The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-30
With the Enemys Ships Bottled Up for Good,
Transports Will Not Be in Peril
An Army of Occupation Likely to Be Dispatched to
Porto Rico at Once Under Convoy of Samp-
s0n-Orders Issued to Shafter

calculations. To this conclusion have the
rived, and the President indorses the ver-
dict. 1t can further be stated by authority
that cannot be gainsaid that the plan for
the occupation OF Porto Rico will be car
ried out in the very near future. and that
our and undisciplined volunteers will
not be thrown against the bayonets and bull
lets Of Blanco's 100000 trained and garri-
soned regulars. When Cuba is invaded it
will be by a trained and seasoned army
thoroughly equipped and moving at such
time and under such conditions that the
advantages of season and other circum-
stances of war will be with instead of
against us. This statement may be placed
as pole star for the guidance of readers
of the Journal when they are in danger of
being confused by conflicting rumors of i'm
mediate or nearby invasions of Cuba. Presi-
tration by needlessly sacrificing 35 600 to 50,-
600 American lives to capture an island
which may fall into our hands without
struggle later on. 1t is assumed at the
White House. all things being equal, that
the Nation will prefer practically blood
less war to one involving the unnecessary
killing OF $1,000 Americans. 1t will be en-
tirely safe to subscribe to the theory that
to be the wisest course, regardless of the
demands of impatient people who do not
| understand the situation and who would
unnecessarily sacrifice the lives of their
countrymen.
| The New York Tribune correspondent, in
a dispatch to his paper tonight, says: Orr
| ders have at last gone forward to Major
General Shafter at Tampa to embark the
greater portion of his corps, including all
the regulars and few of the most efficient
volunteer regiments, on board the trans
ports gathered at that place, and the ag-
gressve military movement which has been
so frequently predicted and as often de-
| layed for one cause or another will be an
! accomplished fact before the end of this
week. The strongest units of Admiral
SIMPSONS reorganized squadron will con-
voy the expedition and cover it's landing at
| point now definitely designated Stimuli
| taneously the most rigid censorship of press
| dispatches that has so far been undertaken
| by the government will be put into opera
| tion at Tampa and Key West tonight and
| no messages relating to the movement of
| troops or ships or in any way specializing
| upon the expedition will be permitted on
the wires. If this means of preventing pub
| lication of information which would be ex-
| ceedingly valuable to Spain is not fully sue
cessful the censorship will be promptly
| extended to the mails. 1t can be confidently
| asserted that beyond the secretary of war
| and the secretary of the navy the President
| will permit no civilian to enjoy his conf
dence in this matter until a landing on
| foreign territory shall have been actually
| accomplished, and General Shafter himself
will have sealed orders, whose contents will
| be known only to General Miles and General
Corbin until the expedition is safely at sea.
Admiral SIMPSONS sole instructions will be
to guard the expedition and to cooperate
with General Shafter under the latter's di-
rection.