The times., 1898-07-29
A PERSUASIVE CAMPAIGN.
No Great Battles Are Contemplated
in Porto Rico

As exclusively announced in The Times
several days ago, it is the policy of the
Administration to inaugurate a campaign
Of persuasion in Porto Rico.
If there is bloodshed it will be provoked
by the Spanish officials. Slight engage
ments such as took place when the
landing was made, with the result of four
Spaniards killed and no Americans
wounded. may be expected But no great
battles are to be fought, no destructive
bombardments are to be ordered until
other plans have been given trial.
Between the President and the war
board on the one hand and Gen. Miles
and Gen. Brooke on the other, there is a
thorough understanding as to the general
plan. The Porto Rico expedition is alto
gether different from that which was sent
against Santiago. No occasion for haste
exists. There is no bottled up fleet to
be dealt with No yellow fever threatens
to complicate and delay. The topography
of Porto Rico is favorable Gen. Shat
ter was forced by conditions, TO carry
the campaign through with a rush. Gen.
Miles and Gen. Brooke go at the occupa-
ton of Porto Rico with the strongly ex--
pressed preference of the Administration
that they shall proceed deliberately.
The army of occupation carries every
thing that will add to comfort and efjl-
cheney. 1t has material for piers 1t even
has corps of laborers to do the heavy
road making. The cavalrymen take their
horses, instead Of going dismounted, as
was the case at Santiago. An artillery
force sufficient to besiege San Juan is
part of the outfit. And finally, the numer-
ical strength of the army of occupa ton
Is such as to overawe the Spanish au-
| thority and to impress the whole island
with the utter futility of resistance
Gen. Miles and Gen. Brooke will take
plenty of time TO mass and to move this
army They will wait for the full moral
effect of their presence to have its weight
on the population. They will gather in
garrison after garrison by the presence
OF overwhelming numbers, rather than
by assault. Artillery will be moved into
position when ii is found necessary TO in
vest a city and the Spanish officers will
be shown that resistance means their an
Inhalation without opportunity to inflict
any serious damage on the invaders. And
thus by repeated demonstrations of force
rather than by actual fighting, the Pres
ident believes that Porto Rico can be oe-
cupied. This view is said to be shared BY
Gen. Miles and Gen. Brooke. to both of
whom the President has expressed his
desire that they shall call for all the men
who can be utilized in such campaign of
persuasion
San Juan. the capital, presents the only
possibility of a real battle. When in q
state of complete readiness the American
army will march upon that city from the
rear, and will plant its batteries so as to
raze the whole city. All supplies by land
or water will be shut off. 1t is believed
that when he faces such a situation.
Captain General Macias will do as Gen.
Toral did-surrender rather than die
The landing in the vicinity of Ponce
is part of the plan to try tie moral be-
fore the physical force. Anti-Spanish
sentiment is stronger and more general
In the southern part of the island than
in other sections. Porto Rican annexa-