Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-07-21
PORTO RICO PLANS.
The President Proposes to Strike
While the Iron Is Hot.
Gen. Miles to Proceed Direct Co n Point
Near San Juan with Some OF the
Troops at Santiago do
CubR.

last night the participants being, be-
sides President Mckinley, Secretary
Long, Admiral Sicard and Capt Ma
han, of the war board. Adjt Gen.
Corbin was present during a part of
the deliberations. The happy conclu-
sion of the campaign against Santiago
affords the president and his advisers
intense satisfaction, but no disposition
is manifested to let the war rest for
moment. Even before the details of
the Santiago campaign had been
cleared away the expedition against
Porto Rico absorbs the attention of
the president. He fully realizes that
war can be prosecuted to a speedy and
successful issue only by pressing the
advantages already gained, and, as
one of the officials expressed it last
night, 1.-THE president proposes to strike
while the iron is hot"
Arrangements for the Porto Rico ex-
petition were under discussion by the
president and the war board last
night. 1t may be two or three days
before the details of the new invasion
are worked out, but it is probable that
before the end of the present week the
military forces of the expedition will
have effected landing near San Juan,
Prior to the landing naval demon
stration probably will be made against
the San Juan Notifications, The yes
sells taking part in the bombardment
will be portion of the feet of Admit
raj Sampson, but what vessels have
been ordered to Porto Rico could not
be ascertained.
No definite decision has been reached
as to the strength and personnel of the
land forces to be sent to Porto Rico.
For time it was supposed that few,
if any, of the troops now under
Gen. Skaters command at Santiago
would be sent to Porto Rico, but it is
known now that at least part of
Skaters command will be in the new
expedition. Gen. Brooke, who is
scheduled to go to Porto Rico, desired
to take with him the troops which
constitute his corps at Chickamauga,
but it has been determined not to send
that corps in its entirety. 1t is be-
lieved by the war officials that not so
many men will be needed in addi-
ton to the number to be sent
from Cuba and only part of Gen.
Brookes corps will form, there
fore, that part of the Porto Rico ex-
petition which is to be sent directly
from the United States
1t is understood that Gen. Miles,
who is to have general command of
the operations in Porto Rico, will not
return to the United States, but will
proceed directly to point near San
Juan with such of the military forces
now at Santiago as are to form part
of the expedition against Porto Rico.
Gen. Miles is in constant communica-
ton with the administration, and
much reliance is being placed upon
him in the matter of the selection of
the land forces for the Porto Rican ex-
petition.
Secretary Alger expressed his graft
| fication at the elimination of the San
tiago campaign. He had fully ex-
pected the surrender to be formally
carried out by nine o'clock yesterday
morning, according to Gen. Skaters
telegram Saturday night, yet it was
relief to know that the last chance for
parley and Spanish diplomacy had
passed and that our flag was now fly
ing over the city. ut is a magnificent
achievement" said he, land mos6 all
it is a tribute to the bravery, pluck
and endurance of our American sol
diers. Now that their efforts have
brought final and complete success,
believe their campaign will be record
ed as one of the most glorious pages of
our military history. Not more than
10000 men were engaged when the
most serious fighting occurred, but
they pushed forward and created
condition which has brought the sur
render of 25, 900 men,"
Later in the afternoon the official
dispatches came from Gen. Shafter,
giving in brief, military fashion, an
unusually clear statement from the
general of the days events 1t was
entirely satisfactory from every point
of view, showing that the American
army was in complete control of city
that it would have cost 5000 lives to
capture by storm.
During the day Secretary of War
Alger Endorsed the plan of Col. Hecker
for the transportation of the Spanish
forces at Santiago back to Spain. 1t
provides for an aggregate of 1000
Spanish officers with flrst-class cabin
accommodations and $4,000 soldiers
with third-class steerage passage. The
circular says that the Spanish forces
will be delivered on board at Santiago
for transportation to Cadiz, Spain, or
such other ports as may be designated
1t is provided that the accommoda-
tions are to be kept up to the standard
required by the United States army
regulations as to officers and men in
regard to galleys, ventilation, etc.
The subsistence furnished is to be
equal to the prescribed United States
army ration, which is set forth in de-
tail as a guide to bidders as to what
they must furnish.
VIII Capture the Caroline Islands.
San Francisco Julv 10 -Advioas