Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-20
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FROM WASHINGTON.
,utrespondence Of the Alexandria GsSette.

WASHINGTON, July 20.
While the preparations for the Porto
RICO expedition are progressing in
satisfactory way, it is said at noon
to-day that hostilities at Porto Rico are
not likely TO begin for at least week.
1t is generally understood that the
200 troops which were loaded on
transports at Tampa have started, but
no official of the War Department will
state positively that they of. The br.r
gsde commanded by General Ernst
numbering $500 men should leave
Charleston tonight or tomorrow. The
Chickamauga troops should start for
Newport News tonight with General
Haines' brigade the frat TO leave New.
port News and it is the programme to
have the first installment of troops start
from there Sunday or Monday. 1t
seems to be the plan Of the department
to have the troopships gather at one Of
the harbors of Porto Rico and there re-
ceiye instructions. General Miles, &C
cording to the latest advices, was still
at Guantanamo this morning. A dis
patch received from him last night
stated that he was waiting to
have conference with Admiral
Sampson regarding the details OF the
San Juan campaign. 1t is stated posi-
lively at the War Department that
General Miles will sail to-day on the
Yale without fail and that he is going
to Porto Rico and will be escorted by
the Columbia and perhaps several other
warships. 1t is also said at the depart
ment that TOO much Importance is at.
tached to news of the departure
from Guantanamo of General Miles, as
he has plenty of time to reach Porto
Rico before the arrival of the other
forces and hestilities will not begin be-
fore the entire forces arrive. The army
to subdue Porto Rico will sail from sew
eral different ports in this country and
will probably land at several points on
the island. This will avert the delay
and crush such as occurred at Tampa
and Baiquiri. Enough troops will be sent
to overwhelm the Spaniards and there
will be no call for re endorsements. The
steamer Gussie, which left Tampa at
noon yesterday had on board fully
equipped supply trains for Randolph's
brigade of artillery and for the
First Regiment of District of Columbia
volunteers.
The President to-day made the fol.
lowing appointments: To be Collectors
of Customs-District of st. Augustine,
Fla, Thomas B. George; District OF
Fernandina, Fla, John w. Howell;
District Of st. Marks, Fla, Samuel P.
Anthony; District of New Orleans, La,
Augustus T. Wimberly; District of
Pearl River, Miss, John 7. Walworth;
Louis j. Souser, to be Collector of In
ternal Revenue for District of Louisi-
ana; Charles w. Boothby, to be Su.
perintendent of Mint at New Orleans:
Charles Fontelieu, of Louisiana, to be
Marshal for the Eastern District of
Louisiana. The four Louisiana cases
have been hanging fire for many
months owing TO the factional differ
ences existing between the republican
leaders of the State.
1t was said at the War Department
this morning that positive information
had been received to the effect that
General Miles had not yet left Guants-
namo for Porto Rico, and the belief is
strengthened that he will not do so IN.
til the troops which left Tampa on
Monday night shall have reached a
point where the commanding general
can easily join them. This would
mean that General Miles will not leave
Gusntanamo for at least three or four
days.
Preparations are being made to en-
bark the fifth military expedition to
the Philippines within four or FIVE days.
Information from San Francisco has
haen recaived at the Ouortornoaotor