The San Francisco call., 1898-05-31
Call Office, Riggs House, Washington May 80.


 It seems to be the general opinion here tonight that the first military expedition to be landed will be in Porto Rico instead of Cuba. It is cer- tain the War and Navy departments were to-day anxious to create this impression.
 For this reason it IS strongly sus- pected that, although the troopsh1ps will sail early from Key West along the northern coast ot Cuba, they will not proceed to San Juan or any other Porto Rican port, but will disembark on the northeastern coast of Cuba and will invest Santiago, and by 1oln- ;ne with Garcia's 5000 men cut Ger vera off frem all communication with Blanco or any hope of the rener which he so sorely needs.
 It is believed, furthermore, that heavy ordnance will be taken on this expedition and that, if Commodore Schley deems it unwise eorinexpedlent to enter the harbor and give battle the fleet of Cervera will be bomoaro- ed by our army from the high hills surrounding Santiago. It is the aim to capture or destroy Cerveras fleet before the possible arrival of the Cadiz squadron.
 The best judgment here is that we have not troops enough to spare TOT the Porto Rican expedition at tn1s time. Porto Rico can wait. The very first thing to do is to capture or de- strov the hostile fleet, then follow 1t LID with a reduction of the Havana batteries ana the landing of troops to attack Blanco, capture Havana and thus end the war.
 It is certain, however, that before Havana is taken there will be an 1n- vestment of Porto Rico, so as to have this island in our possession when the war is ended, and negotiations for peace are in progress, for all of Spain's colonial possessions which will be in our hands at the close of the war, Porto Rico is most valuable for our purposes, namely, a coal1ng station. It is, furthermore, richer in natural resources than Cuba and has much more desirable population. But, although 1t appears to be the plan for our troops to attack Sant1- ago and the hostile fleet from the rear, it does not follow necessarily that Commodore Schley will not at tempt to enter the harbor and follow Dewey's tactics.
 He will, it is believed, watch his chance to slip into the harbor by night. At any rate Commodore Schley will not be idle. Orders were sent to him via the Harvard at Kings ton to immediately commence bom- bardment of the Notifications. This is certain.
 to-day that he hourly expected news that Commodore Schley had com menced operations against the forts, and added that he would not be sur prised to hear at any time that he had boldly steamed into the harbor to give battle to the fleet.
 This indicates that, while he has been sent specific instructions to re- duce the batteries in front of Santi ago, he is given large discretionary powers as to his further operations.
 There are now 25, 1000 well-equip- ped soldiers ready for the military expedition. By the time Santiago has been taken, Cervera's fleet captured or destroyed and Havana's batteries. reduced there will be 100000 more troops ready to march against Blan- co.
 It is certain that no attempt will be made to enter Havana until we have an army of at least 100000 men ready for the undertaking of such magnitude, and 1t now appears