The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-06-01
TO SEIZE PORTO RICO.
WHY TIE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS
THIS MOVE NECESSARY.


THIS MOVE NECESSARY.
&c vera Whe:e He Must s;ay-Reylew OF
th- Oatlook 10 20 Cuby, the Philippines
I'd Porto Eico-.Msny TT ops to be keps
a dispatch from Washington says
extraordinary activity in the war aid
navy departments Thursday morning
which was not limited to the higher
officials but included every indlvual
in both services, gave every in dication
Of important and immediate develop
ments in the conduct OF the war,
while an unusual exhibition OF secrecy
served to the belief that 8 bstrle along
the whole line in the West Indies hsd
become a question CT hours rather TRAN
days. Rumors too definite to be lg-
pored, but lacking oEcial suthentlca
ton, explained the remarkable hurry
and hustle to the Presidents detern!-
nation to have Porto Rico occupied oy
American soldiers without further
delay ard that the troops which had
been concentrated at ports for the in
vasion of Cuba were to embark lmme-
diately if the 20 transport had been Sc,
cured, and undee convoy OF Admiral
SamlSon's souaorop, be sent at once
to seize San Juan de Porto Rico and
establish a permanent colonial gov
eminent in the island siniiar to that
which Gen. Merritt is charged With
creating in the Philippines.
However startling the report, its
plsusibiGty soon received corrobors-
tive strength through the reluctance
of evsry high Official to deny it, while
many senator's and ether pronihent
civilians having influential relations,
those carrying on the war not only
affirmed the existence Of the suggest
ed plan. but gave cogent reasons for
its sudden adoption by the authorities.
It was said that the events Of the
last few days in Cuba, eliminating IN
the uselessness of Cervera's being
securely ''corked up" at Santiago, and
the destruction Of untrammeled cable
communication between the colonies
and Madrid, gave every assurance OF
the speedy collapse OF Spanish resis
tance to the inevitable and that the
United States government had
awakened to the necessity OF actually
possessing Porto Rico before the end
came. That is it and the Philippines
had come to be looked on IS an essen
tial recompense to the United States
for its expensive intervention in be-
hall OF CUba's free dom and the fear
had arisen that unless they were &C.
tually secured before Cubs fell, en-
barrassing complications, leading g
possibly to grave international com
plications with European powers,
might not be avoided.
With the Spanish military forces at
Habana sfectuany isoistsd and with
out even remote hopes Of reinforce
ments, with SPANS naval force this
side of the Atlantic completely para
lyzed and with the Madrid govern
meat already tottering in its insecur,
ity Of policy, the opportunity for 65sl
ing crushing blow through the seiZ.
ure OF Porto Rico was badly to be re-.
sisted. The unsanitsry condition Of
Cubs, the strength OF the army there
and many other causes which operated
to delay the invasion Of that island
with the suf6clent force Of trained
regulars which it had been possible to
concentrate at Tampa in single
month, wholly disappeared as factors
of delay in the Porto Rico project.
The military authorities expressed
supreme confluence IN their ability 10
sweep the Spaniards frem Porto klco
with the nen now at their command, {,
while still reluctant to attempt the
greater task Of establishing position
In Cuba with the same force. With
the 19, 900 well eq lipped and seasoned
regular troops gathered at Tampa,
New Orleans and Mobile and the eel
OF transports already loading, many OF
them in fact ready 10 sail from these
points, assurances were given to the
President that there would bs no pos
sibiLyy Of reverse at San Juan de
Porto Rico after the heavy Dalleries
had been reduced By Ssmpson's ships.
TIE withdrawal OF these forces, It was
shown would leave II, COO men, the pick
Of the volunteer army, st the Gul!
ports, while scarcely days journey
away were the 40 regiments OF in
iantry, nine light batteries Of artillery
and eight troops of cavalry in the
Chickamauga camp, rapidly being
trained IN effective corps, with the GER
salnty of becoming speedily ready &c
meet any emers sency that might con,
front hesovernmeuts should Cuban oc'
cupation become necessary.
When the excitement in the war de
partment over the Porio R!can expe
diIion was at Its height, the Ptesi
dents proclamation calling for an sd
ditional force of $4,000 men was is
sued. This action confirmed the pre-
yalling impression that aggressive
movements were Immediately contem
plated, especially as It had already be
come known that the suthGrities were
agreed upon trsngth OF about 275,
600 men 10 carry ouL the responslDlil
lies which it had become evident thai
the government had already incu red
The division Of this aggregate fCrce
had been determined upon at yester
days cabinet meeting IN practically
lhe following proporuons:
Philippine cccupslion, 25. 900; Portc
Rican occupation, q, 5000; Cuos 100,
100; reserve and home defense 125, 900
The estimate for the Cuban aruy o,
occupation was based On the convlc
hon which is now common to all au
h critics, BON civil and military, II
Washington, that order cannot be re
stored over that large srea OF territory
without the presence there for scmt
time to come Ior ST lesst 100 regiment!
and that little or no relisLcs can b:
placed on the capacity OF the CUBAN!
lor seH-soYernment for 3! least 8 yea
crtwo. As regards Porto R!co, it !!
~. boh hIYo vii