The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-21
ON D PORTO RICO.
Gen. Miles Starts for
the Spanish Island
From SibOney.
HAS TROOPS WITH HIM.
Thirty Thousand More to
Be Hurried to Him.
Within Thirty Days.
WATS0N'S MISSION TO SPAIN.

WASHINGTON, July tS.-President
Mckinley practically gave up TODAY
all present hope of peace with Spain.
and personally directed that the
Porto Rico expedition and that of
Commodore Watson should be dis
patched at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Commodore Watsons fleet will this
week take on board the ammunition
and other necessary supplies which
the Yankee, just off from New York,
Is to get to them by Wednesday, at a
secret point of rendezvous. while Gen
eral Miles and Admiral Sampson are
to begin the Porto Rico campaign
within ten days or two weeks.
General Miles. who is to be the
commander-in-chief of the land forces
at Porto Rico, with General Brooke
as his chief subordinate, was to leave
on the Yale tonight from Santiago
Tor New York city. and not Porto
Rico as was reported this afternoon.
At New York the Yale is to get coal
ana supplies and prepare to take some
of the troops to Porto Rico.
General Miles is then expected in
Washington at the end of the week,
so that the President and Secretary
Alger may confer with him personally
about the plan of campaign and the
policy to be pursued in the island of
Porto Rico after it comes into our
possession.
In the meantime, General Brooke,
who made his farewell visits to the
President and Secretary Alger this
afternoon, Is TO organize the troops
that are to be sent from the United
States. These will not have to be so
numerous as was expected, now that
General Miles reports that a large
part OF the army at Santiago has not
been infected with yellow fever, and
Will be utilized in the Porto Rico ex-
pedition.
But the War Department is moved
to limit the number of troops to be
taken from Santiago rather closely
beyond the artillery and Roosevelt's
Rough Riders.
In order to have an overwhelming
force, in view of the conflicting re-
ports about the number of Spanish
regulars in Porto Rico-varying from
1000 to 15,000-for the Spanish yolun-
teers are not seriously considered. and
to allow for all the contingencies sug-
gested by the Santiago campaign, the
Administration may send $4,000
troops in all TO Porto Rico.
President Mckinley said to-day that
he did not propose to have a repeti-
tion in this lease of the annoyinQ de-
lays that held back the Santiago
expedition at Tampa, and that he
mad no reason to expect it, since the
men and the munitions, equipments
and supplies were now so nearly
ready.
Between 10000 and $4,000 of the
troops for Porto Rico are reported as
already on transports with their guns
and supplies.
All the regulars at Tampa, 6,200 in
number. including II batteries of
heavy and light artillery were repor-
ted as EN- barked on transports to-day
while part of General Brooks CORDS.
numbering 5000 or 1000 men, is repor-
ted as on transports at Charleston,
and four batteries of artillery besides
other troops sent to Santiago, but
never landed, are still on the trans
ports there.
The embarkation of the troops at
Tampa and Charleston seems prema-
ture, since it is not proposed to send
the army to Porto Rico in detach-
ments, according to the authorities
here, as was done at Santiago, but to
send 1t all at once and in conjugation
with Admiral SIMPSONS squadron.
General Brooke can certainly not get
the rest of his army in this country
embarked before the end of the week.
The part which the navy is to take
in the assault against Porto Rico has
been fully matured. The several
transport fleets will have with them
one or two auxiliary craft, carving
strong secondary batteries of six or
eight siX-pounders. Secretary Long
said this afternoon that no time had
been fixed for the departure of Admi-
raj SIMPSONS fleet for San Juan. As
to the naval plans, he would only saw
that they would cooperate in
every way with the movements of the
army.
Secretary Long said to-day that no
apprehension whatever existed over
the Spanish threat that the Camara
squadron would be divided. part of
the ships coming to this side to attack
American seaport cities.
1t is believed by the Administration
that after Porto Rico is taken and the
Spanish coast is attacked by Commo-
dore watson, Spain's pride NAV
become sufficiently humbled to accept
the inevitable without waiting for
the capture of Havana. postponed
until the close of the rainy season.
Anew Justice of the Peace.