable
that the enemy should be able 10
assemble a superior force to meet
him.
The distance from Charleston.
where the first body of troops Tor
Miless expedition was to start to-
dav is more than double the dis
lance from Santiago TO Porto
Rico. so that the transports which
sail from the former city can
scarcely reach Gen. Miles before
the early part of next week.
These Charleston troops are the
First bridage of the First division
of the First army corps, and are
commanded by Brig. Gen. George
n Ernst. The brigade comprises
the Second Wisconsin. Third Wis
.onsin and Sixteenth Pennsylvania
regiments.
The purpose of Secretary Alger
is to make the Porto Rican cam
paign a short one. An overwhelm-
ing force will be thrown upon the
island, and it is possible that
bloodless victory will be achleved
when the Spaniards become con-
WINGED that they have no reason
able chance to resist successfully.
The expedition is to comprise
10000 men at the start, and 1t Will
be swelled soon to 10000 men, and
if necessary to 10000 men. the
equipment of the volunteer forces
having now progressed so we'll as
to warrant the statement that that
number of men can be- ready for
service in Porto Rico within very
short time
The entire body of. troops at
Tampa will be taken, numbering
$4,000 men and including a lot of
heavy and light artillery, under
command of Gen. Rodgers. The
expedition will be particularly
strong with artillery. as some of
that at Santiago commanded by
Gen. Randolph Is to be drawn
upon.
The Tampa troops are known as
the Fourth corps, under Major
General Coppinger. comprising the
Second division under Brig. Gen.
Simon Snyder, and up of the
First brigade, Brig. Gen. Hale,
Third Pennsylvania, 18TH Indiana