Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-29
GUESSING AT ARMY PLANS
Conviction Growing that Porto Rico is to Be
First Invaded.
ENOUGH TROOPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Would Cut on Base of for
Spanish Fleet and Give Time to
Put Volunteers in shape
for Cuban Campaign.

NEW YORK. May 2s.-A special To the
Times from Washington says: Although
today has been devoid Of definite develop
ments Of a military nature. It has been
marked by a strengthening o. the conviction
that Porto Rico and not Cuba is 10 be the
hrst object OF invasion by the combined land
and naval forces. The administration Is
not making its plans known, nor is the War
board taking the public into SITS confidence.
but there are other ways in which coming
events make themselves known even IN var
times. A significant indication Of the at
titude Of the military arm toward Porto
Rico is signihed by the way members OF the
stahs urge the movement. The command
ing general Of the army is not talking for
publication but 1t is understood that the
members of his stan who declare unre-
servedly In favor OF taking Porto Rico with
out delay reflect his views on that subject
The announcement that General Miles may
leave Washington in a day or two on a tour
OF inspection OF the army camps in the
south is regarded as co%nfrmatory of the
understanding that there is TO be no in
vasion of Cuba at once. 1t has been taken
for granted that General Miles will go to
Cuba with the army. II the invasion is TO
be put off and Porto Rico taken instead. his
present tour Of inspection is easily ex-
planned. The strongest argument used IN
favor Of an attack on Porto Rico is that it
Is the easiest thing the army can do just at
present, and in fact about the only thin 2
IL can do. The decision was reached long
ago that not less than 5aoo1. preferably
75. 200 men, will be needed for tho first army
sent TO Cuba Not more than %, 900 men
are In shape now for a foreign campaign.
These are the regulars and the equipped
volunteers al Tampa. The rest Of the VOL
"a ---.. L. - WY-a-v.Fn%al
and 1t may be accepted once for all that it
is not going TO be sent to Cuba until II is
equipped and to some extent Instructed in
and Injured to the practices of war. With
the 5000 men already at Tampa it is urged
Porto Rico could be taken and subdued.
while the rest OF the army is being put in
shape at Chickamauga and other amps
When all has been made ready for the move
on Cuba all the regulars could be with
drawn from Porto Rico and used 10 lead the
army against Blanco. The fact that while
giving needed training to the regulars them
selves, and delivering them from the debil-
itating ~inaction at Tampa this move would
strike a deadly blow at Spain in a vital part
of its colonial structure and rob the reserve
Spanish feet of it's only base of supplies on
this side OF the Atlantic. are urged as
reasons in it's favor, are believed TO be
determining the powers that be in its favor
Troops Ready TO Move.
There does not seem TO be anything TO
prevent the success of the plan. since the
troops and the transports are all at Tampa,
and all, according to reports received here,
are ready to move on short notice. The
fact that General Shafter has been author
lied to send a portion of his ommand al
Tampa to Jacksonville, so as TO make them
more comfortable in camp, is taken here 10
indicate that there is no intention to send
them to Cuba at once II General Shafter
knew his whole force would be called on tc
go to Cuba next week il is urged that he
would not 90 TO the trouble of having them
break camp and move over to Jacksonville.
The plan, as it is construed here, is for
General Shafter to send the least available
Of his volunteers to Jacksonville, while hold
ing the regulars and the pick of the new
troops 10 the number of $4,000 or 10000
ready for the expedition to Porto Rico.
Private letters received here say all the
Indications at Tampa point to au early de.
parture of the military force massed a
that point, with much uncertainty as tt
whittier the expedition is bound. Ths ex
pectation here will be disappointed If Portt
Rico is not its destination. Assuming tn
correctness of the report that the Spanisl
feet is shut up in Santiago. it is concludes
there would be no difficulty in Admira
Sampson supplying enough ships to con
voy the transports TO Porto Rico without
weakening the blockade of Havana an
leaving reserves TO attend to the Cadi
squadron. should it appear suddenly i
these waters.
One suggestion made to account for Ad
miral SIMPSONS last appearance in IN
aeighborhood Of the Old Bahama channel
that he is acquainting himself with IN
route about to be taken by the ships tina
are to carry the expedition to Porto Rico
not necessarily to San Juan, for it is NOR
han guessed that the landing in Porto Ric
will be at some point where infantry an
artillery and perhaps cavalry can be pu
IN shore 10 attack the defenses Of Sa
Iuan in the rear. So much attention
being given TO the Porto Rico occupation b
he military authorities that il is assume
~ officers that the army and navy plan
lave gone along together. When the me
nent of attack arrives il may be expecte