Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1898-06-01
BUSYBUREAUS
Intense Activity Infused Into the
War and Navy Depart
ments
By the Command to Advance.
Hurried But Systematic
Preparations
And an Air of Keen Expectancy
Observation-Disclosures Of
Porto Rico
Believed to Be a Part of Present
Plans---SantiagO Situation
Explained.

WASHINGTON June l. -AAo 0oA
mand given to advance has infused In
tense activity into every branch OF mil
Itsry and naval circles. 1t was shown
In the hurried but systematic prepare
lions at the various bureaus at the wal
and navy departments, and in the
keen air Of expectancy everywhere pre-
vailing. The authoritative statements
made by General Miles and others that
the orders for an advance had been Is
sued leaves no further doubt on that
point. The report from Key West that
the steamer Florida returned there
after successfully landing most i'm
portant expedition in Cuba, was sup
pIeRented by the information here that
the expedition was in command OF
General Iacret, the well known Cuban
leader, who has with him 400 picked
Cubaps, thoroughly armed and
equipped by the United States. Prior
60 the cabinet meeting, reports were
current that the president had told
some Of his callers that he expected
Commodore Schley would attack Ad.
miral Cervera in Sansiago harbor. In
Quiry failed to substant iate this report
On the contrary, those in a position to
know the general plan Of attack, stated
that the
Navy A2d Army Would Act Together.
and that one branch of the service was
not likely to strike decisive blow un-
Ill the other was ready to cooperate
and thus make the blow doubly effec.
tive. While there continues to be en-.
tire official reticence as to the exact
points Of invasion, the concensus of
opinion, drawn from the most intelli-
gent sources, is that the eastern end of
Cuba, constituting the province Of San
Gago with Santiago de Cuba as its cap
Ital. and Porto Rico, will be among the
objective points. For this reason, the
situation at Santiago province and
Porto Rico was thoroughly canvassed.
A Base Of Operations.
General Lee has left Tampa for
Jacksonville, on the eastern side of Flor
ida peninsula to open headquarters
there, But one inference can be drawn
from this movement, namely, that
Jacksonville Is to be made base of op.
e1ations against Porto Rico. The town
u admirably situated for this purpose;
In fact il far surpasses Key West as
base for operations, even against any
Of the eastern points of Cuba. The
terminus Of an excellent railroad sys.
tenn leading from the North and West,
with good steamboat connection with
New York; with a navigable river af.
G0Tdlng q good harbor, and distant
only 1900 miles from San Juan, in an
cir line, Jacksonville leaves little to be
desired az q base of military operations.
There seems to be little doubt that the
plan Of campaign contemplates the
Reduction Of Porto Rico,
and the president is being strongly
urged to begin this movement even be.
fore any serious attempt Is made on
Havana. His advisers point to what
they regard ss q danger of retreat on
the part Of the Spanish government.
Il might be possible according to their
views for the Spanish to assert that
they accept in full the demands of this
governments ultimatim and are pre-.
pared to withdraw their troops from
Cuba. In such case the United States
would be placed in the disagreeable
position before the world Of continuing
20 make war upon the country which
holds out the flag of truce. The di.
lemma that would confront us in such
case would be how to secure Porto
Rico without offending against inter.
national law, for it can be safely &C.
copied as the truth that the administras
ton Is determined that Spanish rule in
the Western hemisphere must cease.
Now that General Miles has gone it
can be stated that for the last five days
he has held frequent conferences with
prominent Porto Rican, thoroughly
Convsrsant with the situation in that
island and able to give exact informa-
ton as to the Spanish strength, de.
lenses, ETC., there.
The Santiago Situation Explained.
As to Santiago province, the situa.
ton was explained by an official well
acquainted with the conditions there.
He pointed out that it is the eastern.
most section Of Cuba, and the one com.
pletely isolated from General Blanco,
% far az railroad connections are con.
cerned. For that reason it will be i'm.
possible for Blanco to hurry reinforce.
ments to Santiago, and the Spanish
forces already there constitute all that
10 ts possible to assemble for its de-
Tense. These forces are under General
Pando, with headquarters at Holguin,
about 100 miles northwest Of Santiago
de Cuba. Pando has force Of about
5000 troops and is strongly en-
txenchod. A short railway connects him
with the small seaport Of Gibara on
che north coast where there are, about
1000 Spanish troops. Bat while Pando
60 strong at Holguin he is harrassed by
che presence of small Cuban bands at
Cuaba and other points surrounding
Holguin. Besides Holguin and Gibara
General PaUdo has small garrisOns Of