The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-24
PREPARED TO RESIST.

III l..
There has been considerable COM
ment upon the large force of men be-
ing sent to Porto Rico, owing to the
general belief that the island can be
taken after brief engagement, some
enthusiasts going so far as to predict
that the Spaniards will surrender with
out the firing of a gun. The govern
ment is In possession of information
just the opposite to that which seems
to prevail among those who are guess
ing. The Spaniards at San Juan, and
those at other points on the island,
are, it Is said, determined to make a
desperate resistance, and are in a posi-
ton to give considerable trouble. Ex-
tenSive preparations have been under
way at San Juan ever since it became
known that Gen. Miles would start for
Porto Rico to plant the American flag
upon another Spanish possession. The
government is keeping posted on all
points In that connection, fully real
1Zing that the taking of Porto Rico will
not be picnic outing, and is, there
fore, sending a sufficient force with
Gen. Miles to make defeat, or even the
sibility.
LEE MAY HAVE A CHANCE.
There is considerable talk here of
late about the inactivity of Gen. Fitz-
hugh Lee, whose name was SO prom
inent in Cuban affairs during the
troublous times incident to the break
ing out Of the war with Spain. South
ern men openly complain that Lee Is
being treated unfairly-that he has
been kept in the background, while
others, of perhaps less military ability,
are being accorded opportunities to
achieve fame. For meeting these COM
plants those close to the government
say that Gen. Lee is being kept in
reserve for the campaign against Ha-
vana, with which section Of Cuba he
is most familiar. 1t Is said that If the
taking Of Porto Rico and the fall Of
Manila fail to bring the Spaniards to
their senses then, after Watson's dem
onstration against the coast of Spain,
an army Of 100000 men will march
against the Cuban capital, and Gen.
Lee will be in the first detachment that
goes forward. 1t Is said that his mill
tary ability is fully recognized by the
administration.
MAKES HIM SMILE.
It Is said that Secretary of State Day
has keen appreciation of the ridicu-
lous. He Is a quiet, dignifled man, but
the mere mention of European inter
ference in the war with Spain invaria-
bly, brings a broad smile to his other
wise mobile features. Some one anx-
iously asked the secretary what he
thought Of the report to the effect that
all the European powers, with the ex-
ception Of Great Britain, had combined
to prevent the United States from
Selling the Philippines and, further,
to see that there was no such thing
as an Anglo Amertcan protectorate for
those islands. Mr.. Day said nothing
in reply. He smiled-and 1t was such
a significant smile that the anxious
inquirer went away satisfied that the
premier was amused at the idea of such
a combination being sufficiently potent
to In any way affect what the Anglo
Saxons may decide to do with the Phil
ippines.
PEACE PROPOSALS.
In official circles today there was
some discussion Of the report that
Spain had made overtures to the Unit
ed States looking to peace. 1t was en-
phatically denied that anything that
could be dignifed with the title Of off,
cial propositions had been received. One
official said 1t was perhaps true that
peace had been talked of by repre-
sentatives Of this and other govern
ments, but that there had been over
lures from any recognized source was
a mistake, possibly based upon some
casual reference to the war by MEM
bers of diplomatic corps. There will be
no peace negotiations. it Is said, until
Spain makes the first move in that
1iraotiOn