The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-22

port fleets will have with them one or
two auxiliary craft carrying strong
secondary batteries of 6 OF 8-pOunders.
Secretary Long this afternoon said
that no time had been fixed Tor the
departure of Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
for Sal Juan. AS to the navy's plans,
he would only say that they would
cooperate in every way with the
movements Of the army. The reports
that three monitors were on their way
from Key West to San Juan was char
acterized by h secretary as unau-
thorized. 1t is the general understand
ing, however, that the navy will rely
mainly on armored ships for the bonn
bardment of San Juan, as the big bat
tleships and monitors afford the best
means of offensive warfare, while their
armor belts protect them from such
fire as the San Juan batteries can
bring to bear. The Notifications there
are much like those at Santiago, with
a MORO castle at the entrance of the
harbor, and a number of lesser forth
rications leading up to the city. These,
however, are viewed with less awe,
since an examination of the MORO
batteries at Santiago has shown them
to be ~antiQuated and capable of little
effective resistance.
The movement of the ships from SAN
tiago to their new fields of action will
DeSIli dl OiCC, III IL 10 pICOGOlC Iildl
some Of Admiral SIMPSONS ships were
detached today and proceeded with
General Miles first expedition toward
Porto Rico. They will be needed to
cover the d~ebarkation of the troops
on Porto Rican soil. The others will
follow as soon as the full army expe-
dition is ready to make a landing,
when the attack will begin Simultane-
ously from land and sea.
ANyorrJED CD NyJCIT ID TIrST,
Secretary Long said today that no
apprehension whatever existed over
the Spanish threat that the Camara
squadron would be divided, a part of
the ships coming to his side to at
tack American seaport cities. This is
looked upon as a sheer bluff, and it will
not have the effect of changing any
of the navy's plans or withdrawing
any ships for the patrol of the Atlantic
coast. Should the threat be made good
ships more than a match for any of
Camara S vessels would be available at
any Atlantic port or short notice.
No time has been set for the depar-
ture Of Commodore WatsOn's squadron
for Spain, although this move, also is
drawing rapidly nea Secretary Long
said today that reported new lists of
the ships of the squadron were mac
curate, as the list had not been final
L. lIlduC up.
SKATERS ARMY TO REMAIN IN
CUBA.
1t has been decided that none of the
troops that participated in the actual
fighting before Santiago shall be en-
plOyed on the Porto Rico expedition.
There are two reasons for this: first,
the men nave suffered severely from
h~ardShips, the climate and from fevers
and are entitled to a rest; second, it is
deemed to be a very bad practice to
allow the soldiers who have been ex-
posed to yellow fever to be brought in
contact with those fresh from the
United States. There is also still an
other reason, g. purely military me.
Ten thousand Spanish troops are at
HOnguin, ManzanillO and other points
within striking distance of Santiago,
and might not lose an opportunity to
recover the ground lost at Santiago if
the place were left insufficiently pro-
tected. Therefore, Skaters entire ar
my is to be kept on guard on the high
hills in the rear Of the town until the
men have stamped out the yellow fe-
yer. Then they will take a turn at
the Spaniards if they ear be found and
it may be that Skaters march will
end at Havana. He will work as far
from his base as possible after his ar
my is thoroughly refreshed, hunting
the enemy wherever they are liable to
be found.