Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-07-23

Cities, But VIII Seek TO Engage
Camara's Squadron The Government
Has no Plans to Take the Canary ISL
ands--Porto Rico to BE Kept One
at Least of the Ladrone Islands 1t Is
Expected VIII BE Kept Intentions
as to Cuba--The Philippines Question.
WASHINGTON, July pa significant
statement was made to the Associated
Press yesterday by gentleman in
position to speak with knowledge and
authority as to the plans Of the admin
istration with reference to future war
operations. In substance the statement
was in part as follows:
Commodore Watson in proceeding
to the Spanish peninsula as soon as the
Porto Rican expedition is gotten under
way is not to lombard the cities on the
Spanish coast. No such idea of bonn
bardment 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 talk occasionally INDUCED
Ill 10 W pli0 Se1tldlJ Is uUUCI1J
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.
''It would be the height of national
folly to engage our troops in and about
that fever pesthole, Consequently it
will be left until the climate lends it's
aid In the autumn. Shafter will hold
his own in the eastern strip now sur
rendered, 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.
Meantime i'll the next two months
there will be enough to keep this gov
eminent busy. We will have to cope
with the most serious problem yet, of
providing for the government and the
future OF the lands involved in this war.
Porto Rico, whose fall is likely to
be recorded within a week or ten days,
will have to have military govern
ment. Porto Rico, of course, is to be
kept permanently by this government,
but there must be military govern
ment first and many preliminary de-
tails will have to be worked out Laws
will 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 followed.
Next winter, when congress con-
venes, the necessity for laws covering
such matters will be recognized by rec
concentrations to congress to that end
to be submitted by the president and it
is very probable the shaping of the
destinles Of Porto Rico and similarly
circumstanced accessions will be left to
a commission or commissions to be APP
pointed to draft the laws for adoption
by congress.
ut is certainty, as far as now can
be foreseen, that Guam, the island in
the Ladrone group that was captured
by ehis government, will be perma-
nently retained as a coaling and supply
station. For these purposes it is valu-
able from its location between the
Sandwich ana the Philippine islands,
but on the point whether the rest of
them will be kept am not sure. They
may be and they may not be. The dis
position of the Philippines is unsettled
and depends upon circumstances.
"As to the attitude of Garcia and the
insurgents i'll 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
oppression, there should have been lit
tie expectation of greater abilities than
are now shown by them. This govern
ment will have to treat them kindly 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 circum-
stances and conditions many years be-
fore affairs there have SO shaped them
selves as TO entrust the island to the
Cubans and we finally yield our possess
sion of them.
THE transition must be gradual,
step by step, and the final general
change of control effected only after
thorough training and demonstration of
the abilities of the people, beginning
with the trial of some of the leaders in
at first minor capacities.
Judge Charged the Jury.
WILMINGTON, Del, July 23.-Judge
-. Al.