Evening star., 1898-05-30
What is Believed to Be Now the
Presidents Plan.
MEN and SHIPS ARE READY
The Movement Expected to Be
Made This Week.
DIFFICULTIES AS TO CUBA

among White House callers is that g
movement against Porto Rico will be made
by both army and navy this week, and thai
the subjugation of that island will be ac
complished before a reserve squadron ar
rives on this side from Spain.
This opinion is based almost wholly upor
apparently authentic statements in the past
that there would be no invasion Of Cuba
until an army of 10000 men is ready; and
that no attempt would be made to estab-
lish base of supplies with a few thou
sand men.
1t is now an indisputable fact. it is said,
that 1t will be several weeks before 100000
men are equipped for an invasion. The
time before this can be done is even esti-
mated at from thirty to forty days, with
at least ten days mere to transport troops.
The President, IL is said, sees all This
clearly, and does not want to wait a month
or more without striking a blow at Spain
which may end the war. He does not want
the war prolonged. If everything was
about ready for a Cuban invasion he would
know tnat this would probably end the
war. While the interval Of getting 10000
men ready for Cuba is open for action Of
some sort, and it cannot be had at sea,
Porto Rico presents itself the field for
aggressive, quick and short work. 1t Is one
of Spains eyes in ;ne West Indies.
By closing that eye the enemy will be
all the more inclined to stop the fight be-
fore the other is damaged.
Prepared for Porto Rico.
Continuing the argument is that both
army and navy are prepared for this first
and effective round. There are 25,O00 SOL
diers equipped and well supplied and trans
ports enough to send them all to Porto
Rico at once. Sampson can spare the ships
to accompany them. He can lombard San
Juan, holding the major part of the Span
ish soldiers there while troops can be. land
ed at some other point. While the weather
will be hot, the soldiers will not suffer from
diseases. as in Cuba.
By the time the American flag Is well fixed
in Porto Rico there will be over 100000
soldiers ready for Cuba Spains fleet will
probably have met defeat and Blanco's
Spaniards won't be SO eager to defend the
honor of SPAIN
The Spanish fleet, which has SO often
postponed plans for land operations by the
mystery of it's whereabouts, no longer
stands In the way. 1t was said by a cabi-
net officer today to be certain that Cervera
and his for a long time phantom ships will
be SO well cared for that they will not
create fear of running into an invading
party. The candid admission that Schley
sent telegram the most of which was sup
pressed is taken to mean that he outlined
his plans for disposing Of the Spaniards.
Schley's Probable Plan.
1t Is said that had it been the intention
of Schley to remain on the outside and
blockade Cevera there would have been no
necessity for secrecy. Mysterious move
ments are supposed to be equivalent to
bold attempts not to be calculated by the
enemy. Schley, it is said. either means to
mine the Santiago channel against Cerve-
ra's exit go boldly into the narrow har-
Dor and meet the Spaniard in an engage
ment which will decide whether the fleet
of the dons is to continue as a menace. If
he attempts the latter he will first have
to countermine the work which has been
done by the Spaniards.
There has been an abandonment of the
idea that the hulks of ships can be sunk
in the channel to prevent Cervera getting
out. To be effective these would have to
be sunk inside the entrance to the harbor
which is out of sight of the American ships.
The Spaniards could blow up these OBJ
stacles without more serious danger to
themselves than the Americans would have
in sinking them.
The President is known to be anxious to
get some relief to suffering Cubans. That
is more important to his mind than the
acquisition of territory, unless the latter
will hasten the end Of the war. The re-
ported suffering appeals intensely to him
and prompts many risks to send relief
The President, it is said, may have con-
cluded to effect a landing in Cuba with
from %, 900 to 10000 men for the purpose
of carrying supplies to the afflicted, the
calculation being that Gomez would arrive
to increase the invading force. The force,
aided by warships in the rear and strongly
fortified, would be able to resist attack.
Blanco could not spare an army of equal
size from Havana, as he would fear the
capture of the city by sea.
The Distribution of Supplies.
The distribution of supplies would be the
greatest trouble. These could not be sent
to the starving people throughout the isl
and The afflicted and diseased would have
to 20 to the American camp. carrying pesti-
lence with them and making the undertake
ing dangerous. OF course, the troops of
Gomez could sally out for miles and carry
food TO the hungry, but the supplies thus
sent out would be liable to capture at all
times. Spies would constantly fill the
American camp under pretense of being
friendly and in need of food.
The President has gone over all phases
of the situation and is said to be leaning to
the belief that the quickest way to get sue
cor TO the starving is by dealing Spain
blows In other quarters and forcing her to
succumb. thus opening a free road to get
ting supplies into Cuba.
TOdny's Callers.
President Mckinley spent only few min
utes in his Office this morning. He would
not have gone there at all but for the ar
rival Of several callers of prominence.
Shortly before IL o'clock Vice President
Hobart and Secretary and Mrs. Gage arriy.
ed. At 11:20 o'clock the President, accom-.
panied by the Vice President. Secretary and
Mrs. Gage in another carriage, left for Ar.
lington.
The President smilingly greeted a larg.
squad OF soldier boys from Camp Alger
who had lined up on the White House DOR.
tico to see him leave. They expressed thai,
admiratioR for him by hearty hand-cIau.
pings. and gave Secretary and Mrs. Gage
the same kind Of greeting.
The day at the White Houss was exceed.