Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-27
THE PRESIDENTS OWN PLAN
Immediate Attack on Porto Rico and Its
Occupation.
In Favor of the Invasion of Cuba
foiio"f"s-indfcati That Steps
Are Already Being Taken.

Inc war conference yesterday strength
ems the purpose of the administration to
occupy Porto Rico at once. Persons In
congress who are close to the President
and understand thoroughly his ideas with
relation to the prosecution of the war and
the policy to be pursued now and in the
immediate future say that the immediate
occupation of Porto Ttico before the in
vasion of Cuba, or simultaneously with It.
Is the Presidents own plan. The attack
Upon Manila was the Presidents idea,
strongly advocated by him in the cabinet
councils and acquiesced in by his advisers
1t is said now by those who undoubtedly
are close to the President that he is TAX
Ing a position just as strongly in favor of
making an invasion Of Porto Rico the next
move. The invasion Of Cuba may take
place simultaneously with that of Porto
Rico. but the Presidents idea is to take
Porto Rico first and to have the invasion
of Cuba follow that.
Steps Being Taken.
Indeed, there is reason to believe that
steps toward the invasion of Porto Rico
are already being taken, and that very
soon Sampson's fleet will appear suddenly
before San Juan and that fortified port will
be again bofinbarded. this time in dead
earnest, and army of twenty thousand
or more viii be landed. 1t is asserted
positively, on the best of authority, that the
first troops embarked on the transports.
though the troops themselves may think
they are going to Cuba, will be sent at
oi ce to Porto Rico. The Presidents deter
mination on this point is said to be fixed
and positive and to be based on a we'll
considered plan Of operation, which was
decided on before the orders were sent to
Admiral Dewey to destroy the Spanish feet
at Manila. The President took the position
at that tir1e that while every effort should
be made to supply the insurgents with
arms and provisions, our first military and
naval operations should be directed against
the Philippines and Porto Rico. The first
step in this plan of operations was the
order to Admiral Dewey
Bombardment of San Juan.
The brief bombardment of San Juan
more than two weeks ago would have re-
suited in the occupation of that port, as
Manila is now occupied, had the Spanish
fleet been found there, as it was expected
it would be, and an invading army would
have been sent as soon as possible We
Were not prepared. however. at that time to
transport the troops Immediately, and the
presence of the Spanish fleet in the Carib-
bean sea rendered it desirable that the
capture Of San Juan should be delayed un-
til the transports for troops were ready,
and that meanwhile Sampson's fleet should
cooperate with Schleys in effort to de-
stroy the Spanish fleet. Though the Span
ish fieet was not destroyed, its bottling up
at Santiago de Cuba removes it as q factor,
and the plan of Porto Rican invasion, it is
said, is to be proceeded with. Meanwhile,
assistance Is being rendered the insurgent
army In Cuba, and prepare tions are being
perfected for the landing of a large invad-
ing army in Cuba, after San Juan has been
reduced and Porto Rico occupied This
plan of operation gives US immunity, 1t is
thought, from Spanish operations in the
Pacific. cuts Spain off from all base of oper-
ations in the Atlantic and leaves the Span
ish army in Cuba at our mercy, without
the possibility of relief from Spain.
Blanco Expected to Give Up.
The natural expectation is that Blanco,
being placed in such position, will reason
from his necessities and surrender Cuba,
without necessitating the great amount of
bloodshed and devastation which would re-
suit from a prolonged siege This does not
mean peaceful blockade nor blood
less INVASION" A large army will be land
ed in Cuba for a vigorous campaign, and
the defenses of Havana will be reduced by
our fleet. Promptness and vigor in this
movement, after all the surrounding condi-
tions have been rendered satisfactory are
relied upon to shorten the war and to re-
duce the loss of life on our side. This plan
starts on the broad radius marked by Mani
la and Porto Rico, and draws In our forces
irresistibly around Cuba