The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-23
The GOVERNMENTS PLANS
LIS Purposes and responsibilities
and Probable Course.

Washington, July ga significant
statement was made to the Associated
Press today by gentleman in position
to speak with knowledge and authority
as to the plans of the administration
with reference to future war operations.
In substance the statement was as fol
lows:
Commodore Watson's proceeding to
the Spanish peninsula as soon as the
Porto Rican expedition is under way, is
not to bonn bard the cities on the Spanish
coast. No such idea as bonbardment
is entertained. While there may be other
| incidental purposes, the main mission of
Watson is to take care of Admiral CANA
ra's fleet. The movement of this fleet and
the fears and approximations caused by re-.
ports concerning it are to be stopped for
all time. The ships under Camara will
be located by Watson and finally met and
engaged. The talk occasionally INDUCED
in as to the Canary islands is utterly
without foundation. This government
has no plan to take those islands and does
not want Them
despite popular expectation that Por-
to Rico operations will be followed i'm
medlately by action against Havana, it
can be said that Havana will not be at.
lacked while yellow fever conditions
exist, 1t would he the height of national
Jolly to engage our troops in and about
the fever pest hole. Consequently, it will
| De lett until the climate lends its aid in
the autumn. Shafter will hold his own
| In the eastern strip now surrendered and
may gradually push his way over some
other districts, and if there should he
any particular need of immediate aggres-
against it, but Havana will be lett until
yellow fever dangers are passed.
Meanwhile in the next two months
there will be enough to keep this govern.
ment busy. We will have to cope with
the most serious problem yet,of providing
for the government and the future of the
lands involved in this war The hauling
down of the Spanish flag and the hosting
of that of the United States means more
than on its face it indicates to the popu-
lar mind. No more important matter is
to engage the attention of the govern
ment than the details to be arranged for
the disposition, control or temporary pos
session, pending final transfer of posses.
sion, of these additions to our domain.
There are questions of the most intricate
and far reaching character to be decided.
Porto Rico, whose fall is likely to be re-
ported in IA week or ten days, will have o
military government. Porto Rico of
course is to be kept permanently by this
government but there must be military
government first and many preliminary
details will have to be worked out.
Next winter when Congress convenes,
the necessity for laws covering such mat
tiers will be recognized by recommended
ton to congress to that end to be SUBJ
United by the President and the govern
ment is likely to be busy from now on
considering all these matters of govern
ment in detail
"It is a certainty as far as now can be
foreseen that Guam, the island in the
Ladrone group that was captured by this
government, will be permanently retained
as coaling and supply station. For
these purposes, it is valuable from its 10.
cation between the Sandwich and the
Philippine islands. But on the point
whether the rest of the Ladrones will be
kept, lam not sure. They may be and
they may not be. The disposition of the
Philippines is unsettled and depends upon
circumstances,
AS to the attitude of Garcia and the
insurgents, in Cuba, there is no change
in our intention. This governments is
not misled in it's estimate of those forces.
With the oppressive hand Spain has put
on them so long, contending against the
conditions imposed by injustice and op-
preston, there should have been little OK.
pectation of greater abilities than are
now shown by them. This government
will have to treat them kindly but firm
ly. 1t has made pledge to establish
firm and stable government and that
must be carried out. 1t therefore may be
in the light of present circumstances and
conditions. many years before affairs
there have SO shaped themselves as to en-.
trust the island to the Cubans and we
finally yield our possession of them. The
transition must be gradual, step by step,(
and the final general change of control
effected only after thorough training
and demonstration of the abilities of
the people beginning with tie trial of
some of the leaders in at first minor ca
paoities.''
SEPEn NpANrr,c Doo,~,