The Topeka state journal., 1898-07-19
MILES
HELD
BACK.
Did Not Get Away For Porto
Rico Yesterday
Owing to a BIunder in Trans
mission of Orders.
PROBABLY OFF NOW.
General Joseph X. Hudson With
His Brigade
Will Form a Part of the Expe-
dition From Tampa.
Did Not Get Away For Porto
Rico Yesterday
Owing to a Blunder in Trans
mission of Orders.
PROBABLY OFF NOW.
General Joseph X. Hudson With
His Brigade
Will Form a Part of the EXpe-
dition From Tampa.

Washington, July 19.-GeneraI Miles
did not start for Porto Rico as was ex-
pected, but either has already sailed
this morning or will get away during
the day. The delay was owing to a
failure to receive the necessary orders
through some mistake of some persons
through whose hands they Travelled.
General Miles teIegraphed here over
night and the orders were repeated to
him and he was told to start for Porto
Rico Immediately and without delay.
Plans For Porto Rico.
Washington, July 19.-After three
days consultation between the Presi-
dent, Secretary Alger and General
Brooke, during which there was fire.
quent communication with General
Miles at Siboney, the details of the
Porto Rican expedition were perfected
and the expedition itself was ordered
under way. General Miles with some
artillery and troops sails for Porto
Rico on the converted cruiser Yale, to
be followed quickly by an army of
$4,000 men.
There are some notable differences
in the plans for this expedition and
for the stately naval pageant that
sailed away from Tampa under General
Skaters command to attack Santiago.
First, there will be practically no naval
conveys, the navy department having
declared that they are not necessary,
that there is not a Spanish war ship
in the West Indies that dare thrust
It's bow out of port. In the second
place, the expedition does not start
from one point, but will be divided
among several ports, thus preventing
the tremendous congestion that was
encountered at Tampa in the effort to
start the big fleet. Lastly, there will
be no effort made to get the ships away
together, but the transports will be
allowed to find their own way to their
destination without concerted move
ments. General Miles leads the way.
He has been promised by the Presi-
dent that he should go to Porto Rico,
and the promise was redeemed when
the Yale headed from Siboney for Por-
to Rico, 500 miles distant. General
Brooke will be the senior officer in Cen
eral Niles command, and upon him
Will fall the responsibility for the exc
cutiOn of the details of his superior's s
plans.
Reach Porto Rico Wednesday.
It is estimated that General Miles
should arrive by Wednesday night at
the point selected for the landing, and
that he will hoist the American flag
at once over Porto Rican soil The
point chosen for his landing is kept
secret as the general will land before
the full body of the expedition is at
hand, and it is consequently not de-
sirable that the enemy should be able
to assemble a superior force to meet
him.
The distance from Charleston, where
the first body of troops for General
Miles expedition was to start, is more
than double the distance from Santiago
to Porto Rico, so that the transports
which sail from the former city can
scarcely reach General Miles before
the early part of next week. These
Charleston troops are the First bri-
gade of the First division of the First
army corps, and are commanded by
Brigadier General George H. Ernest
The brigade comprises the Second Wis
consin, Third Wisconsin and Sixteenth
Pennsylvania regiments
The purpose Of Secretary AIger is to
make the Porto Rican camDa ian a short
one An overwhelming force will be
thrown upon the island. and it is posi-
ble that a blOOdless victory will he
achieved when the Spanish become con-
vinced that they have no reasona Bile
chance to resist successfully. The ex-
peditiOn is to comprise &c. 900 men at the
start. and it will be swelled soon to 40
OOO men, and If necessary to 10000 men
the equipment Of the volunteer forces
having now progressed so well as to
warrant the statement that that num-
Der of men can be ready for service in
Porto Rico within 4 very short time.
Gen. J. K. Hudson Goes.
The entire body of troops at Tamna
will be taken, mum bering about 13 0OO
men. and including a lot of heavy and
light artillery under command of Cen
Rodgers. The expedition will be partic-
ularly strong in artillery, as some of
that at Santiago commanded by Gen.