Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1898 — CAN’T GET STARTED [ARTICLE]

CAN’T GET STARTED

Departure of Gen. Miles for Puerto Rico Again Deferred. LACK OF CONVOYS CAUSES THE DELAY It I* Said, Alao, That the Preaident (Jrsea That the Start Be Not Made Until After the Moat Complete Preparation. Washington, July 21. —The war and navy departments are now making all the arrangements for the dispatch of the Puerto Rican expedition and Watson's eastern squadron. There has occurred one of those natural pauses in the progress of the campaign incident to the completion of one set of operations and the initiation of another. There being no possibility of the receipt of news of a great battle or of a surrender there was less excitement and less eeyidence of nervous strain than for weeks past. Mlle* Ha* Not Started. Gen. Miles' expected departure was again deferred. The explanation given was that there was difficulty experienced at Santiago in securing the naval convoy for the expedition. It is known, however, in addition, that the president himself has restrained Gen. Miles to the extent of adjuring him in earnest terms not to commit the folly of starting for Puerto Rico without the most complete preparation. The government has profited by the lessons taught by the Santiago expedition. Aside from the actual loss of life that might be expected to result from a badly calculated start, it is realized that our relations with some of the European powers would be in a small measure, at least, impaired by the adverse moral effect created by anything approaching a defeat for the American arms at this stage of the war. Therefore, it is certain that so far as the deDartment can Drevent Gen. Miles’ sol-

diers will not run short of food, nor of tents to protect them from the tropical rains, nor of the means of transportation. that were so deficient at the beginning of the Santiago movement. Dewey In No Danner. According to the calculations at the navy department. Admiral Dewey’s fleet at Cavite should now be reenforced by the coast defense vessel Monterey which, with her tender and collier, the Brutus, has now been about 20 days out from Honolulu. \\ it'h the addition of this fine and powerful monitor Dewey will be amply able to take care of himself so long as the naval forces in the Philippines are maintaining the relative proportion they now occupy. However, the disclosure by the state department of the lack of foundation for the sensational stories of strained relations with Germany has largely abated the anxiety entertained at the navy department as to Dewey’s position at Manila. Accepts Shafter's Programme. The open statement from the Cuban legation here, made to the war department officials, that they were prepared to accept as proper the programme laid down by Gen. Shafter for the government of affairs at Santiago, Is but a prelude, it is hoped, to instructions from that body to the Cuban gener.als in the field, Garcia, Gomez and others, that will tend to prevent a repetition of the conduct that has jeopardized the relations between the American and Cuban soldiers. Senor Quetada and other representatives of the Cuban junta have been in consultation with officials of the war depa rtanent. The United States officials were assured that there was no dissatisfaction with the management of affairs in Cuba so far ns the Cuban representatives were concerned, and that if Gen. Garcia and other Cubans operating about Santiago were not in harmony with the United States authorities there it arose from a misunderstanding of the president's proclamation and of the intentions of the United gtates governnyent [n thepremises. The CuTians a? Santiago, it was stated, probably thought that the action of Gen. Shafter meant the continuation of Spanish rule and Spanish authority. It being well ifnderstood here that such wai not the case It was the belief of the Cuban representatives that when the matter was made plain to the Cuban officers in the field they would acquiesce in the action of the United States and render the United States army hearty support. Desire No Itupture. The Cubans assured the war officials that nothing was further from their desires than a rupture with the United States forces and authority. It also became known that the Junta had sent dispatches to Gen. Garda and other Cuban officers that their course at Santiago was not approved by the junta, and if persisted in would result in serious injury to Mie Cubans. It is believed that the representations made will bring about a better understanding between the Cuban officers and the Arnericahs. The opinion was expressed at the war denartment that

the t-etfer class of Cubans in the island will have no sympathy with those who would bring about trouble, but that it is the lower and vicious classes who desire to loot and plunder the,city. (ouiuinnlcation Cat Off. Two days ago Gen. A. VV. Greeley, chief signal officer, cabled instructions to his officers in Santiago to seal upanti place ti guard over the three cable lines connecting Santiago with Cienfuegos, whence, by a land line, communication is established with Havana. Wednesday Gen. Greeley was informed that bis orders had been carried into effect. The closing of the Cienfuegos cables absolutely isolates Havana and Gen. Blanco from Madrid. Blanco’s only means of communicating with the Madrid government now is by the Key W-st cable, which is tinder the strictcensorship by the government ol the United States. As a result cf the sealing o f the Santiago-Cienfuego* . ables. several cipher dispatches passi: g between Gen. Blanco and the Spanish government drifted into this country Wednesday. It is scarcely neces- ■ ary to say that thtjy did not reach their d >st in at ion. The final cutting off >f communication between Blanco and l:is home government is a source of rent gratification to the administration and 's another laurel for Gen. Ireeley's active vigilance. SpnuiMli Company Gets It. Washington, July 21. —Arrangements practically were concluded by the government Wednesday night for the transportation of the Spanish prisoners at Santiago from Cuba to Spain. The contract was awarded to the Spanish Transatlantique company, represented by J. M. Ceballos & Co., of New 5 ork. The company agrees to jarry the prisoners from Cuban ports to Spain at the rate of S2O for each enlisted man and $55 for each commissioned officer, subsistence to be furnished by the company on the army ration basis, as provided for in the government's advertisement forbids. The award provides also that the company shall have five ships at Santiago in nine days from to-day, two in 17 days from to-day aryl enough?to complete the transportation of the prisoners in 21 days from to-day. On the basis of 24,000 enlisted men and 1,000 officers, it will cost the government $5.15.000 to transport the prisoners. The ships will fly the colors of Spain, and will be manned, probably entirely by Spanish e-revvs. It was remarked as one of the curious developments of the war that the United States- government should enter into a friendly contract with a company, many of whose vessels are auxiliaries to the Spanish navy and some of which have been captured or destroyed by the navy of the United States. Sailed from Charleston. Charleston, S. C„ July 21. —With j bands playing and 30,000 people cheering the first expedition to follow Gen. Miles to Puerto Rico got away from here at seven q’clock Wedpesday evening. Tire expedition is under command of Maj. Gen. J. H. Wilson and will, when complete, consist of the aqd Third Wisconsin, the Sixteenth Pennsylvania regiments and two companies of the Sixth Illinois. The first two regiments are on the transport* Grand Duchess and No. 30, respectively, and they are at sea. No. 21, carrying the Sixteenth Pennsylvania and the Illinois men. is in the stream and will sail early this morning. An Important Mission. Santiago de Cuba. July 19, via Kingston, Jamaica, July 21. —Lieut. Miley, of Gen. Shafter’s staff left here with a troop of the Second cavalry, mounted, under Capt. Breit, to make the rounds of the entire military district of Santiago de Cuba, and for the purpose of receiving the formal surrender of the Spanish forces. He will go first to San Luis, where there are about 4,500 of the enemy’* troops. Lieut. Miley will then receive the surrender, in order, of 800 men at Cobre, 1,200 at Catalina, 2,500 at Guantanamo and 3,500 at Baracoa. A total of 20,000 Spaniards are expected to yield their arms to this one troop of cavalry. To reach Baracoa, Lieut. Miley will be compelled to ride straight across the island to the northern coast, led by a Cuban guide. He will ride under a white flag, for protection, but Gen. Toral ha* sent qiembers of hi* staff ahead to notify the post commander* of the terms of Ute surrender.