The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-23
And All Energies Are to Be Con-
centrated on Subjugation
of Cuba.
Even Temporary Reverse There
Would Serve to Greatly Pro-
long the War. 80
Deportation Of Prisoners From
Cuba Has Been Definitely
Decided On. ~
NEW YORK June ga special to

NEW YORK, June %. "A special to
The Tribune from Washington says:
The project to occupy Porto Rico is
now regarded by the highest military
authorities of both the army and navy
as practically removed from immediate
consideration, and unless the death
rate of General Skaters army from
diseases indigenous to Cuban soil is ex-
sceedingly high, the presidents desire
for the prosecution of general aggres-
\ siye campaign throughout the sntire
ISLAND of Cuba may be promptly en-
tered upon the moment Santiago is
captured. H.. /
The suggestion of Porto Rican cam.
paign to precede the invasion OF Cuba
was put forth more than a month ago,
before Admiral Sampson bomtarded
San Juan, and pending the uncertainty
regarding the destination Of Cervera's
squadron, then several weeks at sea
from Cape Verde. The enterprise was
not abandoned, but was temporarily
pushed aside by the more imperative
necessity of sending General Shatter to
Santiago as expeditiously as possible.
SKATER Needs All the support.
His feet of transports lad barely
sailed from Tampa last week, before
many officials i'll Washington, in the
absence OF any coun demanding of the
original orders Tor mobiliziag the Porto
Rican expedition again took up its de-
tails and were hurrying the prepara-
fions along on the original lines when
General Miles returned and convin ced
the highest officials that the best OF
military reasons existed for concentrate
ing every military resource Or the gov
ernment, for the time being az least,
npon the support OF General Shafrer,
whose campaign was Of q more hazard
Gus nature than had generally been APP
precated. Notwithstanding the ex-
ceilent equipment and the large force
which had been provided, III this army
corps the fact that 10, 900 men were 10
DE landed i'll q strange country i'll the
face OF a much more numerous force,
whose axact strength could only be
estimated, would probably prove the
crucial event Of the whole war.
Even Temporary Reverse Would Be had.
Its success may be expected to result
In SPANS prompt realization OF the
tntiiity of further resistance, while
reverse. even of temporary character,
might indefinitely prolong the durati
of hostilities. The illusion that Porto
Rico constituted any valid advantage
from an international law point was
speedily dispelled by the citation of
precedents, the most recent of them be-
ing the acquisition by Japan of For
anoso at the treaty of Slmonoseki, all 4
though the island was in possession of
China at the close of the war.
There seemed, therefore, not to be
any valid urgent reason for sacrificing
General Shafter for the acquisition OF
Porto Rico, and it now appears to be
conclusively settled that no further at
fention will be paid TO Porto Rico for
the present until it develops strategi-
cal Importance not perceived at present
The wisdom of General Miles in adj
yancing the military e1igencies OF
strengthening General Skaters force
Is evident on all sides. The decision to
send at least one regiment of volun-
feers on the fast auxiliary crniser Yale
from Newport News on Tnurs lay TO be
followed by others on the Harvard a
few days later and another brlyade
from Camp Alger during the ensuing
week are fair instances OF
she success of his recommendations.
Prisoners I. seYiou. Problem.
A serious problem whose solution has
been determined upon by the an hori-
ties is that of the disposition OF the vast
number OF prisoners which must fall |
into American hands whenever Santi-
ago capitulates. This number is yari-
Ously estimated all the way from 25 900 |
10 &c. 900 men, and as the United States |
VIII not permit them to suffer any |
ayoidabie hardships, provision has to
be made at once for their maintenance.
lt has been definitely decided that they |
cannot be permitted to remain IN CuDa. |
aud it will therefore be necessary TO
provide large number of transports to
bring them TO this country, where |
they can be more readily fed and |
guarded This will require much |
larger feet OF transports than which |
a3nyeyed General Skaters army and |
considering the extreme difficulty |
(Which the war department. has already |
confronted In securing an additional