New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-23
GRAVE PROBLEMS TO MEET
RULING NEW POSSESSIONS
FUTURE WAR OPERATIONS AND POLICY
OF THE ADMINISTRATION
OUTLINED.

/ authority as to the plans or the ADMINISTRATION
with reference to future war operations. In
substance the statement was as follows
Commodore Watson. in proceeding to the
Spanish peninsula as soon the Porto Rican
expedition is got under way. is not TO lombard
the cities on the Spanish coast No such idea
Of bombardment Of the coast is entertained.
While there may be other incidental purposes,
the main mission Of Watson is to take care Of
Admiral Camara's feet The movement Of this
| fleet and the fears and apprehensions caused by
reports concerning it to be stopped for al!
time The ships under Camara will be located
by Watson and finally met and engaged. The
talk occasionally INDUCED in as to the Canary
Islands is utterly without foundation This
| Government has no plan TO take those Islands
and does not want them.
Despite popular expectation that Porto Rico
operations will be followed Immediately by
action against Havana, it can be said that
| Havana will not be attacked while yellow fever
conditions exist. This is certain. 1t would be-
the height of National folly TO engage our troops
in and about that fever pesthole- Consequent
ly IT will he left until the climate lends it aid
in the autumn. Shafter will hold mis- own in
the eastern strip now surrendered. He may
gradually push his way some other dis
trcts. and II there should be any particular
need OF Immediate aggressive action at any
point will move against 1t. but Havana will he
| toF, Al
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
Meantime. in the next two months there will
be enough 70 keep this Government busy. We
will have TO cope with the most serious prob
lem 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
hoistine Of that OF the United States means
more than on It's face is indicated 70 the popular
mind. No more important matter is TO engage
the attention OF the Government than the de-
tails to be arranged for the disposition, control
or temporary possession. pending final transfer
o, possession. Of these additions 10 our domain.
There are questions Of the most intricate and
far-reachlng character TO be decided Porto
Rico ~aose fall is likely 20 be reported in a
week or ten days will have a military govern
ment Porto Rico. Of course. is 70 be kept per-
mancntly by this Government but there must
be military government first. and many pre-
liminary details will have to be worked out.
There must be a rehabilitation Of existing sys-
TENS OF government where have carried our
Will form the basis Of the general system FOR
the control Of the land. there must be numerous
changes abolishing such laws as may be op-
pressive. Laws will have to be very thoroughly
gone over and the tariff system revised in some
way but in general. and far as possible the
system OF government which now exists is 10 be
followed. All this means work of the most ser-
GUS character and in the absence Of existing
laws TO govern such matters the President has
to go ahead his own responsibility. Next
winter. however. when Congress convenes. the
necessity for laws covering such matters will
be recognized by recommendations to Congress
to that end to be submitted by the President
and It is very probable the shaping OF the des
tinies OF Porto Rico and similarly circum-
stanced accessions will be left to a commission
or commissions to be appointed to draft the
laws for adoption by Congress.
GUAM TO BE RETAINED
The Government is likely to be busy from
now on considering all these matters OF gov
ernmental detail. 1t is certainty as far as
the Ladrone group that was captured by this
Government. will be permanently retained as a
coaling and supply station. For these purposes
IT is valuable from its location between the Sand
wich and Philippine islands, but the point
whether the rest Of them will be kept l am
not sure. They may be and they may not be
The disposition OF the Philippines is unset
tied and depends upon circumstances As 10
the attitude OF Garcia and the insurgents in
Cuba. there is no change in our intention. This
Government has not been misled in its estimate
Of those forces With the oppressive hand Spain
has put on them so long. contending against
the conditions imposed by injustice and oppres-
sion. there should have been little expectation
OF greater abilities than are now shown by them |
This Government will have TO treat them kind |
". but firmly. 1t has made pledge to estab- |
lish a firm and stable government, and that |
must be carried out 1t therefore may be. in the |
light Of present circumstances and conditions,
many years before affairs there have so shaped |
themselves that may intrust the island to
the Cubans and finally yield our possession Of
IT,"
CAMARA BOUND FOR CEUTA
Gibraltar July 22-It Is reported here that