The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-15
PORTO RICO NEXT
And Then Havana is Secretary
Alger's Programme.
Expedition Against Porto Rico
to Go Forward at Once.
TO BE ALL NEW MEN.
len. Miles Will Command 1t in
Person.
Force viii Number %, 200 Be-
sides the Fleet.

Washington, July 15.-The first
chapter in the land campaign of the
United States against Spain closed
when the Spanish coIors gave place
over Santiago to the American flag.
Next will follow the transportation
of the Spanish troops back to their
native land, and the capture of the is
land of Porto Rico, unless peace sooner
intervenes.
Next is Porto Rico" said Secretary
Alger, after receiving the news of San
tiago's formal surrender. "And then, If
need be, Havana"
The secretary was in excellent spirits
He has been more anxious than he
dared to show as to the condition of our
henston upon the possibility Of a. pro-
lOngation OF the struggle in the IN
healthy valley of Santiago.
The secretary said that the Porto
Rican expedition would go forward i'm
mediately. It will comprise new men
entirely. The warriors in the trenches
before Santiago have distinguished
themselves, and it is not deemed pru-
dent to bring them in unnecessary con-
tact with new troops in view of the
danger of spreading contagion. The
sick soldiers will be nursed back to
health and brought to the United States
as soon as they can be safely removed.
Immune regiments will be ordered to
Santiago to garrison the town, and two
of these regiments are already under
orders to proceed.
The Porto Rican expedition will be
commanded by General Miles in per-
son, though General Brooke, now in
command at Camp Thomas, is expected
to be his main dependence. The size of
the expedition will depend upon General
Miles although it is believed $4,000 en-
will be sufficient for the purpose AT
San Juan the navy will be of greater
assistance than it was at santiago,
70 Joo of q hin q
the town more closely, without r1Sk1ng
contact with mines.
The experience gained in dispatching
Skaters expedition, it is expected, will
aid the officers in their determination
to make short work of the Porto Rican
affair.
Porto Rico is not expected to offer a
very formidable resistance. 1t IS pc
Iieved that the moral effect of the sur
render at Santiago will be to discourage
the defenders of San Juan.
There is, however, always the pros
spect that peace may ensue before hos
tiIities have progressed against Spain S
easternmost West India island. Rumors
are af1oat to the effect that the spanish
government at last has made oVertures
in that direction, but their DaSlS
probably was the current beIe1 tnat
one more reverse to the Spanish army
would be sufficient to compel the span
ish government to sue for peace, and
that this reverse was furnished by the
surrender of TOraIS army.
The navy department has not peen
affected by these rumOrs to the extent
of relaxing any Of it's precautions or
abandoning any of its plans, for Sec
rotary Long stated uneQuivocaIly TO-DAY
that Commodore Watsons eastern
squadron would certainly go TO SPAIN
as soon as it could sail.
The territory surrendered to US by
Gen ToraI makes about 5000 square
miles The Spanish soldiers to be sent
to Spain are estimated at 10000 men
at o.
fifteen miles west Of Santiago harbOr,
and then runs due north about twenty
five miles to Palmo Sorrana- HAD the
line continued due north 1t would nave
passed west of HOlguin, thus taxing
the Spanish garrison at that point. EVl-
IDENTIFY Gen. ToraI wished to avoid the
inclusion of Holguin, so the line turns
a abruptly to the northeast of PalnO and
runs to the coast town of Boca del
Sagua, on the coast. The extreme
length of this surrendered tract IS
about ITO miles and the extreme width
a bout so miles. 1t is a rugged, noun
famous country. with very few towns
of any size. Santiago with its f1ne mar
Dor is the main point, while Guanta-
namo is second in importance:
With Santiago in our hands the way
will be clear for Admiral Sampson s
fleet to enter the harbor and proceed
UP to the WharVes as soon as the tor
pedoes. and mines at the harbor en-
The fortifications of MORO castle.
Socapa, Cayo Smith and others are in
cluded in the surrender zone The pos
session of these fOrtresses, particularly
MORO castle, will afford valuable gar
rison points for a large number of men.
The terms under which these strong
holds are surrendered are not yet
known in detail, but it is regarded as
likely that their big guns pass with the
surrender. While the fleet will soon be
free to move up to Santiago city, some
doubt is entertained in naval circles