The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-23
TROOPS HURRYlNG
TO THE SEABOARD

Nearly Forty Thousand will be Moved from
Camp Thomas Gen. Wood Military Govern
or Of Santiago Spanish at San Luis and
PaImas Know Nothing Of Santiago's Fall or
Destruction Of Cervera's Fleet. Lieutenant
Hobson at Washington Spanish Government
Wants Troops Landed atvigo Coruna and at
Santander.
Washington, d. c., July 22.-A signi-
ficant statement was made to the Asso-
ciated Press today by "A gentleman in n
position to speak with knowledge and
authority as 10 the plans of the admin
istration with reference to future war
operations. In substance the statement
was us follows:
Commodore Watson in proceeding To
the Spanish peninsula rs soon as the
Porto Rican expedition is gotten under
way is not to lombard the cities on the
Spanish coast No such idea of bam-
While there may be other incidental
purposes. the main mission Of Watson is
to take care Of Admiral Camara's fleet.
The movement of this fleet, and the fears
and apprehensions caused by reports con-
cerning it are to be stopped for all time.
The ships under Camara will be located
by Watson and finally met and engaged.
The talk occasionally indulged i'll as to
the Canary Islands is utterly without
foundation. This Government has no
plans to take those islands and does not
want them.
despite popular expectation that For
to Rico operations will be followed imme-
diately by action against Havana. 1t can
be said that Havana will not be attacked
while yellow fever conditions exist. This
is certain. 1t would be the height OF
national folly TO engage our troops III
and about that fever pest hole. Cons2-
auently it will be left until the climate
lends its aid in the autumn. Shafter will
hold his own in the eastern strip now
surrendered, may gradually push his way
over some other districts and if there
should be any particular need of imme-
date aggressive action at any point will
move against it. but Havana will be left
until fever dangers are past.
Meantime in the next two months
there will be enough to keep this Govern
ment busy. We will have to cope with
the most serious problem yet, of proyid-
ing for the Government and the future
Of the lands involved in this war. The
hauling down Of the Spanish flag and
the hosting of that of the United States
means more than on its face il indicates
TO the popular mind. No more import
ant matter is to engage the attention OF
the Government than the details TO be
arranged for the disposition. control or
temporary possession pending final trans
fer of possession of these additions to
our own domain. There are questions of
the most intricate and far-reaching char
acter to be decided. Porto Rico whose
fall is likely to be recorded within week
or ten days, will have to have mill
tary government. Porto Rico, of course
is To be kept permanently by this Gov
ernment, but there must be a military
government first and many preliminary
details will have to be worked out. There
must be a rehabilitation of existing
forms of government where we have car
ried our arms. and while local schemes
and conditions will form the basis of the
general system for the control or the
land there must be numerous changes.
aboliShing such laws as may be oppress-
i've. Laws will have to be very thor
oughly gone over and the tariff system
revised in some way. but in general and
ms far as possible the system of govern
ment which now exists is to be followed.
All this means work of the most serious
character and in the absence Of existing
laws to govern such matters the Presl-
dent has to go ahead on his own re-
sDonsiblity. Next winter, however. when
Congress cOnvenes, the necessity FOR
laws covering such matters will be rec
ognized by recommendations TO Congress
To that end TO be submitted by the
President and ii is very probable the
shaping Of the destines of Porto Rico
and similarly circumstanced accessions
will be left TO n commission or commits
Sions to be appointed to draft the laws
for adoption by CONGRESS-. The Govern
ment is likely to he busy from now on
consider'n@ I'll these matters Of govern
mental detail