The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-15
Difficult to Solve and Much Will Depend on
Admiral DeWey's Report.
President Has Several Suggestions Under Consider
ation--No More Troops Will Be Dispatched TO
Manila Gen. Wilson Has a Hot Engagement

washington. Aug 15.--The warlike at
titude has entirely disappeared. and
basis. The president believes that the
most serious problem which the peace
commission will be called upon to deal
with Is the Philippines. Before the COM
mission assemblies IL is hoped the affairs
of Cuba and Porto Rico will be found In
such process of adjustment as to leave
little for the commission to consider
under that head. The absolute relin-
Quishment by Spain Of all sovereignty
over the islands In the West Indies wiz
allow only the property questions to be
settled between the governments. that
Is. what Spain shall take away and what
shall remain as captures of war, and the
protection OF Spanish subjects and their
property In the islands. The greater
questions growing out of the war as re-
lating to Cuba and Porto Rico will have
to be dealt with by the United States
alone.
The fact that the Philippines will pre-
sent the difficult problem in the peace
negotiations has caused the administra-
tion to give IL a great deal of careful at
tention. Several suggestions have been
made as to what shall be done, one being
the retention OF the bay, city and har-
bor Of Manila-just what the protocol
gives temporarily. Another is that
Subig bay and a sufficient amount of
territory for a naval and coaling station
be secured and the building up of an
American city at that place begun. Still
another idea which is being considered
Is the retention of the island of Luzon,
the advocstes Of that plan believing that
there would be trouble between the gov
ernments which occupy a portion of the
island with line OF demarcation such
- would exist in case Manila and the bay
only were retained. The island Of Luzon
is the largest OF the group and contains
about 3,0vO,000 people, which are said to
be the better class in the Philippines.
1t is believed. however, that the admin
greatly Influenced by the reports which
Admiral Dewey and General Merritt will
make on the subject. Their reports are
expected before the commission meets.
The final determination as to the gov
ernment OF Porto Rico and the settle
ment of the government of Cuba are
problems for settlement, but the impress
sion prevails that these islands will be-
come quite rapidly Americanized. and
every encouragement for them to do So
will be given. Porto Rico will be under
military control for the present. Cuba
lalso will be similarly governed, but 1t is
probable that American reforms in the
matter OF government will be such that
the people of Cuba will see the advan-
tage of becoming annexed to the United
States. 1t is thought that the sanitary
improvement OF Havana and other cities
the management Of the municipalities
and the liberty offered will soon con.
vince the inhabitants that the changed
conditions are for their good.
Porto Rico will be treated at once al
an American possession. The first move
ment in this direction will be the sending
OF a delegation. OF officials from the post
Office department to investigate and re-
port upon the mail facilities there. and u
make such recommendation as they do.
termine upon. Mail routes. methods NJ
transportation and the condition OF post
Offices generally In the island will be ex
amined. Military postoffices will be es
tablished at once where troops are sta
toned. and at such other points as may
be demanded by the interests of Ameri
cans and the people OF the islands. IL tn,
present Offices are not available. A sImi
.ar course will be taken in Cuba, but thi
Is likely to be delayed, as immediate re
moval of the Spanish and occupation b,
the United States are not expected.
No more troops Will be sent to Genera
Merritt unless he asks for them. IL 4
believed at the war department tha
$4,000 men now there are sufficient 4
garrison Manila and the ground whicl
the United States for the present vii
occupy.
All of the troops that were with Gen
eral Shafter In the Santiago campaig
will be out OF Cuba by Friday of thi
week. General Shafter will accompan
them to Montauk point. There will re
main at Santiago Ave regiments of i'm
munes to do garrison duty. IL is We
possible that battery Will be sent I
Santiago TO take the place OF the bat
teries which are to be removed Geners
Miles has about $1,000 men in Porto Ric,
They will be sySicient for the occupatio
of the island. and perhaps more than ar
needed after the Spanish evacuate. TIL
remainder OF the troops viii remain
the various camps to which they hav
been assigned for the present. thoug
something may be done towards dimir
fshIng the number when IL becomes ar
parent that they are no longer needed.
The government Will dispose OF IN
transports that have been In use az fa'
as they can be released and are no longs
required for service. All vessels OF u
navy that can be spared from service(
the West Indies will be ordered TO por'
in the states. where the men Will be give
brief holidays The big battleships
She feet will be put In drydock as soc
as possible and undergo such repairs