The San Francisco call., 1898-07-23

WASHINGTON, July PA signifi- cant statement was made to the Asso- ciated Press to-day by gentleman in position to speak with knowledge and authority as to the plans of the Administration with reference to fu- ture war operations. In substance the statement was as follows:
 Commodore Watson, in proceeding to the Spanish peninsula as soon as the Porto Rican expedition is gotten under way, Is not to lombard the cities on the Spanish coast. No such idea of bombardment of the coast is enter tained While there may be other in- cidental purposes, the main mission of Watson is take care of Camara's fleet. The movement of this fleet and the fears and apprehensions caused by re- ports concerning it are to be stopped for all time. The ships under Camara will be located by Watson, finally met and engaged. The talk occasionally indulged in as to the Canary Islands is utterly without foundation. This Gov ernment has no plan to take the isl- ands and does not want them.
 Despite popular expectation that Porto Rico operations will be followed immediately by action against Hav- ana, it can be said that Havana will not be attacked while yellow fever conditions exist This is certain. It would be the height of national folly to engage our troops in and about the fever pesthole Consequently, it will be left 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 be any particular need of inn mediate aggressive action at any point he will move against 1t, but Havana will be left until yellow fever dangers are past.
 Meantime, in the next two months there will be enough to keep this Gov ernment busy. We will have to cope with the most serious problem yet that of providing for the government and the future of the lands involved in this war. The hauling down of the Spanish flag and the hoisting of that of the United States means more than on it's face 1t indicates to the popular mind. No more important matter Is to engage the attention of the Govern ment than the details to be arranged for the QlSpOSltlOD, COHliOl Oi leIlpo- rary possession, pending final transfer of possession of these additions to our domain
 There are questions of the most in- tricate and far-reaching character to be decided Porto Rico, whose fall is likely to be recorded within a week or ten days, will have to have a military Governor Porto Rico, of course. is to be kept permanently by this Govern ment. but this must be a military gov ernment first, and many preliminary details will have to be worked out. There must be a rehabilitation of ex- isting systems of government where we have carried our arms. and, while local schemes and conditions will form the basis of the general system for the con- trol of the land, there must be numer- ous changes, abolishing such laws as 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 system of government which now ex- ists is to be followed.
 '.All this means work of the most se- rious character, and in the absence of existing laws to govern such matters the President has to go ahead on his own responsibility. Next winter, how ever, when Congress convenes, the ne- cessity for laws covering such matters will be recognized by recommendations