Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-28
OUTLINE OF PLANS.
Statement In Reference to the Carry
ing on Of the War with Spain.
SPANS COAST EOT TO Be SHELLED.
Commodore Watson's Mission Will BE to
Look After Camarx's Fleet Havana Al.
tack tn Wait-Ons OF the Ladrone
Islands to he Kept.

Washington, July GA significant
statement was made 10 the Associated
press Yesterday ~ one In position to
speak with knowledge and authority
as to the plans OF the administration
with reference to future war opera.
tons. In substance the statement was
as follows:
Commodore Watson In proceeding to the
Spanish peninsula as soon as the Porto ltican
expedition is under way, is not IL lombard
the cities on the Spanish coast. No such idea
OF the bombardment OF the coast Is eater
tanned While there may be other incidental
purposes, the main mission OF Watson Is to
take care Of Camaras feet The NOV m Mt OF
this feet and the fears anu apprehension
caused by reports concerning 1t ure " Dv
stopped for oil time The ships under Camara
will be located by Watson and finally met aud
engaged The talk occasionally INDUCED In us
to the Canary islands is utterly without foun-
dation This government hos no plan to take
these islands and does not want them.
Despite popular expectation that Porto Rico
operations will be followed Immediately BY &C.
tion against Havana 1t can be said that Ha
vana will not be attacked while yellow fever
conditions exist This is certain. 1t would be
the height Of national folly to engage our troops
In and about the fever pest hole Consequently
1t will be left until the climate lends Its aid In
the autumn Shafter will hold his own In the
eastern strip now surrendered may gradually
push his way over some other districts, and II
there should be any particular need OF imme-
diate aggressive action at any point will move
against it, but Havana will be left until yellow
fever dangers are past
Meantime, In the next two months there will
be enough to keep this government busy. We
will have to cope with the most serious prob
lens 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 pop
ular mind No more important matter is to
engage the attention OF the government than
the details TO be arranged for the disposition,
control or temporary possession pending final
transfer of possession Of these additions to
our domain. There are questions Of the most
intricate and far-reaching character to be de-
cided
Porto Rico whose fall Is liable to be re-
corded within week or ten days will have 10
have military government Porto Rico Of
course, Is to be kept permanently by this gov
eminent, but there must be military govern
ment first and many preliminary details will
have to be worked out There must be re-
Mobilization OF existing systems OF govern
ment where we have carried our arms and
while local schemes and conditions will form
the basis OF general system for the control of
the land there must be numerous changes,
abolishing such laws us may be oppressive.
Laws will have TO be very thoroughly gone
over and the tariff system revised In some way,
but In general and as far as possible the sys-
TEN Of government which now exists Is to be
followed
Next winter, however, when congress con-
venes, the necessity for laws covering such
matters will be recognized by recommended
tions to congress to that end and to be sub
mitted by the president and 1t Is very probable
the shaping Of the destines Of Porto Rico and
similar circumstanced accessi0ns will be left
to commission or commissions to be appoint
ed to draft the laws by adoption by congress-
The government is likely to be busy from now
on considering oil these matters OF govern
mental detail
1t is certainty as far as now can be foreseen
that Guam, the island in the Lalrone group
that was captured by this government, will be
permanently retained as a coaling and supply
station For these purposes it is valuable from
its location between the Sandwich and the
Philippine islands, and on the point whether
the rest Of them will be kept l am not sure.
They may be and they may not be- The dis
position OF the Philippines is unsettled and de-
ponds upon circumstances
As to the attitude Of Garcia and the insur-
gents in Cuba there is no change in our inten-
lion This government has not been misled in
its estimate Of these forces. With the oppres-
sive hand Spain has put on them so long, con-
tending against the conditions imposed by in
justice and oppression, there would have been
little expectation Of greater abilities than are
now shown by them This government will
have to treat them kindly, but firmly. 1t has
made a pledge to establish u firm and stable
government and that must be carried out.