The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-06-23
ONE ATA TIME
|Thc Conquest of Porto Rico Is
Abandoned For the Present
at Least,
AnA All Energies Are to Be Con.
centrated on Suhjugation
Of Cuba.
Even Temporary Reverse There
Would Serve to Greatly Pro-
long the War.
DeportatiOn Of Prisoners From
Cuba Has Been Definitely
Decided On.

Nrw YORK. June ga special to
IT, Tribune from Washington says:
Tie project to occupy Porto Rico is
how regarded by the highest military
|autAortics Of both the army and navy
b. practically removed from immediate
ca.ldera,ion. and unless the death
k4e oi General Skaters army from
diseases indigenous TO Cuban soil Is cN.
re9d!n:ly high. the presidents desire
the prosecution Of a general aggrcs.
klye campaign throughout the entire
Island Of Cuba may be promptly en-
trel upon the moment Santiago Is
captured.
The suggestion Of Porto Rican cam.
Ialsn to precede the invasion Of Cuba
W., put forth more than month ago.
before Admiral Sampson bombarded
san Juan. and pending the uncertainty
Fe.arling tho destination Of Cervera'
Squadron, then several weeks at sea
fsom Cape Verde. The enterprise was
not abandoned, but was temporarily
pushed aside by the more imperative
Pc ,>ity Of sending General Shaiter to
Santlago as expedi,iously as possible
>haf,er Need. All tho support.
Hl- tleet Of transports lad barely
iA.-l from Tampa last week. before
LAny officials in Washington, III the
absence Of any coun termandlng OF the
original orders for mobilizing the Porto
Rcan expedition again took up Its de-
tails and were hur rying the prepara'
tons along on the original lines when
Geieral Miles returned and convinced
tAe highest officials that the best OF
military reasons existed for concentrate
lAg very military resource OF the gov
eminent, for the time being a. least
Upon the support of General Smarter
whose campaign was Of more hazaru'
Gus nature than had generally been ap'
lreelated. Notwithstanding the eA'
ee.!ent equipment and tho largo force
winch had been provided in this army
Corps the fact that 1900 men were 70
De landed in a strange country III tue
lace Of much more numerous lorce'
whose axact strength could ohiy %
estimated. would probably prove the
CRUCIAL event Of the whole war.
Lsen Temporary Reverse Would lie Bad
lis success may be expected to resui'
IA Spain's prompt realization OF !ne
utility Of further resistance, whlle d
severse. even Of temporary character
&isht indefinitely prolong the duratio"
o. hostilities. The illusion that Porto
k'co constituted any valid advantage
'rom an international law point was
Speedily dispelled by the citation OF
lfeeedents, the most recent OF them Do
'as the acquisition BY Japan OF FOR
Moso at the treaty Of Simonoseki' o..
though the island was in possession OF
ehina Mt the close Of the war.
There seemed, therefore, not 20 DC
any valid urgent reason for sacrlficlne
u,eneral Shafter for the acquisition "
forto Rico. aud it now appears to 90
conclusively settled that no further az
..entlon will be paid to Porto Rlco 1o'
The present until it develops strategy
cal Importance not perceived at present
The wisdom OF General Miles IN ad
'ahclng the military exigencles o.
strengthening General Skaters iorct
Is evident on all sides. The decision t(
send at least one regiment OF voiun
.eers on the fast auxiliary cruiser Iai'
.fom Newport News on Thursday to U
followed by others on the Harvard
lew days later and another origao'
from Camp Alger during tho ensuin'