Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-23


Associated Press to-day by a gem
tleman in a position to speak with
knowledge and authority as to the
plans Of the administration with
reference to future war opera
tions. In substance, the state
ment was as follows:
Commodore Watson, in pro-
ceeding to the Spanish peninsula
as soon as the Porto Rican ex-
petition is gotten under way, is
not TO lombard the cities of the
Spanish coast. No such idea of
bombardment of the coast is
maintained, 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 oc-
casionally INDUCED In as to the
Canary Islands Is utterly without
foundations. This government has
no plans to take these islands and
docs NOT
Despite popular expectation that
the 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 ex-
list. This is certain.
1t would be the height Of ma
tional 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 sur
rendered, may gradually push his
way over some other districts, and
if there should be any particular
need OF immediate aggressive
action at any point will move
against it, but Havana will be
left until yellow fever dangers are
past.
Meanwhile in the next two months
there will be enough to keep this
government busy. We will have
to cope with the most serious prob
lem yet, OF providing for the
government and the future Of the
lands involved In this war.
The hauling down of the Span
ish flag and the hosting OF that Of
the United States means more
than on its face IT indicates to the
popular mind. No more import
ant matter is to engage the atten-
tbon Of the government than the
details to be arranged for the dis
position, control or temporary pos
session of those additions to our
domain. There are questions of the
most intricate and far-reaching
character to be decided. Porto
Rico, whose fall Is likely to be rec
orded within a week or ten DAYS.
will have to have military govern
ment. Porto Rico, OF course, Is to
to kept permanently by this gov
eminent, but there must be mill
tary government first, and many
preliminary detail will have to be
worked out. There must be a re-
Mobilization of existing systems OF
government where we have.carried
our arms, and while local schemes
and. conditions will form the basis
Of the general system for the con
troll OF the land, there must be nu-
merous changes, abolishing such
laws as may be oppressive. Laws
will have to be very thoroughly
gone over and the tariff system re-
vised in some way. but In general
and as far as possible the system
Of government which now exists
is to be followed. All this means
work Of the most serious charac-
ter, and IN the absence OF existing.
laws to govern such matters the
President has TO go ahead on his
own responsibility. Next winter,
however. when Congress conyenes.
the necessity for laws covering
such matters viii be recognized by
the President. and 1t is very prob
nable the shaping Of the destinies