The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-10
Especial War G
Camp Cuba Libre,


| from Washington announce that Gen.
| Wade and his command will not be sent
| to Porto Rico owing to completion of
| peace negotiations. No official notiiica-
| ton to that effect has, however, been
| received by Colonel Armteld and pre-
parations for expedition continue to be
| made with all possible rapdity.
Tomorrow will find the First North
Carolina regiment fully armed. equipped
and victuated preparatory to going to
| Porto Rico.
| The official order detaching the First
| North Carolina from the Seventh Army
corps and assigning it to General Wade's
provisional army came Sunday morning
Since then the work of preparation has
been pushed with all possible rapidity.
If transports were provided the Tar
Heel troops could leave here tomorrow
and sail for Porto Rico the day following.
1t is minated, however, that there
vii be some. difficulty in securing these.
| owing to the removal Of Skaters army
from Cuba, and this, it is expected.
will cause delay.
1t was at first announced that the
North Carolina troops would he taken
| to Fernandina to embark on the trans
ports. Since then it has been found
| that the water in the harbor there is
| too shallow. That being the case. it
| is probable they will he taken to Tampa.
or possibly Charleston for embarkation.
| AS / have before stated, both men
| and officers are anxious to get to the
| front. They are as nervous and rest
| less oyer the prospect as the small
boy the night before the circus comes TO
| town.
| Though they expect little fighting, if
| any, they feel that to be sent to Il for
| eign shore as a hostile army will be some
recompense for the months of priyation
| and preparation undergone since they
| responded to their country's call for
men. 1t is TO be hoped that they will
not be disappointed ut the last moment.
and that the campaign in Porto Rico
| will prove easy, healthful and almost.
| free from fighting.
| Despite the preparations, though, many
| believe that all this fuss of going to
| Porto Rico is made for political effect,
and that the War Department has
never had any serious intention of
sending General Wade with 10000 men
| TO an already conquered island. Only
yesterday | saw one North Carolina off
| Ger ucl dHOlitG blnttF NtbO lltut lHt
| North Carolina soldiers would not be
i'll Porto Rico within thirty days. Other
bets for smaltr amounts have been
made to the same effect.
| Porto Rico is much more productive
| than Cuba. but the future Of both colln-
| tries is big with possibilities. not only
for themselves but for enterprising
| Americans as well.
l
| Certainly these islands will rob North
| Carolina of many of the bright young
| men she has sent to the front. Scores
Of them have already expressed the in
tention Of remaining there after the war
is over and growing up with the coun-
| try"
This will be wise. 1t is, indeed, the
| opportunity of a century. The world
contains no fairer, no more fertile lands.
no more promising field for commercial
enterprise in all departments. With lit
tie more than an apology for cultivation
the earth yields abundantly for all the
needs of man. The climate is the finest
in the world. and the geographical posi-
ton of these islands, together with their
| deep streams and land-locked harbors,
make the keys to the Western world.
Both Cuba and Porto Rico are worthy
of Il higher place in the scale of nations.
| But to attain it their people must be
| assisted by education and good govern
| ment. They need schools and news
papers and railways. Fields, roads and
/ canals need looking after. Improved
methods of farming must be introduced,
and free and open markets for the
products Of the land must Dc secured.
| The intelligent American citizen who aids
| in this work will reap a rich CONNER
cial harvest
Not only are the soldiers contemplate
| ing casting their lot with the Cubans
and Porto Ricans, but ''methinks
Horato," many people in these Southern
States as well have envious eyes on this
newly acquired domain. Already Florida
| is looking to her laurels as n winter
| resort. Though the treaty of peace is
not vet signed and the echo of Skaters
guns have hardly died away. capitalists
are discussing the erection of mamontl
hotels in Havana and San Juan. Ameri-
can enterprise is treadins upon the heels
Of war.
4 manufacturer in North Carolina
writes me requesting that ] make in
| ycstigation in Cuba and Porto Rico
| in regard to the extent and accessibility
\ Nrginian wants to know what are
| the chances for an experienced tobacco
| manufactures with small capital.
! All thes things Indicate that there
is TO be great rush of American enter
prise TO these islands when peace is
established.
| Porto Rico. as everybody knows. was
discovered by Columbus on his return
trip in 1893. 1T is the fourth in sire
among the Antilles Cuba being Grstl
and by its geographical position is pccu-
liarly adapted to become the centre of
an extensive and tiourishing commerce.
In fact it has long been more proiuc-
tive colony for Spain than even Cuba
| itself and has been steadily growing in
| commercial and agricultural Importance
Also MS Il coalmg station and st.ates;c
centre, Porto Rico is the KEY 10 the
| Western hemisphere.
1t lies southeast Of Cuba Santo DO
mingo and jamaica. and of those impor-
tant commercial outlets, the Gulf of
| Mexico and the BAY of Honduras II