The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-23

1 GNAAA4A4a
WASHINGTON, July IA singular
statement was made to the Associated
Press to-day by a gentleman in POSI-
ton 70 speak with knowledge and au-
thority as to the plans of the admins
tration with reference to future war
operations. In substance the statement
was as follows:
Commodore Watson, in proceeding to
the Spanish peninsula as soon as the
Porto RIcan expedition Is gotten under
way, Is not to lombard the ctties on the
Spanish coast. No such idea OF bonn
bardment Of the coast IS entertained.
While there may be other incidental
purposes, the main mission Of Watson is
to take care Of Admiral Camara's feet.
The movement Of this fieet and the fears
and apprehensions caused by reports
concerning It are TO be stopped for oil
time. The ships under Camara Will be
located by Watson and finally met and
engaged. The talk occasionally indulg-
ed In as to the Canary Islands is utterly
| without foundation. The government
has no plan 10 take those islands and
does not want them.
Despite popular expectation that the
Porto Rico operations will be followed
Immediately by action against Havana,
1t can be said that Havana will not be
attacked while yellow fever conditions
exist. This IS certain.
ut would be the height Of national
folly to engage our troops in and about
that fever pest hole. Consequently i
will be left until the climate lends Us aid
In the autumn. shafter will hold his
own in the eastern strip now surrender
ed, may gradually push his way over
some other districts, and II there should
be any particular need Of immediate az
gressive action at any point Will move
against It, but Havana will be left until
yellow fever dangers are past.
The Most serious Problem.
Meantime In the next two months
there will be enough to keep this gov
ernmett busy. We will have to cnpe
with the most serious problem yet, OF
providing for the government and the
future Of the lands Involved In this war.
The hauling down Of the Spanish flag
and the holstlng OF that OF the United
| States means more than on tts face Il
indicates to the popular mind. No more
important matter Is TO engage the at
tention OF the government than the de-
! tails 10 be arranged for the disposition,
control or temporary possession pending
final transfer of possession OF these ad-
diHons TO our domain. There are qties-
uons OF the mos Intricate and tar-reaeh-
ing character 10 be decided. Porto RICO
whose fall is likely to be recorded with
in a week or ten days, Will have 70 nave
n military government. Porto Rico, OF
course. Is to be kept permanently py
thls government, but there must be n
military RyVernment first and many
nrellnninary "details viii have to be
worked out. There must be Tehabili-
tatIon OF exigtlng systems OF govern
went yvhere we have carried our arms,
and while local schemes and conditions
viii Sorfn the basis Of the general eys-
| ton, for the control OF the land, there
nnst he numerous changes, abohshlng
sticb laws as may be oppressive. Laws
VIII have to be very thoroughly gone
over and the tariff system revised IN
sonne way but in general and as far as
noasible the system OF government
which now exlstS Is 70 be followed. All
this means work Of the most serious
character and IN the absence Oh exist
inc laws 10 govern such matters the
President has to go ahead on MS own
responsibility. Next winter, however,
whom Congress cOnVenes. the necessity
for laws covering such matters Will be
recognized by recommendations 70 Con-
Rress TO that end TO be submitted oy tne
President and It Is very probable the
shaping Of the destln!es OF Porto Eico
and similarly circums.nnced accesslaIls
Viii be left TO commission OF conltnls-
sIoners to be appointed to draft the laws
for adoption by Congress. The govern
ment Is likely TO be busy from now ON
considering all these matters OF govern
mental detail.
Held as CoaIlpE statiOn'
at Is a certainty as far ms can be
Soreseen that Guam, the island In the
Iadrone group that was captured by
tbJs government will be permanently re-
iaIned as a eoallnH and supply station.
Toy. these purposes It is valuable from
he Iocntion between the Sandwich and
,he pbIIlppIne islands, but I'm the point
whether the res. OF them VIII be kept
am NOT sure. They may be and they
NAV not be. The disposition OF the Phil
lnninps is unsettled and depends upon
rirrumstances. As 10 the attitude OF
Garcia. and the insurgents In Cuba, there
Is no change in our intentions. Tnls
government has not been misled IN IT'S
esumnte OF those forces. With the op-
pressiye hand OF Spain has put on them
70 long, contenhng against the condi-
| lions Imposed by injustice and oppres-
sion there should have been little eX-
nertatIon OF greater abilities than are
now shown by them. This government
viii hnye 10 treat them kindly but hrHs-
Iy. II hns made a pledge to establish q
| frm and stable government ana that
must be carried out. II, therefore, may
! be In the light OF present Circumstance
and conditions, many years before at
fairs there have 40 Bhaped themselves
as 10 entrust the island TO tha cubaus
and we finally Yield our Possession ot
them. The transition must be gradual,
sten nv step, and the Anal general
change of control effected only after a
thorough training and demonstration. OF
the abilities OF the people, beginning
with The trial Of some OF the leaders IN
M frst minor capacities. This II what
IL 10 he looked for and the gradual tran
ALTON will consume length OF time con-
siderable nt variance with what the peo-
pie most expect"
Camara VIII Await EVSnta.
G1RRAITAR, July 22.--Tt Is report
| "A beFe that Atlmlcat Camara's squad.
ron OF Spanish warships' which passeg,