The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-23
shafter to Stay I'm Eastern Cuba, but
May Gradually Push His Way
Westward from Santiago.
PORTO RICO HND GUAM ISLAND
no BE RETAINED, THE LATTER AS A
PACIFIC COALING STATION.
NO Determination as to the Philip
pines-Framing of Laws a Problem
-Cubans to he Treated Kindly.


WASHINGTON. July "a significant
statement was made to the Associated Press
to-day by gentleman in a position to speak
with knowledge and authority as to the
wsr plans of the administration with refer
statement follows:
Commodore Watson in proceeding to the
Spanish peninsula as soon as 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
fleet. The movement of this fleet and the
fears and apprehensions caused by reports
concerning it are to be stopped for all 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 founda-
tion. This government has no plan to take
those islands and does not want them.
Despite popular expectation that Porto
Rico operations will be- followed Immediate
ly by action against Havana, it can be said
that Havana will not be attacked while yell
low fever conditions exist. This is certain.
1t would be the height of national folly to
engage our troops in and about that fever
pest hole. Consequently it will be left until
the climate lends its aid in the autumn.
Shafter will hold his own in the eastern
strip now surrendered, may gradually push
his way over some other districts. and If
there should be any particular need Of i'm
mediate aggressive action at any point will
move against it, but Havana viii be left
until yellow fever dangers are past.
SoME SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
Meantime in the next two months there
will be enough to keep this government
busy. We will have to cope with the most
serious problem yet, of providing for the
government and the future Of the lands in
yolved in this war; The hauling down of the
Spanish flag and the hoisting of that of the
United States means more than on its face,
than it indicates to the popular mind. No
more important matter is to engage the at
tentior Of the government than the details
to be arranged for the disposition, control
or temporary possession pending final trans
fer Of possession of these additions to our
domain There are questions of the most
intricate and far-reaching character to be
ell
be recorded within week or ten days. will
have to have a military government Porto
Rico, of course. is to be kept permanently
by the government, but there must be
military government first. and many pre-
limsnary details will have to be worked out.
..There must be rehabilitation of existing
systems of government where we have car
ried our arms, and while local schemes and
conditions 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 oppressive Laws viii have
to be very thoroughly gone over and the
tariff system revised in some way. but in
general and as far as possible the system of
government which now exists is to be fol-
lowed. All this means work of the most
serious character, and in the absence of
existing laws to govern such matters the
President has to go ahead on his own re-
sponsibility. 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-
TIMES of Porto Rico and similarly circum-
stanced accessions win be left to COM
mission or commissions to be appointed to
draft the laws for adoption by Congress.
The government is likely to be busy from
now on considering all these matters of
governmental detail.
GUAM WILL BE KEPT.
TT is a certainty. as far as now can be
foreseen. that Guam. the island in the La
drone group that was captured by this gov
ernment. viii De permanently retained as a
coaling and supply station. For these pur-
poses 1t is valuable. from its location be-
tween the Sandwich and the Philippine ISL
ands, but on the point whether the rest of
them will be kept / am not sure They
may be. and they may not be. The dispo-
sition OF the Philippines is unsettled. and
depends on circumstances.
"As to the attitude OF Garcia and the In