The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-26


Tribune from Washington says: Ex-
traordinary activity in the war and
navy departments this morning, which
was not limited to the higher officials,
but included every individual in both
services, gave every indication of i'm
portant developments in the conduct of
the war, while an unusual secrecy
served to strengthen the impression
that prompt and energetic action all
along the whole line in the West Indies
had become a question of hours rather
than days Rumors. too definite to be
ignored, but impossible of official au-
Identification, explained the remarkable
hurry and hustle as due to the preSi-
dents determination to have Porto
Rico occupied by American soldiers
without further delay, and that the
troops which had been concentrated at
4 gulf ports for the invasion of Cuba
were to embark Immediately on the
20 transports which had been secured,
and under convoy of Admiral Samp-
sons squadron be sent at once to seize
San Juan de Porto Rico and establish
a permanent colonial government in the
island similar to that which General
Merritt is charged with creating in the
Philippines.
However startling the report. its
FEASIBILITY soon received corroborative
strength through the reluctance of
every high official to deny it, while
many senators and other prominent
civilians having influential relations
| with those carrying on the war, not
only affirmed the existence of the sug-
gested plan. but gave cogent reasons
for it's sudden adoption by the authori-
ties.
/ 1t was said that the events of the
last few days in Cuba, eliminating in
the uselessness to Spain of Cervera's
feet, securely "corked up at Santi
ago, and the destruction of untram
meled cable communication between
the colonies and Madrid, gave every
assurance of the speedy collapse OF
Spanish resistance to the inevitable,
and the United States government had
! awakened to the necessity of possess
| ing Porto Rico before the end came.
| That island and the Philippines had
| come 10 be looked on as an essential
recompense to the United States for its
expensive intervention in behalf OF
/ Cuba'S freedom, and the fear had
arisen that unless they were actually
secured before Cuba fell, embarrassing
complications, leading possibly TO grave
| international complications with Euro
pean powers, might not be avoided.
A CRUSHING BLOW.
With the Spanish military forces at
Havana effectually isolated and with
out even remote hopes of reinforce
ments with SPANS naval force this
side of the Atlantic completely paral-
| wed and with the Madrid government
already tottering in its insecurity of
policy, the opportunity for dealing a
/ crushing blow through the island OF
Porto Rico was hardly to be resisted.
The sanitary condition of Cuba the
strength of the army there. and many
| other causes which operated to delay
the invasion of that island. with the in
sufficient force of trained regulars
which it had been possible to concen-
trate at Tampa in a single month,
wholly disappeared as factors OF delay
in the Porto Rican project.
The military authorities expressed Su-
preme confidence in their ability to sweep
the SDaniards from Porto Rico with the
men now at their command. While sun
reluctant to attempt the greater task of
esta blishing a position in Cuba with the
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
1 of them, in fact. ready to sail from those
! points satisfactory assurances We're
given to the president that there would
be no possibility of reverse at San Juan
de Porto Rico after the heavy batteries
! The withdrawal of these forces, it was
shown. would leave 1900 men. the pick of
the volunteer army, at the gulf ports,
| while scarcely a days journey away wera
| the 40 regiments of infantry, nine light
batteries of artillery and eight troops of
cavalry. in the Chickamauga camp. rapid
! " being trained in effective corps, with
| the certainty of becoming speedily ready
| to meet any emergency that might con-
front the government should Cuban occu-
patton become necessary.
| When the excitement in the war depart
ment over the Porto Rican expedition was
at it's height. the presidents proclamation
1 calling for an additional force of 1000
/ men was issued. This action confirmed
the prevailing impression that aggressive
movements were Immediately contem-
| plated, especially as 1t had already be-
| come known that the authorities We're
agreed upon a strength of about $4,000
men to carry out the responsibilities
| which had become evident that the gov
eminent had already incurred.
DIVISION OF FORCES.
The division of this aggregate force
had been determined upon at yester-
days cabinet meeting in practically
the following preparations:
Philippine occupation, $4,000: Porto
Rican occupation. $4,000; Cuba, 100000;
I reserve and home defense, 1850
| The estimate for the Cuban army of
| invasion was based on the conviction
which is now common TO all authorities,
/ both civil and military, in Washington,
that order cannot be restored over that
large area of territory without the pres
ence there for some time to come of
at least 100 regiments, and that little
or no reliance can be placed on the ca
pacity of Cubans for self government,
| for at least a year or two. AS re-
| CARDS Porto Rico, it is not
believed the inhabitants will be able to
maintain a government of their own in
less than a generation, and practically
the same conclusion is reached regard
| ing the Philippine Islanders.
The necessity for $4,000 men, under
arms, at home. at any rate, until some
time after permanent peace has been
assured, is recognized, as we'll as the
necessity for relieving volunteers after