Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-07-22
NOW OFF FOR PUERTO RICO

NOW OFF FOR PUERTO RICO.
ARTILLERY WENT ON YALE
VIII Send Enough Men to Make the
Struggle shOrt-The Forces VIII
He Chiefly New Men-lmmunes
VIII Garrison Santiago.
Washington, July l8.-The Puerto Ri
can expedition has started on its mission
to capture that island.
General Miles, leading the expedition,
left Siboney, Cuba, today on the Yale
with four batteries of artillery and a few
seasoned troops. Two brigades, now at
Charleston, are embarking today on
transports to take them to Puerto Rico.
All the force at Tampa, 1900 strong, EN-
bracing the artillery, will be put on board
as rapidly Us transports can be gotten
there.
General Brooke will take the first and
second divisions of his corps from Chick
amauga to Puerto Rico. General Brooke
leaves here this afternoon for Chicka-
manga to get his troops started. 1t is ex-
pected that the whole expedition will be
under way Within the next four days.
General Brooke had another conference
with Secretary Alger with reference to
the preparations for the expedition. The
general reports his army now ready and
it is believed they can be embarked at
once.
While the positive selection has not
been made it is understood that Newport
News will be the port of departure Of the
larger part of the expedition.
The army Of occupation is expected to
consist of about $1,000 men and it has
been decided to take no chances of repeat
ing the mistake made in Skaters case,
of landing with an insufficient force and
then being obliged to lie idle at a critical
moment awaiting reinforcements. The
employment of an overwhelming force is
also expected to save bloodshed
Little Resistance Expected.
Very little resistance is expected to the
invasion of Puerto Rico. The war Office
has full information as to the condition
and forces of the SMniards in San Juan,
and believes they will not long be able to
resist the American attack.
Under the fire of Admiral Sampson
guns the army will affect a landing some
where in the vicinity of San Juan. While
the army attacks from the rear, the navy
will shell San Juan from the ocean. I'm
der the combined fire it is not expected
that the town will hold out long. Using
San Juan as base, the army will com.
mence the invasion of Puerto Rico.
Here our troops will only have the
Spanmrds to contend with, and not the
yellow fever. Investigation with respect
to the climatic conditions ut San Juan
has convinced the officials that there
would be practically no danger to oul
troops there from yellow fever, which an
nually prevails in nearly all parts Of
Cuba.
| The city Of San Juan, which is bull
on high ground, is said to be exceptional
ly clean for Spanish town. The water i
said to be good, and, all things consider
ed, it is not believed that the present ar
rangement for the invasion of the islant
will be interfered with.
Fresh Troops to He Sent.
The army for the invasion of Puert,
fresh troops from the United States Thi
means radical change Of policy on tn
part of the army, for it was expectet
that the movement against SPANS small
err possessions in the West Indies woul,
be made by regiments now engaged in tn
Santiago campaign.
The government relied on the expecte,
seasoned character of the Santiago troops
and it could not be foreseen that tn
health of the men would become so i'm
paired in the short campaign in south
eastern Cuba as to render them unfit 70
duty in Puerto Rico. 1t is the present in
tention of the war department to sem
one army corps from the Florida coas
to participate in the Puerto Rcan cam
paign and to maintain the Fifth corps un
der General Shafter in Santiago PROVING
for the present.
At least two regiments of immunes wi
be sent to garrison the city of Santiago
The president and secretary of war ar
disinclined to use more men than abs
lutely necessary from Santiago in tn
Puerto Rico campaign, on account Of tn
danger of spreading yellow fever.
Wilson to Head First Division.
Major General j. II. Wilson has alread
been instructed to prepare for the Puert
Rico expedition at once. He is now d
I, Charleston, S. c., and he will go At tn
+, head OF the first division Of the Fir
army corps, with the first troops starte
for Puerto Rico.
8 On Independence Day, the Sons Of tn
< American Revolution presented Presiden