The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-26
And the Force Available Is Sufficient
to Take and Hold the
Island

determination to have Porto Rico occupied
by American soldiers without further de-
lay and that the troops which had been
concentrated at gulf ports for the invasion
Of Cuba were to embark Immediately on
the twenty transports which had been So
cured and under convoy of Admiral Samp-
sons squadron be sent at once to seize Sa,.
Juan de Porto Rico and establish a perma-
nent colonial government In the island
similar to that which General Merritt is
charged with creating in the Philippines.
However startling the report, It's plausi-
bility soon received corroborative strength
through the reluctance Of every high Of
fetal today, while many senators and other
prominent civilians having influential re-
lations with those carrying on the war, not
only affirmed the existence Of the suggested
plan, but gave cogent reasons for its sud-
den adoption by the authorities. 1t was
said that the events Of the last few days in
Cuba, eliminating in the uselessness to
Spain of Cervera's fleet, securely "corked
up" at Santiago. and the destruction of un-
:rammeled cable communication between
the colonies and Madrid. gave every assur-
ance of the speedy collapse OF the Spanish
resistance to the inevitable, and that the
the necessity OF actually possessing Porto
Rico before the end came. That island and
the Philippines had come to he looked upon
as an essential recompense to the United
States for Its expensive Intervention in be-
half OF Cuba's freedom, and the fear had
arisen that unless they were actually Sc
cured before Cuba fell. embarrassing COM
plications, leading possibly to grave Inter-
national complications with European
powers might not be avoided. With the
Spanish military forces at Havana effect
ually isolated, and without even remote
hopes of reinforcements. with Spain's naval
force this side of the Atlantic completely
paralyzed and with the Madrid govern
ment already tottering in its insecurity Of
policy, the opportunity for dealing crush
ing blow through the seizure of Porto Rico
was hardly to be resisted.
The unsanitary condition of Cuba, the
strength of the army there and many other
causes which operated to delay the inva-
sion of that island with the insufficient
force of trained regulars which 1t had been
possible to concentrate at Tampa in a
single month wholly disappears as factors
of delay in the Porto Rfcan project. The
military authorities expressed supreme
confidence in their ability to sweep the
Spaniards from Porto Rico with the mer
now at their command, while still reluct
ant to attempt the greater task of estab-
fishing a position in Cuba with the same
force. With the $4,000 well equipped and
seasoned regular troops gathered at Tam
pa, New Orleans and Mobile, the fleet of
transports already loading, many of them
in fact ready to sail from those points, sat
isfactory assurances were given TO the
president that there would be no possibility
of a reverse at San Juan de Porto Rico
after the batteries had been reduced by
SIMPSONS ships. The withdrawal Of these
forces it was shown would leave 1,oG) men
the pick of the volunteer army at the gull
ports, while scarcely days journey away
were the forty regiments of infantry. nine
light batteries of artillery and eight troops
of cavalry in the Chickamauga camp, rap
idly being trained in effective corps, with
the certainty of becoming speedily ready
to meet any emergency that might con.
front the government should Cuban occu-
patton become necessary. When the ex-
element in the war department ovec the
Porto Rican expedition was at its height,
the presidents proclamation calling for an
additional force of 5000 men was issued.
This action confirmed the prevailing i'm
preston that aggressive movements were
Immediately contemplated, especially as
it had already become known that the au-
thorities were agreed upon a strength OF
about 275 900 men to carry out the respon-
sibilities which it had become evident that
the government had already incurred. The
division of this aggregate force had been
determined upon at yesterdays cabinet
meeting in practically the following prep
arations:
Philippine occupation, $4,000; Porto Rican
occupation, Is, 900; Cuba, loo, 900; reserve and
home defense, 1876, 900. The estimate for the
Cuban army of invasion was based on the
conviction which is now common to all
authorities both civil and military in
Washington, chat order cannot be restored
over that large area of territory without
the presence there for some time of at
ance least 100, 900 men, and that little or no
reliance can be placed on the capacity of
Cubans for self-government for at least a
year or two. AS regards Porto Rico, it is
not believed that the inhabitants will be
able to maintain a government of their
own in less than generation and practi-
|
garding the Philippine islanders.
The necessity for $4,000 men under arms
at home, at any rate until some time after
permanent peace has been assured, is rec
ognized as well as the necessity for reliev-
ing volunteers after a brief tour of duty in
the tropics and providing prompt REIN
forcements should any of the conditions
have been underestimate. Gen. Miles
had expected to start for Tampa last nigsft.
but delayed his departure until Saturday
night. the president desiring to have the
benefit of his advice in the meantime.
1t is understood, however. that the pres
ence of General Miles at Tampa is not cs-
sential to the departure of troops from
that point. although in case an invasion of
either Cuba or Porto Rico is begun this
week, General Miles intends to hurry after
the expedition in a fast warship which the
navy will place at his disposal. Rumors
are especially persistent that actual mill
tary operations in the West Indies will be-
gin before June list, and speculation seems
equally divided on the chances of an inva-
sion directed against Cuba or against