The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-27
WILL TAKE PORTO RICO.
Troop. WIN he sent There Before the
Invasion OF Cuba.


Troop. WIN he sent There Before the
Invasion Of Cuba.
New York, May 20 "A special 20 The
Tribune from Washington says:
Extraordinary activity in the war and
navy departments give every indication
OF important and immediate develop.
ments in the conduct Of the war, while
an unusual exhibition Of secrecy served
TO strengthen the impression that
prompt and energetic action along the
whole line In the West Indies had 10.
come a question OF hours rather than
days. Rumors too definite to be ignor.
ed, but impossible Of official auihentica.
tion' explained the remarkable hurry
and hustle as due to the presidents de-
termination to have Porto Rico occupied
by American soldiers without further
delay, and that the troops which had
been concentrated At gulf ports for the
Invasion Of Cuba were 10 embark i'm.
mediately on the 20 transports which
had been secured, and, under convoy Of
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron, be sent
at once 20 seize San Juan de Porto Rico
and establish permanent colonial gov.
eminent In the island similar TO that
which General Merritt is charged with
creating in the Philippines
IL was said that the events OF the last
few days In Cuba, eliminating in the
uselessness to Spain Of Ccryera's feet
securely 'corked mp" at Santiago, aud
the destruction OF untrammeled cable
communication between the colonies
aud Madrid, gave every assurance Of
the speedy collapse OF Spanish resistance
TO the inevitable, and that the United
States government had awakened to the
necessity OF actually possessing Porto
Rico before the end came. That island
and the Philippines had become to be
looked upon as an essential rccompense
to the United States for is expensive
Intervention in behalf OF Cuba's free.
dom, and the fear had arisen that unless
they were actually secured before Cuba
fell, embarrassing complications, lead.
Ing possibly TO grave international com.
plications with European powers, might
be avoided.
With the Spanish military forces at
Havana effectually isolated aud without
even remote hopes OF reinforccments,
with SPANS naval force this side Of the
Atlantic completely paralyzed, and with
the Madrid government already to,ter.
ing In It's insecurity Of policy. the oppor.
tunity for dealing a crushing blow
through the seizure OF Porto Rico was
hardly to he expected
The military authorities expressed su.
prcme confidence in their ability to
sweep the Spaniards from Porto Rico
with the men now at their command,
while still reluctant TO attempt the
greater task Of establishing a position in
Cuba with tine same force.
With the 1900 well equipped and
seasoned regular troops gathered at
Tampa, New Orleans and Mobile. and
the fleet Of transports already loading,
many OF them in fact ready TO sail from
these points, satisfactory assurances were
given 10 the president that there would
be no possibility OF a reverse nc San
Juan de Porto Rico after the heavy bat.
teries had been reduced by Simpsons
ships. The withdrawal Of these forces,
IL was shown, would leave 1900, the
pick Of the volunteer army at the gulf
ports, while scarcely a days journey
away werc the 40 regiments Of infantry,
b light batteries Of artillery and troops
OF cavalry rapidly being trained in 81.
fectiye corps, with the certainty Of BE-.
coming speedily ready 20 meet any
emergency that might arise
Rum0rs are especially persistent that
actual military operations IN the West
Indies will begin before June !, and
speculation seems equally divided on the
chances OF an invasion directed against
Cuba or against Porto Rico, IL is said
to be the desire Of the government to
striks blow at Spanish obstinacy by
Immediately sei1ing aud occupying Por.
to Rico, an island, whose climate Is far
moro healthful then that Of Cuba and
whose value for the purpose Of indem.
MITIGATION ~ the close Of the war Is self.