The Portland daily press., 1898-09-08
Niles PLANS.


feet was destroyed, and that they were
3eaO miles from home. Toral's offer could
be accounted for in two ways-either that
the troops were wanted at home to meet
n threatened uprising, or that they
wanted to get home and regarded this as
the only means of doing 81 at the expense
of the United States. Whether Blanco
and the rest of the Spanish forces in Cuba
would surrender on the same terms Is not
known and perhaps may never be known.
The place of landing the Porto Rloan
expedition bad been so thoroughly adVer-
tisea in communications sent over the
Frs1ch cable and in the newspapers OF
our own country and telegraphed to
Madrid and from there to San Juan, that
not having received the necessary apph.
anees with which to disembark he decioed
after leaving tho Windward passage to
change his course and land on the south
side of Porto Rico, where the Spaniards
were the least prepared and the least ex-
pecting to receive him, and where he
knew that ths disem barkation of the
troops and supplies could be most easily
effected.
From the time Of that disem barkatlon,
during the following 10 days of the cam
paign, he kept the Spaniards guessing
what the next move would be. When they
Withdrew along the line of the great
military road between Ponce and San
Juan, they destroyed the bridges, OBJ
struoted the roads and fortified strong
positions in the mountain passage and
then were surprised that one column of
his army was sweeping around the west
end of the island, capturing cities and
towns, while another had passed over the
mountain trails which the Spaniards had
supposed impossible, and therefore, had
not guarded or fortified, and the first
they knew of the march of the American
army was the appearance of a strong
brigade within 20 miles of the northern
coast at the terminus Of the railroad con-
neeting San Juan with Arecibo. The
island of Porto Rico was fairly won by
the right of conquest, and becomes part
of the United States.
The sentiment of the people was in no
sense outraged by the invaders but on the
contrary was successfully propitiated. A
people who have endured the severity of
Spanish rule for four centuries hail with
Joy the protection of the great republic.
One of the richest sections of the country
over which our flag floats has been added
and will be of lasting value to our nation
politically, commercially and from a
military or strategic point of view. Pos
session of that island has also rendered
any further resistance of the Spanish
forces in Cuba hopeless and Gen. Miles
firmly believes that by fair and just treat
ment the people of Cuba can be easily
controlled either as friendly ally and
neighbor, or to become part of our great
country as the people of Porto Rico. Gen.
Miles remained in Porto Rico as long az
he deemed his presence necessary fol
carrying out the instructions of the Presi
dent and now returns to the United
States bringing with him nearly 500(
troops who are no longer required, there
being some Il, 900 still remaining. amply
suficien for. all purposes He returns at
once to Washington where he believes he
can be most useful as he considers the
most important need of the hour now to
be the immediate reduction of war ex.
penses and the return of a large proper
tions of those in military service az
possible to their former occupations where
tn ey are most needed.