The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23
PoRTo RIco MAY WAN.


military Efforts May BE Concentrated
ON the Conquest OF Cuba.
NEW YORK, June PA special ITO the
Tribune from Washington says: The prof.
ect to occupy Porto Rico is now regarded
by the highest military authorities of both
the army and navy practically removed
from immediate consideration, and unless
the death rate of General Skaters army
from diseases Indigenous to Cuban soil Is
exceedingly high, the Presidents desire for
the prosecution Of a general aggressive. CAM
paign throughout the entire island Of Cuba
may be promptly entered on the moment
Santiago Is captured. The suggestion OF a
Porto Rico campaign to precede the inva~
sion of Cuba was put forth more than q
month ago, before Admiral Sampson bonn
barded San Juan. and pending the
uncertainty regarding the destination
of Ceveras squadron, then several
weeks at sea from Cape Verde. The
unexpected difficulties met with in or
ganizing the great volunteer army
needed for the Cuban campaign, together
with the urgent warning delivered by medi-
cal experts against the adviaability af ex-
posing raw, unacclimated recruits to tbs
pestilential' climate of Havana end the SUR
rounding country, where the blockade con-
ditions were presumed to be unusually fa-
vorable to a devastating scourge of yellow
fever, together with the comparative saIu-
brity of Porto Rico and the relatively small
Spanish force holding that island, worked
strongly to bring about the approval of the
scheme to obtain control of ii as 8, war me-
cessity
The desirable diplomatic point supposed
to be gained through actual occupation be-
fore Spain could sue for peace in deference
to strong pressure in that direction, which
it was well known was being exerted at
Madrid, gave no little weight to the project
and preparations for it's accomplishment
went forward so energetically that, even
after Cervera had shut himself up at SAN
tiago and both Commodore Schiey and Ad-
miral Sampson had confessed that an at
tempt to eject him would prove futile with-
out the cooperation of an army corps the
Porto Rican enterprise was not Abandoned
but was temporarily pushed aside by the
more imperative necessity of sending Gen.
Shafter to Santiago as expeditiously as posv
sible.
The fleet of transports had barely sailed
from Tampa last week before many oIIIk
Gals in Washington, in the absence of any
countermanding of the original orders Tor
mobilizing the Porto Rican expedition.
again took up its details, and were hurry
ing the preparations along on the original
lines, when General Miles returned and con-
vinced the highest authorities that the best
of military reasons existed for concentrate
ing every resource of the government, for
the time being at least, on the support Of
General Shafter. whose campaign was Of 4
more hazardous nature than had been gem
orally appreciated. Notwithstanding this
IT.
which had been provided in this army corps
the fact that 1900 men were to be landed
in strange country in the face Of mueh
more numerous force, whose exact strength
could only be estimated, will probably prove
the crucial event of the whole war; ftN
success may be expected to result in Spain.s
prompt realization of the futillty OF further
resistance, while serious reverse, even of
temporary character, might indefinitely
prolong the duration OF hostiities
The illusion that the actual possession OF
Porto Rico constituted any valid advantagef
from an international law point was speed
lily dispelled by the citation of precedents
the most recent of them being the acquisi-
tion by Japan of Formosa at the treaty OF
Sinonoseki. although the island was In
possession of China at the close of the war
1t was also made evident that the United
states. had absolute justification, which
could not be combatted by neutrals. for exs
acting the surrender OF Porto Rico by Spain
as an indemnity against part of the cost OF
the war; especially as II was universally
conceded that this government already had
the power of eventually debating the terms
of peace. In fact, If there existed any rea-
sonable argument for running the risk of
sacrificing General shafter for the acquisI-
d -
ported with. any telling weight in the opinion
of State Department officials and menu
bers OF the diplomatic corps in Washington.
1t now appears TO be conclusively settled
that no further attention Will be paid to
Porto Rico for the present, unless Il de-
veIops a strategic Importance utterly un-
recognized at the present time.