The times., 1898-08-01
PORTO RICO REJ0IcEs
The American Army Handsome
ly Received by the Natives.
MILES ASKS FOR MORE FLAGS
As soon as All the Troops Are Dis
embarked the Forces VIII Move
Toward San Juan - The Citizens
Are Rendering All Possible Aid
/ 10 the Commanding General.

Direct cable communication with Gen.
Miles at Ponce has been established and
the following is the first message filed by
him in the captured city:
.Ponce. Porto Rico. July 81
s.Secretary of War. Washington, d. c.:
-Four kilograms. twenty-seVenth, re-
ceived and answered 10y letter. Volunteers
are surrendering themselves with arms
and ammunftionl four-fifths of the peo-
pie are overioyed at the arrival OF the
army. Two thousand from one place nave
volunteered to serve with it. They are
bringing in transportation, beef cattle
and other needed supplies; the customs
house has already yielded Sl4oOO As
soon as all the troops are disembarked
they Will be in readiness to move. Please
send any national colors that can De
SHARED TO be given to the different mu-
nicipalities. l request that the question
Of the tariff rates to be charged IN the
s,arts of Porto Rico occupied by our
forces be submitted to the President tor
his action, the previously existing tarIl
rema ming meanwhile in force; as 10 tie
government under military occupation L
have already given instructions based up
on the instructions issued by the Presi-
dent in the case of the Philippine Islands.
and similar TO those issued al santiago
L
de Cuba.
The dispatch was received by me war
Department late yesterday afternoon. ana
the intelligence it conveys is highly gran
fvinr to the Administration. The spec
tacle of the commanding general OF an
,nvading army sending home for flags to
10 distributed over the enemys territory
g hardly less amusing than satisfactory
The President and his admirers are more
firmly convinced than ever that the Porto
Rican campaign viii involve but one
serious fight. and that at San Juan where
the spaniards are expected TO make their
last stand.
This confidence, however, will cause no
1axitv in contemplated operations. The
army is expected to push forward from
Ponce as rapidly as possible, and the
start for San Juan may be made We'd
nesday.
If he populace of the interior prove as
pacific as the natives encountered in and
around Ponce. and if the Spaniards do not
give a better account of themselves the
march across the country to San Juan viii
be monotonous and uneventful.
The War Department is confident that
the campaign will be brief and far less
difficult even at San Juan than the opera
tions against Santiago.
The President is expected to issue a
proclamation for the provisional govern
ment OF Porto Rico similar 10 the one
formed with reference to Santiago. The
issuance Of this document will probably
amount 10 no more than an Endorsement
of the measures already adopted by Gen.
Miles who was already familiar with
the policy to be pursued in the conquered
territory pending permanent arrange
ments. The customs tariff will be modi-
fed as requested by the commanding
general. after the manner of the revision
OF Spanish tariffs at Santiago.
The natives Of Porto Rico viii not be
permitted to take active part in the cam
paign. Any assistance volunteered by
them in the way of transportation, pro-
visions. etc, viii be accepted, but as to
arrning and recognizing them as allies. it
viii not be permitted. There are reasons
for this outside of the fact that it is not
necessary.
One experience with the Cuban revolu-
Tionists is regarded as enough. and in
future operations. not alone in Porto
Rico but in Cuba as well. the native ele-