The times., 1898-07-23
SATURDAY. JULY %, 1898.
The Porto Rico EH,cdi,ion.

Flowing the sunlit waters Of the
West Indies. the generaI-in-chief Of lhe
American army with a fleet Of troop
ships. conveyed by a strong naval force.
IS steaming steadily toward q landing
place on the island Of Porto Rico. Tn
less time Is lost in effecting a junction
with the transports from Charleston.
in the Windward Passage, the probabn-
it.es are that Sunday VIII witness an
other historic American flag raising on
foreign soil. General Miles is a man
of imagination and not likely 10 for
get the Lords Day luck that has mark
ed our fortunes in this Spanish war.
II il be practicable, we do not doubt
that he viii say his prayers tomorrow
morning in Porto Rico under the Stars
and Stripes
From what is known Of the enemy's
strength. and Of other conditions in
the island. il is fair to expect that the
campaign viii be a short Cne, and that
The flower Of our military and naval
forces viii soon b. once more available
tor the increasingly important opera
Jions which are likely to precede tie.
end Of hostilities OF what they may
consist is again a matter for conject-
ure. Whether, because Of a shreWd de-
sire on the part of our war authorities
prudenuy TO envelope the plans and
purposes Of the Government in mys-
IeIy. or for whatever reason, the White
House and War Department are not
taking the public into their confidence
in connection with any movement that
may be in contemplation in succession
10 the capture and occupation Of Porto
Rico. Perhaps the President is not
sure himself wliar may be done next.
The abandonment, or, to speak mere
ccuservatively. the indefinite postpone
ment OF the movement against the
Spanish coast, subject to circumstances
Yet Undeve,oIed, may have been neces-
sary, while il certainly is d disappoint
n-ent l. the American people who nat
Urally would like 10 See war sweep on
fast and furiously until its relentless
punishment should bring Spain 10 her
knees. As the policy Of the President
has worked out satisfactorily in other
instances. there is room for the hone
and expectation that il viii in this one
That he personally fsyors a vigorous
prosecution Of The contest Is shown in
many ways His stern order to Com
modore Sampson, compelling that indi-
Vidual 10 cease his obstructive cours
toward the Porto Rican expedition. and
10 furnish the convoy needed by Cen
eral Miles, is evidence that he is able
on occasion 70 brush aside the barnacle
influence behind that iaggard bureau
cIat and take matters into his own
hands.
There may be room for regret that
he mas not gone a step further and rec
osnized popular sentiment as well as
the highest good Of the service by re-
moving Sampson altogether. In fail
ing u do SO, We fear that he has not
risen 10 the opportunity that Sampson
himself has offered him. The course
of that officer during the past few DAYS
has disposed Of any doubt in the public
mind as To the necessity for his retire
mer- from command In spite of
speciOus excuses sent out broadcast nv
his hackers in the Navy Department
1t is plain enough that the DELAY in
forwarding the army Of invasion under
Miles has been his deliberate fault.
Thereby. great annoyance to the Ad-
ministration has been occasioned. and
Widespread wonder outside that Mr.
Mckinley would tolerate such a su k
Inarplot at the head Of the American
fleet. Sampson's recent conduct only
emphasizes the injustice which favor
itism to him has worked upon his
lineal, professional and moral superior.
Commodore Winfield Scott sehley.
In case the Porto Rican expedition