Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-11
HOW TO TAKE PORTO RICO
Nh Ajevado Says Bernhard and Land Troops
atssa Jdan.
It i. the Only spSr3eA stronghold,
and when That h, Destroyed
All i.*
Correspondence Of the. Alkoslated Press.

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
KEY WEST, Fla, S5uSe 5.-Mr. c. D.
Ajevado, who was for twelve years a resi-
dent of San Juan, Porto Rico, is thoroughly
in favor of the United States taking posses
sion Of Porto Rico at once. He said to a
representative of the Associated Press to-
day:
"a United States expedition can land
WHERE 1t pleases Ia Porto Rico, except in
the neighborhood Of San Juan. The best
harbor in Porto Rico u Guanica, west of
Ponce and south of San Juan, from which
latter place it Is distant eighteen hours car
rage ride. The roads between Guanica and
San Juan, as indeed, everywhere in Porto
Rico, are excellent, and troops with sup
plies could be moved about the island read
lily. but would not advise exposing men to
the tropical sun on long marches, this in
spite of the fact that the climate of Porto
Rico is thu healthiest in the world. The
rainy season does not begin until August
and is Of short duration. Yellow fever is
almost unknown.
Hot sun Would wit Our Men.
"Our men, however, are not used to the
hot weather, and would wilt under it. San
Juan is where the troops should be landed.
The American feat should finish the work
that Admiral Sampson started last month
and batter down Moro and Fort San Car
los. The forts are not at all impregnable;
we can destroy them at some expense. but.
judging from the previous bonnbardment,
without loss Of life. Then the troops can
be landed to defeat the Spanish soldiers and
take possession of the city. The occupation
Of San Juan would end the war in Porto
Rico, for the Spaniards could not make a
stand anywhere else.
II do not underestimate the strength OF
the forts. New batteries have been con-
structed, new and modern guns mounted
and the force of 5000 Spanish regular sol
diers has been doubled. The 1900 volun-
teers are valueless. There are garrisons at
Ponce, Mayaguez and other towns, but the
great mass Of troops is at San Juan.
HarbOr Can Be COuntermined.
After the feet has silenced the forts
the harbor may be countermined and clear
ed of distractions, transports taken in and
troops landed. AS the Inhabitants Of Porto
Rico are thoroughly disafected, American
troops would not be required to subdue
the country. The people generally woulo
welcome our soldiers. Porto Rico has moi
been ravaged by war. Horses, cattle and
all food supplies are abundant, and, al
though there is no railroad system, the
frst-class carriage roads trender communi-
cation with all parts sof the island easy. 1t
would be pity to destroyoSan Juan, which
is fine town, with Rnieely paved streets
wider than those of ;oldn Havana. Steps
were recently taken to- bring in good water
by an aqueduct system
"Our soldiers could jsbtain good water in
all parts Of the island, and there is no
swamp land. as in Cuba The cheapest,
quickest and most hupans way of conquer
ing Porto Rico is by the use Of the big
guns of our feet. Al land siege Of San
Juan would be slow and expensive, both in
the matter of men and Money