The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-23

Washington, July PA significant
statement was made to the associated
press to-day by a gentleman in a posi-
ton to speak with authority in reference
to future war preparations. In substance
the statement was as follows:
Commodore Watson, in proceeding
to the peninsula as soon as the Porto
Rico expedition is gotten under way,
is not to lombard the cities on the Span
ish coast No such idea of lombard
ment of the coast is entertained. While
there may be other incidental purposes,
the main mission of Watson is to take
care of Camara's fleet. The movement
of this fleet and the fears and appre-
tensions caused by reports 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 foun-
dation. This government has no plan
to take the islands and does not want
them.
Despite popular expectation that
the Porto Rico operations Will be fol-
lowed Immediately by action against
Havana, III can De Sdlu lIldl nav oho W iiA
not be attacked while yellow fever con-
ditions exist. This is certain. 1t would
be the height of folly to engage our
troops in and about the fever pesthole.
Consequently, il will be left until the
climate lends it's aid in the autumn.
| Shafter will hold his own in the eastern
| strip now surrendered and may gradu-
| ally push his way over some other dis
| tricts, and If there should be any par
Of fN1nf1a "a
action at any point. he will move against
| it, but Havana will be left until the
| 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, o,
providing for the government and the
future of the lands involved in this war
The hauling down of the Spanish has
and the hosting of the United State:
| flag means more than on its face it in
| dicates to the popular mind. No mor'
| important matter is to engage the at
tention of the government than the de
tails to be arranged for the disposition
control or temporary possession pend
ing final transfer of possession of thes'
additions to our domain There ar
questions of the most intricate and FAR
reaching character to be decided.
Porto Rico, whose fall is likely to b'
recorded within a week or ten days
will have a military government. For
TO Rico, of course, is to be kept per
manently by this government, but thi
must be a military government hrst
and many preliminary details will hav
TO be worked out. There must be re
habilitation of existing systems of gov
| ernment where we have carried on
arms. and while local schemes and con
ditions will form the basis of the gen
eral system for the control of the land
there must be numerous changes, abol
ishing such laws as may be oppressive
Laws will have to be very thorough
, gone over and the tariff system revise
in some way. but in general and as ia
: as possible the system of governmen
which now exists is to be followed
All this means work of the most seri
Gus character. and in the absence
existing laws to govern such matter:
: the president has to go ahead on hi
: own responsibility. Next winter, how
ever when congress convenes, the ne
: cessity for laws covering such matter
will be recognized by recommendation
to congress to that end, to be sumbitte
: by the president and il is very probabl
the shaping of the destinies of Port
) Rico and similarly circumstanced az
cessions will be left to a commissio
4 or commissions to be appointed to drai
the laws for adoption by congress. tn
: government is likely to be busy tToi
! now on considering all these matter
: of governmental detail. 1t is certain
: ty. as far as now can be foreseen tha
S Guam. the island in the Ladrone grou
: that was captured by this governmen
s will be permanently established as
: coaling station. For these purposes
8 is valuable from its location betwee
S the Sandwich and Philippines, but g
: the point whether the rest of them vi
s be kept, I am not sure. They may
8 and they may not be.
8 "The disposition of the Philippines
S unsettled and depends upon circun
s stances. As to the attitude Of Garc
s and the insurgents in Cuba. there Is 7
s change in our intention. This gnverI
s ment has not been misled in its est
mate of the forces. With the oppre
: sive hand Spain has rut on them
s long. contending against the 9onditio;
8 imposed by injustice and oppress:o
there would have been little expects
tion of greater abilities than are no
z shown by them. This government W
3 have to treat them kindly, but firml
: IL has made a pledge TO establish